Page 50 of Charmed By Destiny

“Absolutely,” Richard said. “Look at how well the wedding went yesterday. We did that. Our failures have been few and far between, and each one a learning experience for the future.”

Shifting awkwardly next to Richard, Douglas stopped to take a deep breath. Something was clearly bothering the inspirit, and that worried Richard. Had something happened between the wedding and today?

“Douglas, whatever’s on your mind, you can trust me. I’ll always be here for you.”

“I thought this would be easier,” Douglas commented quietly. “On the way over here, I must’ve practiced how I’d say this a million times. But it’s so much harder with you sitting next to me. For so long, I decided I was wrong about how I was feeling, even though we’ve been close. Last night, you were so concerned about me. I knew I couldn’t hide any longer. That we couldn’t pretend anymore.”

Thoroughly confused, Richard rapidly sifted through his memories and tried to pinpoint what Douglas meant, but he was clueless. Which was why he was unprepared for Douglas to take his hand.

“I know it’s a big gamble,” Douglas said. “But I think we owe it to ourselves to find out. If we’re wrong, we’re both adults. We can be friends and move on. I promise.”

“Owe it to ourselves to find out…” Richard replied. A heartbeat later, realization dawned and horror filled him.

“If we’re soulmates,” Douglas finished before Richard could unglue his tongue from his mouth to speak.

Richard carefully stood and walked to the desk his parents unofficially shared. It wasn’t about putting physical distance between him and Douglas so much as gathering his scrambled brain cells. Just the previous night, he’d stood in front of Lucas and asked the man to share his bed.

The humiliation of nearly being told no was so fresh in his mind that tears sprang to his eyes. Richard didn’t want to hurt Douglas, but he had no choice. They were friends. Richard had no romantic notions about being with Douglas, nor had he ever. He wasn’t attracted to him. And all those points were moot anyway because Richard had a soulmate.

How the fuck was he going to walk into work tomorrow and share that with the world?

“Richard, I know you’ve sworn off sex, relationships, and any notion of finding your soulmate, but surely this weekend has proven to you how wonderful it can be when the right two people find each other,” Douglas pleaded, breaking Richard’s heart further.

“Please stop,” Richard begged. It was cowardly to allow Douglas to keep speaking. All Richard could do now was try to protect Douglas’s feelings as much as possible. Richard turned to face him and wished he had the power to stop the pain Douglas was about to feel. “I’m incredibly sorry if I’ve led you on. The last thing I’d ever want to do is hurt you. Please know that. I’d crush my own spirit before I’d cause you an ounce of unhappiness. But I don’t have the same feelings for you that you have for me.”

“Are you saying that to keep from taking a chance?” Douglas asked, his eyes wounded and narrowed.

“No, you’re one of my dearest friends. No one knows me better than you, Mari, and Eric. In my head, you’re in the same category as Mari, Eric, Gabriel, David, and my parents. Family, Douglas. That’s what you are.”

Douglas stood, and his mouth firmed. “So, now I’m like a brother or cousin to you? I think you’re denying the chemistry between us. Otherwise, why would you be so upset? Why are you crying?”

“Because I know I’m hurting you.”

“You’re hurting yourself too. Denying your soulmate is ridiculous. For years I’ve held on to the hope that we’d act on the passion I know you feel between us. I’m not kidding myself. You’re the one deluding yourself. I’ve waited for you to move past your silly convictions, but I can’t do it any longer. If you don’t take a chance with me now, I won’t offer this again. One invitation to find out, Richard. That’s it. Take it or leave it.”

“I’m sorry, I can’t,” Richard whispered through his tears.

Douglas glared, straightened his shoulders, and marched to the door. “Won’t, you mean. I hope you’re right and we’re not soulmates, because I don’t deserve to be alone just because you’ve decided to be a martyr. See you tomorrow, Richard. Unless, of course, you’re going to have me fired for daring to ask you to get over three bad nights with total strangers.”

With those words, Douglas charged out, and the door banged loudly against the stopper. Richard stood in silence and wondered what to do. Douglas was furious, and Richard couldn’t blame him. It’d been incredibly brave to put himself out there and invite Richard to do something that had every possibility of permanently altering their relationship.

Douglas was entitled to his hurt and anger. If there were any changes in employment, they’d be made by Douglas. There was no way Richard would ever consider firing him. It’d be awkward, but Richard dearly hoped they could someday find common ground again. Was that asking for too much?

Swiping the last of his tears away, Richard headed out of the office to rush upstairs and scrub his face, but he bumped into his mother.

“Richard, love, what’s wrong? I was coming to find you to find out if we needed another plate for dinner. Will Douglas be joining us?”

Richard shook his head and didn’t fight as his mother pulled him into a hug. “No, Douglas left.”

Gabriel charged into the hallway. “Richard, what’s wrong with Douglas? He just slammed the front door.”

“Slammed the door?” his mother asked as Richard pulled away to gather whatever wits he had remaining. His weekend was turning out to be far more tumultuous than he could’ve ever imagined when he’d woken up the previous morning. “That doesn’t sound like our Douglas.”

“We had a disagreement of sorts,” Richard revealed. “But we’re not going to discuss it. This is a happy weekend for our family, and this can wait until tomorrow.”

“I wish everyone would stop acting like the world needs to stop because Eric and I were married yesterday,” Gabriel complained. “This weekend was a celebration of our relationship, but I’m far prouder to be his soulmate than his husband.”

The inspirit stalked off, and Richard swore his entire body sagged in disappointment. “Great, now I’ve pissed off Gabriel.”

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