Page 18 of The Librarian’s Familiar

“You’re trying to make me uncomfortable.”

Charlie shrugged. “You wanted answers, I never promised that you’d like them.”

“Fine, why was it a mistake?”

“Because now it looks like I’ve taken the foxes’ side, and I need to remain neutral.”

“Maybe you should even it up by sleeping with a polar bear.”

Charlie placed his hand over his heart. “And you’re volunteering? You’re going to sacrifice yourself in my bed to ensure the balance remains undisturbed?”

“Um…” August opened his mouth but wasn’t quite sure what to say. “That’s not how I’d have phrased it.”

“Oh, please enlighten me. I can’t wait to hear this.” Charlie crossed his legs and leaned back, coffee in hand, to wait.

“It wasn’t meant to come out like that.” He’d messed this up and couldn’t escape short of picking up his coat and physically fleeing. He was a polar bear…he wasn’t going to be run off by a librarian several inches shorter and quite a few pounds lighter.

“How was it meant to come out? Or should that be, how were you meant to come out?”

August snarled. “I’m not coming out. I’m not…” Not gay. That was a lie. Not interested in you. That was also a lie.

Charlie kept his gaze steady, not letting him skate away and pretend it never happened.

“I’m not ready for that.”

Charlie’s eyebrow twitched. “I suppose that’s better than an outright denial.”

“Is it?” It didn’t feel better.

“It means you’re not lying to yourself.”

“I suppose it won’t be long until Sinclair spreads it around town.”

“I doubt that. He’s not that kind of guy. You’re doing enough on your own to make people ask questions. Though I doubt anyone here cares.”

“I’m surprised I wasn’t followed by a reporter wanting a story about me being home. Someone is always looking for a story and has the money to pay for it.” Even to August’s ears, he sounded bitter. “I’m used to being careful even at home…for a while I avoided coming home.”

“That must’ve been difficult.”

Had it been? Or had it been an excuse for him to travel further and explore more of the world, something that would’ve never happened if he’d never left? He shrugged and stalled, taking a drink of his coffee. “I was away so much it didn’t really matter.”

“But you still call Claw Lake home?”

“I was born here, and my family is here, so it will always be home.”

“Even if you don’t live here.”

“What about you? Where is home?” August pulled one of his cookies out of the bag and took a bite.

“I moved around a lot growing up. I don’t have a place like this to return to.”

“You are very good at not answering questions.”

“Thank you. It took a lot of training.” He smiled like it was a genuine compliment. “I was born in Canada, but my parents dragged me to Scotland and Germany, and plenty places I don’t remember, when I was growing up.”

August frowned. “For work or were they on the run?”

Charlie laughed. “My mother was Coven, and my father is a doctor.”