Page 8 of Christopher

“It doesn’t look like it. I think something happened yesterday, but I can’t help if you don’t tell me. We tell each other everything.”

“That was before, Jen. Things have changed since we arrived here.You’vechanged.”

Her expression fell, making Chris feel like an asshole. He wanted to take back the words, but they were true. Jenniferhadchanged. It was for the best, since now she had a future, friends, and people who would support her through everything and didn’t care about who her parents were. Chris wanted that for her, but he wasn’t sure where that left him.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured.

“You don’t need to be. This is why we moved, isn’t it? So we could all have a better life. That’s what you’re building. I want you to continue doing so, and you shouldn’t have to worry about your brother as you do.”

She put her hands on her hips. “You’re my baby brother. Do you really think I could stop worrying about you?”

“Gosh, I hope so, because I’ve had enough of you calling me your baby brother. I’m twenty-eight.”

“A baby.”

Chris grabbed one of his shoes from the floor and threw it at her. She laughed and jumped out of the way, letting it land against the wall. Hopefully, it hadn’t gotten scuffed. That didn’t stop Chris from threatening Jennifer with his second shoe.

She raised her hands. “Fine. No need to assault me with a deadly weapon.”

“It’s a shoe,” Chris complained.

“Exactly. A deadly weapon.”

He was tempted to throw the shoe at her, but instead, he dumped it back where he’d found it and flopped on the bed.

“Look, I’m not going to push, even though I can see that something’s happening,” Jennifer said as she stepped closer and squeezed Chris’s shoulder. “I’m sure you’ll talk to us once you feel ready. I just want you to know that whatever happens, I’m here for you. You’re my family, first and foremost. I love that the pride welcomed us, and I hope we’ll never have to leave, but if I have to choose between them and you, there’s no competition.”

Chris reached up and squeezed his sister’s shoulder. “You’re sure about that?”

“More sure than anything else in my life. I mean, I love this place and Annabelle and everyone else, so of course I hope we can stay, but if we can’t, I’m coming with you.”

Chris pulled his sister closer, grinning when she yelped and grabbed his shoulders for balance. He hugged her, burying his face against her stomach like he did when he was younger. She was only a few years older than him, but they’d always been close.

Chris prayed that would never change.

* * * *

Drake didn’t know anything about Chris. That was a problem.

It meant he had no idea where to find Chris. He didn’t even know if Chris lived in Green Hill proper or outside of it. He’d mentioned that he’d recently moved here with his family, but unfortunately, that didn’t help Drake locate him.

He groaned and bumped his head against the table. He was having lunch at the coffee shop, part of him hoping he’d findChris here, but he was nowhere to be seen. Drake hadn’t actually expected him to be, but he’d hoped.

How did one find someone they knew nothing about? It wasn’t like Drake could walk the streets of Green Hill screaming for Chris. Eventually Chris might hear him, and even if he didn’t, he’d definitely hear all the gossip, but it wasn’t how Drake wanted to start things between them.

He tapped his fingertips on the table before taking a sip of coffee. He’d have to get back to work soon, but since he’d spent his entire half-hour thinking about Chris and not coming up with any solution, maybe it wasn’t a bad thing. Maybe he needed to distract himself from Chris and the fact that he was somewhere out there, living in town, and there was a chance that Drake would never find him.

He shook his head. He couldn’t think that way. Green Hill was a small town, and while a lot of people lived here, it wasn’t so big that Drake couldn’t find a newcomer like Chris. He suspected that he’d have to ask around and find the right people who could tell him where Chris and his family were. It felt a bit like an invasion of privacy, especially since Chris had left before he could give Drake his number, but Drake needed to know.

Why had Chris run away? Why had he looked like he’d rather die than have a mate?

It hurt to think that. Drake had been looking for his mate for a long time, possibly ever since he’d learned what mates were. He’d finally found him, but he might have ruined everything by being himself.

Where did that leave him?

Well, he knew that if Chris ever gave him a second chance, he’d make sure not to be himself. That was usually why people ran, and he didn’t want Chris to run.

So being himself was out. Drake would have to keep quiet, give Chris space to speak, and listen to him. That wouldn’t be ahardship, because he was interested in Chris and wanted to find out as much as he could about him, but usually, he talked a lot. He liked talking to people about his experiences because he felt it made him more relatable.

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