Page 31 of Orlando
Orlando blinked.“Sorry to bother you.”
“You’re not bothering me.What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong.I just need to talk to you for a second.”
Orlando expected Liam to brush him off, but he didn’t.He stared at Orlando for a moment before nodding, and, to Orlando’s surprise, stepping out of the bedroom.
Orlando wasn’t surprised that the bedroom was where his mate felt more comfortable.There, he was on his own and didn’t have to be careful, but he also knew that he was safe because Orlando was close by.It made sense that he’d been hiding out in there.
Yet here he was, sitting on the couch as if it was perfectly normal for him.Orlando wished it was.This was good, though.
Liam looked around as if he’d never seen the apartment, or maybe as if he expected something to have changed since the last time he’d been there this morning for breakfast.His knee was bouncing, and Orlando wondered what was going on.It was clear something was, and maybe he should wait for Liam to come out with it, but Orlando had plans.
“So,” Liam said.
Right.Orlando had told him that he needed to talk to him.“I know things haven’t been easy,” he said, sitting on the edge of the coffee table.He kept as much space as he could between himself and Liam so he wouldn’t make his mate uncomfortable.For some reason, that made Liam frown, and he slid forward, bumping their knees together.
Orlando swallowed.He shouldn’t get ahead of himself.He didn’t know what Liam was thinking, and he needed to be careful.He wanted his mate, but he knew it would take some time.
Time he hoped they both had.
“I know all of this has been overwhelming for you.I’m not saying you had enough time to think things through already, but maybe we should do something together.”
Liam frowned.“Something like what?We’re stuck in this apartment.”
“Like a date.”
“That sounds good, but again, we’re stuck in this apartment.How is that going to work?”
“We can’t go out on a date, but the date can come to us.”
“What did you have in mind?”
Orlando would always be grateful to Seymour.He’d agreed to help right away when Orlando had explained what he needed, and he’d promised he would be there soon.That was why Orlando had needed Liam out of the bedroom.“It’s a surprise.”
Liam blinked.“A surprise?”
Orlando wanted to crawl into Liam’s lap and lean his head against Liam’s shoulder.His jaguar was thrilled at the possibility, but Orlando kept him at bay.This was about Liam.It was about making him feel cherished and cared for.He’d been running on fumes since he’d arrived here, and he needed someone to take the weight off his shoulders for a little while.Orlando was his mate.It was his duty and pleasure to be that someone.
“A friend is going to come by with some things I need.Do you think you can stay in the living room while I set up?”
“I could help.”
“It’s my date.I’ll set everything up.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I don’t, but Iwantto do it.”
Liam huffed, but he was smiling.“I guess I’m so bored I wish I could help you with this, but fine.If you want to be all mysterious, I’ll wait.”
Orlando grinned.“Thank you.Also, please ignore anything my friend is going to say.”
“For some reason, that doesn’t reassure me.”
“It wasn’t meant to.Seymour is my best friend, and he’s been very curious about you.”
Liam stared at Orlando for so long that Orlando thought he’d said something wrong.He was ready to apologize, even though he didn’t understand what for.
