Page 24 of Coffee Shop Cupid
I looked up and grinned when I saw Tristan standing there. I stood, strode towards him and pulled him into my arms.
“I thought you were going to call,” I said, running my hand up and down his back and savoring his soft scent.
“I was going to,” he admitted. “But I decided I’d rather see you instead.”
“Was it all your idea?” I teased.
He chuckled. “Joey may have urged me to be brave and do what I want, rather than what seems safe.”
I hummed. “I’m glad he did.”
Tristan sighed in my embrace. “Me too.”
We stood there for a moment, me relishing the feel of the man I saw as my omega against my chest while Tristan took deep breaths and seemed to relax.
After a couple minutes he let out a long breath and straightened.
“Good?” I asked.
He nodded. “Yeah.”
“Want a seat?” I offered, motioning towards the guest chair.
“Thank you,” he replied, sitting and looking around my office. “This is where you are when you’re not baking or helping customers?”
I grinned and nodded. “It’s not much, but it makes sense to have an office with a door for when I need to do the paperwork side of owning a business.”
“Makes sense.”
We were both silent for a few seconds, then he spoke again.
“I… I guess we should figure out what’s going on between us.”
I blinked, then realized that we hadn’t talked about it. Once he’d finished crying we talked about how we needed to talk, but it was obvious he was in no shape to do so right then. Him calling after leaving his therapy appointment had been our only firm decision.
I took a deep breath, then reached across the desk. He smiled softly and let me hold his hand.
“Tristan, I want this with you,” I started. “But I don’t want to push you faster than you’re ready. I’ve been single for a while, and I’m willing to stay that way if it means you’re in a healthy place before we move on.”
“You’re really ok with…” he trailed off, motioning to his neck. “And…” he added, gesturing at his stomach.
I took a deep breath. “It’s a lot, I’m not going to lie to you about that. I’m not going to throw out the possibility of being with you over it though. There’s more to you than being able to have children, or be bonded.”
“Thank you…” he said softly.
“Everybody deserves love, Tristan,” I stated. “It should never be conditionally tied to what you can give in return physically.”
“It might take me some time for that to sink in.”
“I’ll wait,” I repeated. “Though I will also fantasize about pummeling the piece of shit who put those ideas in your head.”
He blushed pink, and I smiled.
“Let me take you to dinner tonight?” I asked.
He looked at me, blushed a darker shade of red, and nodded. “I’d like that.”
“Me too.”
