Page 151 of As The Shifter World Turns

“What are you getting?” Neil was back.

“I think I ruined everything with Nate.” I just blurted it out.

“That doesn’t sound good. I was thinking more along the line of saag paneer.” He came around the counter and squeezed my shoulder. “Sorry. I was trying to break the tension. Tell me what happened.”

“Let’s order first. That way when I’m a sobbing mess, you’ll have something to do.” He squeezed my shoulder one last time and reached for the menu.

“I want the assorted naan basket and the palak paneer.” He set it down. “Want me to call?”

“Naw, I got this. You’re the one who is going to listen to how I botched things up with yet another guy.”

Neil opened and closed his mouth. “I’m not… I’m going to the couch. I want to play Pac Man.”

I thought he was joking again, but after the food was ordered, I went to the sofa to see him avoiding ghosts like a boss.

“What? I like the oldies.” He set the controller down. “Now tell me what went wrong with Nate. It seemed like you two were getting along.”

“We were. I thought we were, but he has someone else.” And it made me sick to my stomach just thinking about it. I didn’t think he was like that. He seemed so… but then again Wesley had fooled me too. Maybe I was just destined to be single.

At least Nate didn’t steal from me.

“He’s mated?” Neil gasped. “He seemed so nice.”

“No, not mated.” At least I didn’t think so and if they were it wasn’t in a visible spot which made it worse.

“Living together?”

“I don’t know.” I fell back against the couch.

“Daire, what do you know. Tell me the entire story.” He turned to face me, giving me his full attention.

“I asked him to go to dinner tomorrow and he said he had plans with Trevor.”

“Are you thinking he’s poly? It’s not like he pretended to hide it or anything.” Neil had a good point. He just said it like he was telling me about what he had for lunch. Maybe he was poly.

“Perhaps he is. But wouldn’t he have told me or something?”

“Did he even tell you he was going on a date?” Neil asked.

“No. What should I do?” Could I be worrying over nothing? Because if so, I would be equal parts pissed at myself and grateful.

“Text him and ask him who Trevor is. Tell him you forgot or some shit or better yet call him.” Neil was being logical.

“Fine.” I took out my phone and called him because if I could read this much into things with no facts, I couldn't imagine how much I’d read into a text.

“Hey. Nice to hear from you.” Nate answered on the first ring.

“You too. This is silly, but… who is Trevor? I should’ve asked before, but I didn’t. Not that I need to know your entire life, but because… you said it like I should know and…”

“And it was bugging you?” he offered.

“That.” No point covering it up.

“Trevor is my elderly neighbor. I’m taking him to bingo.” Out of all the things I thought I might hear, that was most definitely not one of them.

“I should’ve just asked at the time.” I let out a long sigh.

“We’re just getting to know each other. Things will be easier as time goes on.”

---