Page 5 of Eddie

Les wouldn’t mind, especially after Valentine told him why. They’d probably both be waiting for Eddie to get to work later, eager to ask him how things had gone. He hoped he wouldn’t have to tell them he’d made a mess of things.

He wasn’t sure what to do now. Maybe doing this would make him seem a little too eager. Maybe Matthias would find it annoying or weird. Even if that was what happened, Eddie didn’t have anything to lose, did he? At worst, Matthias would leave, and Eddie would never see him again. At best, well...

Eddie was sure something was happening between them. He didn’t know if Matthias was human, shifter, or something else, but he wanted to find out. He didn’t want to let himself think about the possibilities if Matthias wasn’t human. It was too soon and too random, but he’d learned to listen to his instincts a long time ago, even though he was only human. No matter how things ended, sticking around had been the right thing to do.

He just hoped it would end well, even though he didn’t know what well meant in this case.

He sucked in a breath and slid his phone into his pocket. He was still watching Matt, and Matt was watching him. Eddie felt ridiculous even thinking it, but he felt a bit like he was in a romantic movie, with him and Matt watching each other across the room and everything and everyone between them vanishing.

Something was definitely happening here, and hopefully Eddie was about to find out what that something was.

He’d grabbed his coffee from Valentine before he and Marcus had left, so he picked it up from the counter and made his way back to Matt. Matt was still waiting for his drink, so he was hovering just a little away from the counter, still staring at Eddie. He didn’t look away as Eddie moved closer or when Eddie stopped in front of him.

“Change of plans,” Eddie said with a smile. His heart was beating so hard he wouldn’t be surprised if it jumped out of his chest and smacked Matt in the face.

“You’re not going to work?” Matt asked.

“I am, just later. Maybe I can sit with you for a little while?”

Matt looked around, then back at Eddie. “Well, I did order both coffee and some food. I was thinking about eating in my car, but I could rest a little longer. I’m sick of my car, to be honest. It’s comfortable enough, but I’ve been driving for a while, and it’s going to take me a few more hours once I’m done here.”

“You should definitely spend a little more time here, then. You’ll be refreshed and ready to finish your road trip once you’re done.”

“Matthias?” a woman called out, startling Eddie. If the little jump Matt gave was any indication, he’d been just as surprised.

The man’s cheeks flushed, and Eddie prayed he wasn’t about to swoon like the heroine in the historical romances his mother liked to read—and his father, too. He watched Matt go to the counter to grab his coffee and the sandwich he’d ordered. The woman smiled at him, and he smiled back, but he quickly came back to Eddie. He seemed more nervous now, but Eddie couldn’t think of a reason for him to be.

“You’re sure you don’t have to go to work?” Matt asked.

“I’m sure.” This was worth all the teasing Eddie would have to listen to once he did go to work. He was pretty sure that Valentine was putting together a list of questions Eddie would have to answer and that he at least suspected something was happening. Eddie felt the same, but as a human, he wouldn’t have the certainty unless he asked Matt, and he couldn’t imagine what the man’s reaction would be like if he did. They’d barely had time to talk. Eddie didn’t want to come on too strong.

Matt’s smile was small but satisfied. “Sit with me, then?” He raised his tray to show Eddie his food.

Eddie could only nod. There was nothing he wanted more than to sit with Matt and watch him eat. Either he was suddenly a weirdo or there was definitely something there, and he didn’t feel any weirder than he had been when he woke up this morning.

Matt led the way to a small table tucked in the corner. He slid into one of the chairs, so Eddie took the other one and settled down with his coffee. He took a sip to give himself something to do while Matt placed his phone on the table.

It started vibrating instantly. Eddie blinked at it, then at Matt, who acted as if he couldn’t hear it. The phone wasn’t ringing, but it was moving across the table, so it was impossible for Matt not to be aware of the fact that someone was calling him.

“You’re not going to answer?” Eddie asked.

“Not when I have something better to do.”

“I guess you don’t want your sandwich to get cold.”

Matt stared at Eddie. “That’s not what I was talking about. So, Eddie. Are you single?”

If Eddie had been sipping on his coffee, he’d either have sprayed it all over Matt or swallowed wrong and made a fool of himself. Luckily for him, he did neither of those things. He definitely wasn’t smooth, though. He was pretty sure he looked like an idiot, blinking at Matt, but Matt didn’t seem to mind. In fact, he hummed as he took a bite of his sandwich.

Matt’s phone stopped vibrating, but Eddie barely had time to take a breath before it started again. He didn’t want to force Matt to answer, but it was distracting. “You said you were going to pick up your sister?” he asked.

“I did. As you noticed, she’s impatient.”

“What happened?”

Matt sighed and put down his sandwich. “She moved in with her boyfriend.”

“That doesn’t tell me much. You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, though.” Eddie was interested in Matt’s family because they were related to Matt, but that was it. Unless Matt’s sister was in danger, Eddie didn’t really care right now.