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That was why he’d spiraled and lost his job and I was always willing to help him out if I could. We always had each others’ backs.
“Sorry, it’s just…” Her words hit me and I knew they couldn’t be about him. Warren was just about the gentlest alpha I’d ever met. There was no way her bad experience was because of him.
Sure, he was too persistent, I’d called him on that, but the fear in her eyes as she told me that small glimpse of her past, told me this went much deeper than persistently showing up for her.
“Come upstairs,” I managed with a sigh. We’d need a better place to talk this over.
After Tori had torn off down the sidewalk more than a few residents of Lockwood were staring our way and gossiping.
“I don’t have much,” Warren admitted. “You know me, always living light.” He reached into the truck bed and handed over one suitcase while he grabbed two duffel bags.
“This is it?” I mused, raising my eyebrows. He didn’t have a pillow or blanket in the mix.
“That’s it,” he said with a shrug.
“Good thing I have a guest room with bedding,” I chuckled as I started walking inside, pausing for a moment to put a note on the door.
Warren followed me to the back hall and up the stairs to my apartment. It was bigger than it seemed with an open living room and kitchen layout, then two rooms and a bathroom. The master had a walk-in closet at least, so I had some storage.
“You made it nice up here,” Warren said as he looked around and dropped his bags on the ground. I tried to look around with fresh eyes and smiled.
He was right.
I’d finally had a place I wanted to make feel like a home. Instead of letting the walls stay bare I’d decorated them with art and random wall decor, giving it a cozy, cluttered feel.
I wasnota minimalist.
Being able to see that I had a safe and secure home was my priority. I’d put my heart into this place, painting the walls a nice soft gray and letting the art and furniture add the color.
My armchair was a burnt orange and well worn. I’d put it in the corner with some green plants and a bookshelf.
The couch was navy blue and soft as a cloud. I’d added a slew of throw pillows in every color and design I could find, always adding new ones.
My gallery wall was a mix of cozy prints, pictures of me and Warren over the years, and random plants.
Flowers were scattered throughout the space and I replaced them as often as I needed so it was always airy and fresh in here.
None of it should have matched but it did in its own cozy, chaotic way.
“I like it,” I said. It was meant to be said in a casual way but clearly I’d failed as he gave me a soft, meaningful look.
“So, why was Tori outside the shop,” he demanded, his face going from serene to frustrated.
Shoot. Now I was going to have to admit to him that I was her mate, too. And even worse of a blow… that she hadn’t outright rejected me.
“Honestly, I just met her at the coffee shop,” I started, only then realizing I sat it down on the ledge of the front window to hand her my phone and left it there. “She walked me back here after buying me a coffee.”
He smiled softly. “I knew she was sweet. God, I wish she would give me a chance, I don’t know what the hell I did to offend her.”
“There’s more,” I said as I sat down on the sofa with a sigh.
His brows furrowed as he sat next to me, his body angled my way. My heart clenched as I started talking, knowing this wouldn’t go well.
“We’re scent matches, too. I didn’t know until I was right next to her. She was just giving me her number so we could go on a date,” I said in a quick rush.
He didn’t get angry but his broken smile was even worse.
“She’d be crazy not to like you,” he said quickly. “I’m happy for you, Felix. You deserve happiness.”
