Page 22 of Wanderer

“I was actually planning on getting some groceries while we were in this part of town. You’d be doing me a favor if you ate with me. I really didn’t want to spend another night on my own. Friends do that, right? Have dinner together?”

Oscar blushed a deep red, obvious even at this distance. His golden-blond hair shone in the waning light. “I… uh…”

“It’s not a date or anything,” Riley said in a soft voice.

He gave a humorless chuckle. “Obviously. Rumors are you have a mate. I just don’t want to make anyone angry. Things are strained enough here as it is.”

Poor Oscar. He had nothing to fear from me. I wasn’t the type to get revenge. If Riley wanted to be with the witch, I’d just have to deal with it. Of course it would hurt like hell, but Greyhaven was big enough that I could avoid them until I got over it. If it was even possible to get over your fated mate rejecting you for another.

Riley stiffened. His anger bled into his tone. “You know what? I don’t want a warlock as a mate. I’m allowed to say no. Fate isn’t in control of that. But that isn’t what this is. I’m also allowed to have friends.” Anger made his words come out as a hiss. “And that’s what I want this to be. Friends hanging out, sharing a meal.”

Oscar let out a genuine laugh, the sound lighter and brighter than any I’d heard from him in the weeks he’d been in town. “Well, I need a friend. I’m not too proud to admit that. Back home… I fucked up. Greyhaven is my chance at a fresh start. I hope we can help you, Riley. I want you to stay in Greyhaven. Then maybe you can find a way to make it work with Gareth.”

It felt wrong to keep listening to their conversation now that I was the subject.

“I’m not sure, Oscar. There’s so much in my past—”

“That you can work through once you have the chance to settle somewhere. Where better than here, where your mate is? Do you know how rare fated mates are?” Oscar’s voice only got more passionate as he spoke.

“I’ll think about it.”

Once they started walking, I left the store to follow them from a safe distance. After the last week of nothing, I was desperate for any glimpse I could get of Riley. They stopped next to the grocery store.

“Gonna get something for dinner. Any allergies? Dislikes?”

“Not liver!” Oscar’s face screwed up in a grimace. “Other than that, no. Okay, I’m just gonna pop into this store here. I’ll join you in a minute.” The witch walked towards me. “Did you see?”

“I did! You did so well!” My pride in him filled my voice.

His ears went pink as he blushed. “Thanks. So, are you going to go meet him?”

“Yeah. I can’t wait any longer, but I want it to sort of feel natural.”

“And not like you followed him from the magic store?” Oscar chuckled.

It was my turn to blush. “Yeah. See you inside.”

Riley sensed me almost immediately. I’d just picked up a basket and was hurriedly throwing things I needed into it, trying to look like I’d been here for a while. He was browsing the aisles, putting stuff into a cart, when his steps paused. He sniffed then stopped completely while he thought about what to do next. I slowed, letting him decide.

It was more difficult than I thought, watching him choose. I stepped back to give him some space. If he wasn’t ready, then forcing it wouldn’t help.

Though it was hard, I browsed the shelves and tried to act like a normal shopper. It was time to let Riley come to me. I’d engineered the perfect meet cute, but he had to want it.

Rounding a corner, Riley nearly slammed his cart into my legs. “Fuck! Sorry.”

Our eyes met. Riley’s were dark pools. His dark, almost black hair was windswept from his time outside. With a trembling breath, I calmed myself enough to get out a greeting. “Riley! Hi. How are you?”

We stared at each other in silence for a moment. “Um, okay. You?”

Ah, it was awkward, yet utterly perfect. Riley was in front of me, looking mostly calm. At least he wasn’t giving me the impression that he was about to run off again.

We stood just staring at each other. The moment stretched between us, becoming strained until it was broken. “Riley?” We both turned to look at the speaker.

Oscar caught up with us. “Oh, I’ll uh, wait here.”

I smiled at the witch and tried to ease the growing tension between us all. “Just getting some things. I’ve been putting it off all week.” I gave a weak laugh.

Riley looked between us. “I’m making dinner for Oscar as a thank you.”