Page 16 of Breaking the Surface
He knocked on Peter’s door and waited.After a moment, Peter’s voice called out, “Come in.”
Braden pushed the door open with his elbow and stepped inside.Peter was still on the bed, but he looked a little better now.He wasn’t as pale or all curled up anymore.He looked up when Braden entered, his eyes widening slightly when he saw the plates.
“I made dinner,” Braden said.“I thought you might be hungry.”
Peter stared at him for a moment, then nodded.“Thank you.That’s really nice of you.”
Braden smiled and held out one of the plates.Peter took it, and Braden turned to leave, but Peter’s voice stopped him.
“Wait,” Peter said.“Do you want to stay?And eat with me?”
Braden turned back, surprised.He hadn’t expected that.“Are you sure?”
Peter nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.“Yeah.I’m sure.I don’t really want to be alone right now.”
Braden’s heart skipped a beat.He nodded and sat down in the chair near the window, balancing his plate on his lap.He’d give Peter space, just in case.“Okay.I’d like that.”
They ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes, and Braden found himself relaxing.This felt right, sitting here with Peter, sharing a meal.It felt like something he could get used to, something he wanted to get used to.He didn’t know what that meant, didn’t know where this was going, but for now, he was content to just be here.
“Thank you,” Peter said suddenly, breaking the silence.“For everything.For being here, for keeping me safe, for making dinner.I know this isn’t easy, even though you volunteered to do this, and I know that I’m a lot to deal with right now.”
Braden shook his head.“You’re not.And I meant what I said earlier.I’m here because I want to be.”
Peter looked at him, his expression soft.“I’m glad you are.”
Braden smiled.“Me too.”
Chapter Four
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THE HOUSE WASN’Thomeyet, but Peter was starting to feel more comfortable.It helped that Braden behaved as if both of them belonged here, even though Peter knew that wasn’t the case.He might be a kelpie shifter, but he’d never had a pack.He’d yearned for one, especially after Vincent had told him about the Rosewood pack and how welcoming they were, but he’d never let himself hope he could have that.Hoping made everything hurt more when it didn’t happen.
Except that maybe itwashappening.
Peter hadn’t left the house yet.He was afraid of Lou, especially after someone had seen him drive by, but he was also still emptying boxes and settling in.It was easy for him to ignore what happened outside of the house and focus on making it feel like it was his home.It was going to be for a while, so he might as well.He couldn’t stay inside forever, though.He didn’twantto stay inside forever.That would let Lou win, and that was the last thing Peter wanted.Still, thinking about leaving the house and meeting people made him feel uncomfortable and awkward.He felt like they would take one look at him and know he shouldn’t be there.
It was ridiculous.Everyone had been more than welcoming, and that wasn’t going to change.He knew that, logically, but emotionally?After being told that he wasn’t worth it for so long, that no one but Lou would want him, he was having a hard time believing that wasn’t the case.
He looked down at his plate.It was full of food Braden had cooked for breakfast, something that still surprised Peter.He hadn’t expected Braden to cook, for some reason.Instead, the man had been taking care of most of their meals, always including Peter.He didn’t seem to care that Peter wasn’t cooking.In fact, he didn’t seem to care about anything that Peter was or wasn’t doing.He was supportive of whatever Peter wanted.
That was odd, too.It was hard for Peter not to hope that Braden would be better than Lou because he was afraid of getting hurt, but he couldn’t deny what was in front of him.Braden was taking care of him in a way that no one but Vincent had ever taken care of Peter.
His thoughts flickered briefly to his sister.He didn’t even know for sure where she was now.She might still live in the same house as she had before, but she also might have moved.The two of them weren’t close, they hadn’t been since they were kids, and part of him regretted that.Another part of him was grateful that she wasn’t in his life right now to see the disaster it had become.He missed her, though, or rather, he missed the way they’d been when they were younger.Maybe he could reach out to her once this mess was over.He wasn’t sure he’d be able to find her, but it might be worth trying.
“I can cook something different,” Braden said suddenly.
Peter blinked up at him.It took him a moment to understand why Braden was saying that, and when he did, he blushed.“No,” he quickly said.“This is fine.Perfect.”
“You don’t look like you like it.I’m not offended.I realize I’m not a great cook, and I won’t mind making something else, or maybe you could make something.Whatever you’re more comfortable with.”
The problem was that Peter wasn’t sure what he was comfortable with, and that had nothing to do with food.Part of him wanted to tell Braden they were mates, but another part was terrified.He also wondered if it was fair to keep this from the man.Shouldn’t he know?He was human, so he wouldn’t be able to find out on his own, but Peter knew.What would Braden think if Peter told him?Would he be angry because Peter hadn’t told him sooner?Would he be disappointed to be stuck with someone like Peter?
Peter couldn’t imagine that Braden would be happy.Why would he be?Peter came with a messy life and an even messier ex-boyfriend.No one in their right mind would want to deal with that, not even a sweet man who’d made it his profession to protect people.
“Or I could go out and buy you something,” Braden offered, and Peter realized that once again, he’d lost track of the conversation.
“You don’t need to go out to buy me anything.Breakfast is perfect.”
