Page 26 of Devon

“You are, but you’re mates.I never thought I would rush into a relationship the way I did with Jonas, but the bond between us changed that.”

Ryan grinned.“And the fact that Jonas had to defend your ass from a Kudlak and almost bled out.”

“That didn’t help, but we’d already talked about our future together.I’m not saying you would regret being with Devon or change your mind about him, but you’re so young.I don’t want you to make mistakes.”

“Iwillmake mistakes.I’m only eighteen.I have my entire life to make mistakes.”

Something told Ryan that he’d make them with Devon, and he was fine with that.They could make mistakes together and try to fix them together, too.That was what being mates meant.

* * * *

DEVON COULDN’T STOPsmiling.He’d tried, if anything so that people wouldn’t think he was an idiot, but even when he purposefully relaxed his lips, he only had to think of Ryan, and he was smiling again.

That was a problem, and it wasn’t helped by the fact that he and Ryan had been talking and texting.They’d also seen each other a few times since they’d played hide and seek with Haley.Ryan was giving Devon space, as he’d promised, and it helped Devon relax when he was with him.

It didn’t help Devon’s plans, though.How was he supposed to leave town and Ryan when they were getting along so great?How was he supposed to abandon his mate?He might not be a shifter, but the more time he spent with Ryan, the more he felt drawn to him.The bond between them was very real, and Devon wasn’t sure how to deal with it.

Part of him was telling him that he needed to run now.Getting more attached to Ryan would make things more complicated.Devon was already having a hard time focusing on his job.He was lucky that Alex didn’t really seem to care.He wanted the job done, but he didn’t hover around Devon and Nic to check what they were doing.

Maybe Devon’s problem was that he’d never really wanted to leave.He’d thought he had to because of Kendrick and Jonas, and they were still standing in the way of him being able to relax and decide he wasn’t going anywhere, but he had one more reason to stay.

“You’ve been smiling a lot lately,” Nic said as he bumped their shoulders together.

The coffee shop was quiet.A few people were sipping on their drinks at the tables, but there was no one at the counter, so Devon and Nic were cleaning.Devon had been supposed to be cleaning, anyway.He’d stopped wiping the counter because he was thinking about Ryan.

He quickly went back to work, but Nic wanted an answer.He was as nosy as they came.He always had questions about Devon and his family and where he lived.

“Come on,” Nic said.“You know you can talk to me.”

“I’ve just been talking to someone.”

It took Nic a moment to answer.“Talking as in, you have a boyfriend?”

There was something in Nic’s voice that made Devon turn toward him.Nic was smiling like always, though, and there was nothing strange about him.“He’s not my boyfriend,” Devon said.

“What is he, then?”

“For now, just someone I’m getting to know.”Ryan was much more than that, but Devon wasn’t about to spill that secret.He liked Nic, and they were friends, but there wasn’t anything to say.Yes, Ryan was Devon’s mate, but right now, they’d kissed once, had seen each other a few times for coffee, and had been talking on the phone.That was all there was to their relationship.It was nothing to write home about or tell a friend.

“And he’s local?”

“Yeah, we live in the same village.”

“That’s nice.”

Nic didn’t sound convinced, but a group of three customers walked in, so he and Devon got distracted.

Devon continued thinking as he worked.Could he see himself working here for the rest of his life?Maybe, maybe not.Alex paid well, and since Devon was a clan member, he would never have to worry about not earning enough to have a roof over his head and food in his stomach.If he wanted to, he could do this until retirement.

But he wouldn’t retire anytime soon, would he?It wasn’t only because he was eighteen but also because, eventually, he and Ryan would bond.It would extend Devon’s life.He had a hard time imagining what he would do in twenty years, let alone in seventy.It was kind of terrifying to think about living that long, but it also meant that he would have many more opportunities than most people.If he wanted to work for Alex for the next twenty years, he could, and he’d still have plenty of time to pivot onto something else if he wanted a change.If he decided to open his own coffee shop, then close it and move on, he could do that, too.

Maybe he didn’t have to decide what he wanted to do with the rest of his life right away.Maybe he could focus on next week and next month first.

Knowing that helped.He had a job, and he would continue working for Alex, but he didn’t have to make any other decision right now.He could take his time.

He was really thinking about staying, wasn’t he?

He could feel Nic watching him as they worked, and he tried to imagine both of them still working here in a few years.They would grow closer because of the time they spent together, and Devon couldn’t say he was sorry about that.He’d never really wanted to leave.He’d thought it would be for the best, but would it be?Haley and Melissa wouldn’t want Devon to leave.Jonas would probably throw a party if Devon announced that he was, but not Kendrick.

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