Shifting Boundaries

Original Chapter 7

Everett

My first evening spent in Felix's cabin went surprisingly well. Meleri and Magnus managed to pull together a dinner of spaghetti and garlic bread, which we ate at Felix's little four-top table. It was tucked into a nook between the living room and a back patio, but there was a huge window right next to the table, which lent it a sense of space. After dinner was done and cleaned up, Felix's siblings finally made their exit.

I worried briefly that things would get awkward when it was just me and Felix, totally alone. It wasn't, though. Felix seemed to sense my unease and pulled out Mariokart. He was surprisingly competitive, and whenever I beat him I would be demolished in the next round as Felix's determination ratcheted up. I enjoyed that side of him, enjoyed riling him up until his dark eyes gleamed and he leaned forward like a predator on the prowl, eyes locked on the screen in front of us with deadly focus.

Best of all, it really did feel like hanging out with a good friend... except for the way my body responded to him. Felix was true to his word and avoided touching me, but I was aware of his every movement and my heart raced if he neared me at all, or even looked at me for more than a few seconds.

Finally, I put down my controller, yawning widely. "I think I'm going to turn in," I said.

Felix stretched, raising his arms high above his head so that his shirt rode up in the front, exposing a trail of hair leading into the waistline of his pants. It sent me into a minor panic. I was supposed to find my mate attractive, but all I could think about was hair where the skin should be smooth, leading down to a bulge I wanted nothing to do with.

I stood up and said, "Well, good night." I made it a couple of steps toward the hallway before I turned back. Felix was watching me, an unfathomable expression on his face. "Will you be okay?" I asked.

The corner of his mouth twitched upward and he stood, too. "Yeah, I'll be okay. Sleep well."

"You too," I said, and fled down the hall like the coward I was.

Once I made it to my room, I shut the door and threw myself onto the bed next to my bags, trying to wrap my head around everything that had happened today.

I pulled out my phone and glanced at the time. It was almost ten. Gareth would be awake still and I had promised to call him back. Even though I really, really wanted to go to sleep, I called him.

Gareth answered on the third ring. "Finally!"

"Sorry, it's been a busy day."

"What's been going on?" he asked. His voice had a slight edge to it that let me know how irritated he would be if I didn't answer him.

I rubbed my free hand over my face and shook my head. "I'm in Lakota," I said.

"Lakota? Aren't they constantly at war? You're in finance, Ev! What are you doing out there?"

What did Gareth think I was doing, joining in on the fight? I shuddered. "My mate lives here," I said after a long pause. It was hard to force out the words.

"What! That's amazing, Everett! No wonder you've been busy. How did this happen? When can I meet her?"

I groaned. Of course he would assume my mate was a woman. That had always been my assumption, too. "Gareth, calm down. And try to stay calm, okay? I can't handle theatrics right now."

"I'm calm!" Gareth said loudly. He laughed a little and added more quietly, "Sorry. I'm calm. Talk to me."

This was why he was my best friend. Gareth was overly excitable and could be hard to keep focused, but always came through when I needed him. "My mate is a man."