Page 9 of Feral Heart
Or had done it in public. Seeing all those eyes on him, knowing they’d witnessed a private moment, made Jamie panic.
“Honey, it was hard to miss. I think you mesmerized half the bar,” Noel said. “Cesar’s eyes were glued on you.”
Jamie glanced across the kitchen, watching the way Cesar moved like he’d been born with tongs in his hand. Jamie always tried, but most of his meals turned out garbage-worthy.
Even so, he’d loved experimenting, celebrating the small victory when he’d gotten something right.
But ever since Grant showed up, Jamie avoided the kitchen, afraid his brother would ruin one of the few things that made Jamie happy.
“I would love to show you. It’s just that…” Jamie shrugged. “I don’t know how. It just flows through me, and I live in that moment.” He curled his lips in after he word-vomited all over Noel. “Sorry.”
“For what?” Noel’s brows were furrowed, looking at Jamie like he couldn’t understand why he apologized.
Jamie glanced toward Cesar. The stud muffin was cooking, but he was being way too obvious that he was trying hard not to stare.
“I sometimes talk too much, too fast when I get excited,” Jamie confessed. “Drives most people crazy.”
Grant had threatened more than once to duct tape Jamie and toss him inside a closet, saying his nonstop chatting and moving tested his patience to the limit.
“It doesn’t bother me.” Noel patted his hand. “Don’t ever let anyone steal your voice, Jamie.” He smiled. “I like your excitement. It’s like watching a wind-up toy.” Noel snickered.
“You do?” That would be a first. A lot of people, including his coworkers and boss, became annoyed if Jamie talked longer than thirty seconds. He’d overheard two of his coworkers laughing at how Jamie waved at every customer when they walked away from his register.
You never knew what kind of day they were having, and maybe his enthusiasm might help someone who just needed one thing to go right. Jamie had plenty of those kinds of days, where a smile or kind word made the difference between sinking into depression and feeling that glimmer of hope.
“Would you rather we sit here awkwardly, trying to figure out what to say to each other?” Noel snorted, making Jamie grin. “It would be like reliving my first date all over again.”
“I’ve never had a date!” Jamie said with way too much emphasis. Cesar glanced at him, but Jamie couldn’t tell what that look was about.
Elijah just snickered as he chewed, quietly jerking his head toward Cesar.
“This wasn’t a date?” Noel frowned, gesturing at the table. “My mate—” His brows shot up. “My boyfriend, Tomas, told me Cesar’s never brought anyone into the kitchen before.” With a wide grin, he tapped Jamie’s knee. “I think you just had your first one, buddy.”
This… was all wrong. It was happening again, dang it! Someone treating him like he couldn’t tie his own shoes. The pat on the knee and the word “buddy” were condescending, something Jamie totally hated. His chest tightened, but he refused to show his hurt as he stood and walked out the back door.
* * * *
“What did I say wrong?” Noel stared in confusion at Cesar. “He’s a sweet guy. I was just—”
Cesar didn’t hear the rest. He was sprinting out the back door after Jamie, just as baffled. He’d been trying to give his hummingbird space as he talked with Noel.
Jamie needed friends, and Cesar was more than happy to share his. Now he just needed to figure out what triggered the male into walking out mid-conversation.
“Stop,” Cesar commanded when he spotted Jamie heading down the alley. He was chasing after the human way too often.
“I’m not going through that again!” Jamie fisted his hands, yelling while his head rocked back and forth.
“Going through what?” Cesar asked, keeping his voice level while Jamie kept shouting. Something had set him off, and Cesar couldn’t help if he didn’t know what the fuck happened.
Jamie paced in front of the dumpster, angrily swiping tears from his eyes. Whoa. And here Cesar thought the human all sweet and cheerful. Jamie had displayed a wide range of emotions in the course of a few hours.
He was a firecracker. “Jamie, tell me what’s going on.”
Cesar watched in alarm as Jamie started jamming his finger into his temple, jaw clenched tight. He didn’t answer, just kept making wounded animal noises.
Fuck this. Cesar circled his fingers around the male’s wrist, stopping Jamie from driving his finger through his skull, but that only made him even more agitated.
“How do I help you?” He cupped Jamie’s face, trying to make his hummingbird look him in the eyes. But he just struggled to get free, moaning loudly.
