Page 20 of Same One
“Honestly, I don’t know what we are doing. I had fun meeting you yesterday. You are interesting to me. I had fun talking to you on the phone today. I like learning about you. I like trying to figure you out. I like that you brought me food. I think you’re pretty.”
“I’m pretty human,” she pointed out.
“I know. I think that would be a deal breaker before I met Nory. She kind of paved the way for humans to feel okay to me. That and we aren’t under the rules of the Elders anymore. There’s a freedom that comes with that. Maybe a little of it is rebellion, I don’t know. Mostly, I think I like spending time with you. Do I know where that will lead? Nope. You may decidetomorrow you don’t want anything to do with me, and I’ll have to swallow that. Or you may decide being friends is what works for you. Who knows? I like being around you though. My wolf does too, and I guess that feels like a pretty big deal. I know you’re one foot out the door already. I can sense it. I can see it. You may run but until you do, I’m going to keep trying to learn about you because it’s been awhile since I was interested in a woman, and damn it feels good to be alive again.”
Geez. Butterflies were flapping around in her stomach at his words. Tabian wasn’t just a handsome face and a strong physique. He was deep, and intelligent, and seemed to know his feelings and wants. She was surprised. She’d judged him for being younger than her, but his maturity made her forget the number.
“I guess that works for me then,” she said softly.
A smile stretched his masculine lips as he leveled her with those ice blue eyes. He nodded and took another bite. “Plus hanging out with you gets me delicious homemade food, and I love good food.”
She giggled, because she could tell he was teasing her, but she did like the compliment to her cooking. She parted her lips to say something, but there was a knock on the door, and it swung open.
Four of the most beautiful women she’d ever seen came flooding in through the door.
“You’re a human,” said a green-eyed beauty with sandy brown curls.
Tabian chuckled and introduced them. “Delta, this is Tru. Tru, Delta. She’s mated to—”
“Nathan, the Second,” Tru finished, remembering what he said as she stood from the couch and offered her hand for a shake.
Delta’s handshake nearly rattled her bones and crushed her hand.
When Tru flinched, she released her immediately and apologized. Tru giggled nervously and told her it was okay. Bay didn’t know his own strength either. Tru was kind of used to it.
Lyric introduced herself next, then Destiny, and Nory hung back until last. She didn’t shake her hand though. She gave her a hug. It surprised Tru and she stood there stiffly for a moment before she hugged her back.
Delta had gone to the front door and retrieved the bottle of wine and was opening it. She poured it evenly between five plastic cups, and handed them out to all but Tabian, who seemed happy with the orange soda Tru had brought him.
Tru swallowed down an excuse that she had to leave to wait for Bay’s text. She could do that here, and he would be wolf out in those woods for hours.
The girls were asking her questions and seemed so genuine with their smiles. Truth be told, she’d been mated to a werewolf before, who was part of a big Pack, but this was the first time she’d ever met a female werewolf.
Everything Zane had told her about them seemed misplaced now.
Maybe he’d lied about that too. Wouldn’t surprise her. Since he’d left, everything seemed so much clearer.
Nory was doing a toast. “To a new friend.”
Tru was touched. They all clinked their plastic cups and took a sip, but she stood there frozen, eyes burning with emotion.
She’d had such an amazing friend group growing up, but Zane had destroyed their relationships. Tru had been so lonely, and right now in this moment, she realized just how much. It was so nice just hanging around people who didn’t see her as anything but herself.
Here, she wasn’t her job, or the bill-payer. She wasn’t the struggler. She wasn’t the bad decision maker. She wasn’t the stupid daughter, or the ex-friend who threw it all away for a man who didn’t choose her in the end. She wasn’t the stepmom. She wasn’t the butt of any jokes.
She was just Tru.
Tabian was watching her. She could feel it. He stood from the table and strode over to her, gripped the back of her neck gently and kissed her temple, then murmured against her ear, “You can relax here. No one will hurt you. You’re safe, I promise.”
And now her eyes were burning even more. She leaned into him, and he pressed his lips to her temple again, and held there.
Throat all clogged with emotion, she nodded jerkily and took a sip of the wine.
It was rich and delicious.
“If you want to have fun, I can drive you home when you’re ready,” he told her. “If I had to bet, I’d say Delta will be making her way to her place for another bottle soon.”
“That’s a great idea,” Delta told him, her bright green eyes all lit up.
