The red on his face spread. “You don’t have to?—”
“No, I haven’t been with anyone since my werewolf ex. You’ve met Furball. She doesn’t play nice. Even if I’d wanted to sleep with someone, which I didn’t, she never would’ve let me.”
Graham nodded. “And you said you haven’t had any contact with his pack since?”
“No. Even if they reached out, I wouldn’t answer. My past is in my past a little more than yours.”
Graham grimaced. “The situation with Carly isn’t ideal.”
“The fact that she’s still texting you and going to your family’s holiday celebrations is the only red flag I noticed in our… what, four months?”
“Something like that.” He was still red. “There’s nothing romantic about it. You’ve seen the texts. It was never romantic. Just… uncomfortable.”
“I know. I’m sure she’s happy with her mate, but sending you pictures of them together seems kind of cruel.”
“I think she still feels bad. And I think my parents are hoping that her reaching out will somehow make me move back there.”
“It won’t,” I said bluntly.
“Not a chance.” He looked back to the vegetables. “I don’t have feelings for her. I don’t think I ever did. I don’t hate her the way most of the other guys hate their exes, but I’m pretty neutral toward her. If it made you uncomfortable, I would ask her to stop texting me.”
“I know you would.”
Graham looked up from his cutting board. “You do?”
“I’ve basically been spying on you for months. I know you pretty well. I think sending her a picture of you and I together would put an end to her texts, so I don’t think it’s anything to worry about. But this conversation is supposed to be your chance to ask me questions.”
“Right. Speed dating.”
“Mmhm.” I reached over and plucked a piece of tomato out of the bowl he was filling.
Eating in human form felt amazing. I hadn’t realized how much I missed it.
“Have you always loved art?” Graham asked.
“Good question.” I stole another piece of tomato.
He slid the bowl closer to me, enabling my thievery.
Good man.
“Honestly, no. I liked it. I always took art classes in junior high and high school. I did well, too. But I never particularly loved it, you know? It was basically just a hobby. I actually started college with the intention of following the family tradition and becoming a lawyer.”
Graham’s eyebrows shot upward. “A lawyer?”
I smiled. “Yeah. It would’ve been a bad fit.”
“What changed your mind?”
“Everything that happened with my ex. After I got away, I needed an outlet, and art was just… there. I threw myself into it head first, and realized pretty quickly that I didn’t want to pull it back out. Passion followed my energy, I guess. I changed my major, much to my family’s horror, and realized pretty quickly that I was going to have to be smart if I wanted to make money.”
“Is your family full of lawyers?”
“Yup. I’m the screwup.” I popped another piece of tomato into my mouth. “They probably won’t like you right off the bat, so prepare yourself. I’m sure they’ll come around, though. They’ll think your job is a lot more legitimate than mine.”
“Most of the town hated our pack at first.”
“I heard. TheFeral Packhas quite the reputation.”
