Page 17 of Devon

Ryan didn’t want Devon to freak out, so he quickly took a step back.“I didn’t know you worked here,” he said softly.“I’ll go.”He desperately wanted to talk to Devon, but only when Devon was ready.

He clearly wasn’t.Ryan didn’t know when he would be, but it wouldn’t be today, and that was fine.

Devon didn’t try to stop him when Ryan left the shop.When Ryan looked back after stepping out onto the sidewalk, he found Devon still staring at him.A man moved closer and pressed their shoulders together.He leaned over Devon to talk to him, and a flare of jealousy almost pushed Ryan back into the coffee shop.His tiger wanted to pull the man away from their mate, but Ryan wouldn’t allow it to go nuts.It wasn’t like Devon was making out with the guy on the counter, but even if he was, it was none of Ryan’s business.Devon might be his mate, but they weren’t together.

He swallowed and forced himself to look away.He had to go to the grocery store, and the sooner he did that, the better it would be.He wanted to go home and spend a little time in his bedroom.Kendrick would probably be worried, but Ryan needed time alone.Hell, if he could, he’d disconnect from his tiger because the damn thing was annoying.Did his tiger not think that Ryan wanted Devon?Of course he did.It hurt him just as much that Devon was rejecting them.There was no other way to deal with this situation, though.

He quickly walked away.He did his best to focus on the grocery store and his shopping, and he felt a bit calmer by the time he was done.The store wasn’t massive, but it had everything Kendrick had asked him to buy.Ryan had gotten seven different texts, and he’d make sure to tease his brother once he was home.

Ryan’s shopping was done, and he needed to go, but he was almost afraid to leave the store.He doubted that Devon was still staring his way since he couldn’t see him, but what if he was?Ryan supposed he’d deal with it.It wasn’t like he had a choice.

He paid a lot less than he would have if he’d still lived back at home, then rushed to his car—Kendrick’s car—and dumped all of the bags into the trunk.He returned the cart and turned to go back to his car, but he noticed movement at the back of the parking lot.

Devon was standing next to a car and staring down at one of its tires.His hands were on his hips, and he was glaring, but even from where Ryan was, he could see that his mate looked like he was about to start crying.

Ryan winced when Devon kicked the tire.Something definitely was up, and Ryan wanted to help, but he also wanted to respect Devon’s decision not to talk to him.The smart thing to do would be to get into his car and drive away, but he couldn’t when it was obvious that his mate was distraught.

He waited for a moment, hoping that Devon would call someone to help.Instead, Devon turned and leaned against the car, sliding down until he was sitting on the asphalt.He looked like he’d given up, and that wouldn’t do.

Devon hadn’t asked for Ryan’s help, but Ryan would give it to him anyway.He’d keep his distance so he wouldn’t make Devon uncomfortable, and he wouldn’t push for Devon to talk to him, but he wouldn’t just stand there or, even worse, leave.

He couldn’t.

* * * *

WHEN DEVON HAD FOUNDRyan standing in front of him at the coffee shop, he’d freaked out.He’d clamped onto his feelings and had made sure to school his expression, but inside, he’d been screaming.

What had Ryan been doing there?Devon’s first instinct was to think that Ryan had followed him, but that couldn’t be right.Devon had been at work for hours, while Ryan had just gotten there.Besides, Ryan had seemed as surprised as Devon.He hadn’t been freaking out, but then, there was nothing for him to freak out about.He was just a shifter whose mate was a human and who’d been avoiding him since they’d met.

Devon had much more baggage than Ryan knew, and he still hadn’t dealt with it.He hadn’t been able to say anything to Ryan, but even if he had been, Ryan wouldn’t have given him enough time.He’d told Devon that he didn’t know Devon worked there and had left.

It was sweet.It was clear that Ryan had noticed how distraught Devon was, and while others would’ve stayed and asked what was happening, Ryan hadn’t.He’d taken a step back to make Devon more comfortable.

Maybe Ryanwasthe perfect man for Devon.

Devon couldn’t allow himself to think that.He couldn’t allow himself to think of anything about Ryan, so he’d been grateful when Nic had shuffled closer.Unfortunately for Devon, Nic had wanted to ask about the hot guy who’d just run out of the coffee shop.Devon hadn’t known what to say, which was when Nic had realized something serious had happened.He’d called Alex, and after the two of them had checked in on Devon and he’d reassured them that he was okay, Alex had sent him home.

Devon had tried to argue because he needed the money, but Alex had promised he’d be paid for the entire day and that it was almost time for him to go home, anyway.Alex was the boss, and he wasn’t wrong.There’d only been one hour left of Devon’s shift.

So Devon had left the coffee shop to go home.The problem was that he wouldn’t be going anywhere because one of his tires was flat.

He almost got up to kick the damn thing again, but he’d hurt his foot the first time he’d done it, and he didn’t want to go through that again.Instead, he closed his eyes and pressed the back of his head against the car.

What was he supposed to do now?

He knew how to change a tire.He was just drained and wanted to cry.It was only a flat tire, but right now, it felt like the sky was falling on his head.It was too much, all at once.It was ridiculous.He didn’t want to cry over a flat tire, but his eyes burned, so he squeezed them shut.

Someone cleared their throat.Devon blinked his eyes open to find Ryan standing a few feet away, looking awkward.Devon scrambled to his feet, and Ryan moved back and raised his hands, maybe to show Devon that he wasn’t dangerous.

“I was just wondering if you needed help,” Ryan said softly.“I can change the tire for you.”

“I know how to change a tire,” Devon snapped.

Well, he knew how to do it in theory.He’d never had to change a tire.He’d barely just gotten his license, and he’d only driven by himself a few times.He was lucky that the clan leaders had provided cars to anyone who needed it.He didn’t know where they’d gotten the money, but it wasn’t like he’d be taking the car with him when he left, so he supposed it was fine.

“I didn’t say you didn’t know how to do it,” Ryan said as softly as he’d spoken before.He didn’t seem to be offended by Devon’s tone of voice.“But I can do it for you.Why do it when you don’t have to, right?”

Devon found himself smiling.“You mean I can avoid getting my hands dirty?”

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