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“I need to go back,” I say, pushing to my feet.
“You need a shower,” Ryker counters, draping his arm over his eyes as he lays down on the leather couch.
He doesn’t fit, we’re both too tall for that, and I know that he must be exhausted to even try to sleep there.
“Fine. I’ll shower and then I’m going back. I need to apologize.”
“You have time,” he replies and I frown.
“How do you know that?”
“She works at the bookstore and it doesn’t open until noon today.”
“Oh.”
My wolf paws at me. He doesn’t like that Ryker knows more about our mate than us.We’ll fix that,I promise my wolf and he goes back to his pacing.
I head into my bedroom and hurry through my shower. I might have a few hours before Phoenix is up or headed to work, but I don’t want to risk the chance of missing her.
I pull on clean clothes and my stomach growls as I smell the breakfast that Ryker must be cooking.
“You didn’t have to make breakfast,” I tell him as I join him in the kitchen.
“I’m out of food at my place, so yeah, I kind of did.”
I laugh, grabbing a piece of toast and taking a bite. It’s only slightly burnt, which is an improvement from most things Ryker cooks. There’s coffee and I fill up a mug, taking a gulp and wincing as I take a seat on the stool at the counter.
“Ready to head back to the books today?” I ask and Ryker deflates at the thought.
“Not really. I think I need a break from staring at all of those numbers.”
“Okay, what else do we have to do?”
“Are you working today or just stalking your mate?” he counters and I smirk.
“Maybe a little of both.”
“But mainly the stalking thing,” he says and I grin.
“Probably.”
He turns off the stove and slides a plate over to me.
“You need a plan,” he tells me as he sits next to me.
“I know.”
“You should ask her out to lunch or coffee. That might be less stressful than a dinner date.”
“You seem to have thought about this quite a bit,” I remark and he shoves half a piece of toast into his mouth. “Especially for someone who vowed to never claim his mate.”
“That’s still the plan.”
I hate the fact that Ryker thinks he doesn’t deserve his mate. I know his parents did a number on him, but he told me he never planned on finding his mate well after he left their home and Pack. He thinks he’s cursed. It’s why he blames himself for me being hurt overseas. Ryker’s parents told him that he would only bring pain and suffering to those he loved and unfortunately, he believes their nonsense. No amount of me telling him that he’s not cursed and that accidents happen to everyone has been able to convince him otherwise.
“Okay, lunch or coffee,” I say and he nods.
“Then ease into telling her about shifters and fated mates. You should call Cliff and the guys now, before you meet her. They might have some tips on how to go about telling a human about all of that.”
