Page 29 of Devon

“I feel that he’ll want me to grovel, and I’m ready to do that.”Devon stepped closer to Ryan.“I’m not going anywhere.I don’t know what I’m ready for in our relationship, but I want to try.I won’t give up my future just because I did something stupid.”

“I think that both of us will do more stupid things.We’re eighteen.”

Devon laughed.He was so close that Ryan could kiss him, and Ryan decided to do it.If Devon didn’t want it, he’d push Ryan away.

Ryan hooked an arm around Devon’s waist.Like he’d hoped, Devon came easily.He was still smiling when Ryan kissed him, and he continued to do so.Ryan could feel it against his lips.

“I’m glad you’re not going anywhere,” he murmured when they separated.

“I’m glad that I’m not going anywhere, too,” Devon murmured back.“I think I would’ve been miserable.”

He also would have been alone, but now, he never would be, and not only because of Ryan.Ryan barely knew Devon, but he could tell how much it would’ve hurt him to leave his family behind.No matter how many times Devon pointed out that he, Haley, and Melissa weren’t related, they were family in all the ways that mattered, and Devon knew that.

* * * *

DEVON HAD BEEN HESITANTto tell Ryan about the kiss.He’d thought Ryan wouldn’t take it well.

Nic had kissed Devon, but Devon hadn’t expected or wanted it.Devon understood the position he’d put Kendrick in when he’d been so insistent better, and he felt ashamed and like maybe leaving wasn’t such a bad idea, after all.He wouldn’t, but every time he thought about Kendrick, he was tempted to.

That just meant he’d have to think about Ryan more.Ryan had told him that he didn’t care about what had happened with Kendrick.He’d told Devon that the kiss Nic had forced on him wasn’t important.

Devon liked Nic as a friend, but that was all there was to it.It would be that way even if Devon didn’t have Ryan.He’d never felt anything but friendship when it came to Nic, and there was something weird about what had happened.Devon wanted to find out what was going on, but he wouldn’t do so without talking to Ryan first.Ryan might be able to accept that Nic had kissed Devon, but could he accept that Devon wanted to reach out to Nic?

“You’re still worried,” Ryan said before kissing Devon’s forehead.

The physical closeness was new.Devon wanted more of it, but they were standing in the middle of the forest.Besides, they agreed to take things slowly.Pushing Ryan against a tree to make out with him wasn’t what Devon would call slow, no matter how tempting it was.

“I’m still thinking about Nic,” Devon admitted.“I’m worried about him.”

Thankfully, Ryan didn’t look angry.He stepped away and offered Devon his hand.Devon took it and allowed Ryan to pull him down the path.

“Why are you worried about him?”Ryan asked.

He sounded genuinely curious rather than angry, so Devon took a chance.“It’s the way he said that I needed to leave the village.He sounded almost panicked at the thought that I wouldn’t.It doesn’t make sense.”

“Well, you told me that he knew that you were planning on leaving for a while.Maybe he thinks that you were pushed into changing your mind.”

“Maybe.”But if that was the case, Nic would’ve just come out and said it.He wasn’t the kind of person who kept what was on his mind to himself.He was open and talkative.When Devon had told him that he was planning on leaving, Nic had looked happy about it.He’d told Devon that he should travel and see the world and that he shouldn’t limit himself to the village.Devon hadn’t had it in himself to tell Nic that wasn’t why he wanted to leave and that he’d seen enough of the world to last him a lifetime.He wanted to put down roots.He’d wanted to stay in the village, even before meeting Ryan.

But Devon hadn’t told Nic that.To be fair, he hadn’t told him much of anything, just that he wanted to leave.Why was it so important to Nic?Was Ryan right?Did Nic think that Devon had been convinced not to leave?

That didn’t explain the kiss.Whyhad Nic kissed Devon?Devon didn’t think he’d know for sure until he talked to Nic, but when he’d tried calling him, Nic hadn’t answered.Devon had come home because he hadn’t wanted to be late and make Ryan wait, but maybe he should’ve stayed in town.It looked like Ryan would have understood if Devon had called him to explain what had happened and that he was worried about Nic.

Devon had no idea where they were going, but he trusted Ryan, and he had no problems following him through the forest.He could still see the village every so often between the trees, and the forest was quiet and welcoming, so he wasn’t worried.

It was strange how quickly he’d come to trust Ryan, although he supposed that by shifter standards, it wasn’t.He was supposed to trust Ryan, and he was glad to see that Ryan trusted him, even after everything.

They eventually stepped into a small clearing.The sun streamed through the trees, playing between the leaves and on the grass.The day was warm, maybe slightly too warm, and Devon wanted to stretch out on the ground and enjoy himself.He wasn’t sure he’d be able to.He wasn’t sure he could stop thinking about Nic.

But he had to try.He was here with Ryan, and Ryan had already been gracious enough.Devon didn’t want to ruin their date—because that was what this was, even though they hadn’t talked about it.

“It’s pretty,” he said, looking at the wildflowers.

“I thought I could show you my tiger.”

Devon’s eyes widened.“Really?”

“Really,” Ryan confirmed.“Unless you don’t want to?You can tell me if you’re afraid of it.”

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