Page 6 of Tides of Fate

“Out?”

“Sure. Trust me—you do not want me to make you anything. I broke an egg last week and had to call Jay to come clean it up—slippery sucker. I am useless in the kitchen.”

Nix’s scent goes from sweet to burnt cookies in a second. “I don’tknow…I haven’t been out beyond the gate since I came h—home.” He rubs the hem of his sweater between his fingertips, and Leo gets a whiff of thunder and black currant from the garment.

“Well, why don’t we go through a drive-thru and have a car picnic? Then we can come home and watch a movie on Netflix.”

He doesn’t want to push him, but if he can encourage Nix to step out of his comfort zone a bit, then wouldn’t that be good?

“Eat in the car? Without other people—you wouldn’t mind?”

“It would be great, and it’ll be like a date. You and me.”

That’s enough to put a smile on Nix’s face.

Leo understands anxiety—how could he not when he has loved Luca Wilde since he was thirteen? Especially when Nix has more than enough reasons to worry about what’s out there.

“Okay, let’s go before I change my mind.” He slips on his new shoes and takes Leo’s hand.

Nix pauses on the front step but seems to gather himself, and together, they make their way to the garage where Leo’s Lexus sits. Leo opens the passenger side door and bows. “After you, beautiful.”

Nix just blushes harder and rolls his eyes at Leo’s over-the-top flirting, and then they’re pulling out of the gate.

“What do you feel like eating?” Leo turns toward Nashville instead of their little small-town shops. If they’re looking for a drive-thru, they’ll need Nashville’s variety. He’s excited to have Nix all to himself for the first time, and his belly is full of butterflies.

Nix hesitates before finally saying, “McDonald’s? It’s been so long since I’ve had a milkshake and fries. Please? If that’s okay with you?”

Leo feels that same despair he’d felt about those damned yellow towels. “Of-fucking-course you can have McDonald’s.”

Gideon will definitely complain, but if Nix wants McDonald’s every day, Leo will get him McDonald’s everydamnday.

In the end, Nix gets his McDonald’s, and he feeds Leo fries dipped in the cold, sweet vanilla milkshake. It’s sweet, just like his mate, and it’s been so long since Leo has felt so giddy.

“Mmmm.So good, Leo. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Leo can only smile and try not to stare at his mate’s mouth, licking creamy white shake off his fries and fingers. Eventually, Leo eats his burger, too, and when he offers his mate a bite, Nix refuses with a smile and a loud slurp on his straw.

What was that song about milkshakes and yards? That’s Nix.

When they’re done, they drive around for an hour, talking about nothing. Leo points out places he wants to take Nix someday and plans for their next album without Ripley, and it’s not long before Leo inadvertently ends up one street over from his parents’ place.

Guess Rowan isn’t the only one who goes backhomeby accident.

“Shit.” Leo pulls over on the side of the road.

“Are you all right? Is your tummy okay? Finn told me you shouldn’t have so much dairy and—”

“No! Oh my god. How embarrassing. I’m going to kick his ass.” Leo hides his face in his arms on the steering wheel.

Nix only laughs, and Leo has to look because he knows Nix’s face is transformed by the silliest grin. “Okay, if it’s not tummy trouble, then what has you smelling so worked up?”

“This is where I grew up. Just down there. I didn’t come here on purpose. I just—”

“Muscle memory, right?” Leo is so relieved his mate believes him that he isn’t being sneaky.

“Yeah. We can turn around, or we can go in and see my old room and the kittens.” Leo hadn’t planned this, but now he really wants it, and with no one home, it’s the perfect time. “My dad’s in the city at work, and my moms are on a wine tour. We’d—”

“Kittens?”

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