Page 52 of Entering a New World

“Cool.”

Nix nodded quietly, then went back to eating without saying another word.

I felt Rhett a good five seconds before the door opened. His calming presence washed over me, and a shiver ran down my spine while my heart did somersaults inside my chest.

The weirdest part was the almost tugging sensation, as if a rope had been tied around my heart and Rhett was pulling at it, trying to reel me towards him.

“So there’s this book,” Nix told me, his eyes lighting up with joy. “I don’t know how often I’ve read it. Seriously, I already have the third paperback copy because I’ve read the other copies often enough for them to fall apart. I can lend it to you if you…” His voice trailed off, the smile falling off his face, replaced by a deep sadness. “Well, I would lend it to you if I still had it, but I had to leave it behind.”

“That sucks. What’s the name of the book?” I asked. A part of me was already trying to remember where the closest bookstore was because I would damn well walk straight out of here and order a copy for Nix.

Yeah, he probably needed a coat more urgently, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t buy him a new book, too. It clearly meant something to him.

Nix didn’t answer. Instead, he was staring right past me at something while the colour slowly drained from his face, leaving his skin a pale, ghostly white. His Adam’s apple bobbed rapidly as he swallowed, eyes getting bigger and bigger, a fine tremor running through his body.

“Fuck,” he whispered, the sound almost inaudible. “I… I need to go.”

Turning my head, I furrowed my brows. I knew Rhett was coming over, but Nix couldn’t possibly get so spooked by my mate, right?

Maybe Paul was with him?

I couldn’t see anyone suspicious. Rhett was the only one in the whole café who wasn’t seated—and Nix’s eyes were firmly trained on him.

“That’s just my boyfriend,” I explained. “I’m sorry. I haven’t seen him in a couple of days and told him he could join us. I should’ve asked first.”

“Your boyfriend?” Nix whispered faintly, shaking his head in disbelief, his eyes wide as saucers. “That’s your boyfriend?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“But he’s a sh…” He stopped, shook his head again, then jumped to his feet. “Doesn’t matter. I, ah, really need to get going. See you soon.”

Before I could react, he was up on his feet, shoving past Rhett, and making a beeline for the door. I stared after him with my mouth hanging open until Rhett’s warm hand on my shoulder ripped me out of my stasis.

“What the hell was that?” he asked, raising his brows.

Shaking my head, I shrugged. A weight settled in the pit of my stomach, a big ball of worry, fed by the thousands of questions running through my mind.

“No idea.” I sighed, then turned my head to kiss Rhett hello.

A low groan escaped me as his lips met mine and the familiar electric shock ran through my body, igniting every nerve ending. My eyes fell closed, my lips chasing after Rhett’s as he tried ending the kiss. My hand snaked around the back of his neck, pulling him closer, not willing to let go of him just yet.

A part of me wanted to push things further. To kiss him until I forgot everything. To never let go of him. To make him mine.

The bells chiming were like a bucket of ice water to my system, reminding me we were, in fact, in a public place, and I sighed and let go of my mate.

Rhett grinned at me, keeping his hand on my shoulder as he pulled a chair closer, opting to sit down next to me instead of opposite me. Which sucked because I couldn’t look him in the eye. On the other hand, he put his arm around me and pulled me flush against his side, which… yeah, I guess I got the appeal.

Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes, revelling in his scent, his closeness.

“I take it that was your friend?”

I nodded. “His name is Nix.”

“Nix? Never heard of him.” His tone was suspicious. I felt him turning his head towards the door, staring at it for a moment.

“He’s new to the area,” I explained. Should I tell him about my suspicion that he might be homeless? Maybe he could keep an eye on him like he’d kept an eye on me while I’d been out in the woods.

Something tightened inside my chest.

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