Page 18 of A Bear's Journey

Craig scowled. Patience was easily one of his least favorite words.

“There’s that fancy coffee place next door,” Jasper said, a light coming into his light brown eyes.

Craig raised his eyebrows.

“I’m listening.”

“Want to go? I heard they have chocolate croissants.”

Craig uncrossed his arms. Pastries were his weakness.

“All right,” Craig said. “You said the magic words.”

Jasper took his hand and they walked out of the library.

“I know what you like,” he said.

* * *

The coffee shopwas simply called Grind, and the moment Craig walked in, he felt out of place. Somehow, in the last couple years, the flannel and jeans that were his daily outfit had become cool, and now this place was full of skinny hipster kids all wearing the same thing as him.

Plus, they wanted five bucks for a latte.

None of it seemed to faze Jasper, who stepped up to the counter and ordered a cappuccino, a mocha, and four different pastries. The barista had to practically crane her neck up at him, since he towered over her by at least a foot and maybe more.

“Would it be possible to get that chocolate chip cookie microwaved?” Jasper asked.

I didn’t know you could request that,thought Craig.

“Of course,” the barista answered. “We’ll bring it out to you.”

“Thank you,” Jasper said, and left a dollar in the tip jar.

Once they got their coffees, Craig looked around for a seat.

Then he froze, literally stopping mid-stride.

There was a girl, sitting at the bar, with red-gold hair halfway down her back, wearing jeans and a cardigan. She was gesticulating wildly and talking to another man, their heads close together.

Craig nearly threw his coffee cup.

He hadn’t known he could feel like this. It was her, he was one thousand percent sure of it, even from seeing just her back. The knowledge was deep down and primal, he didn’t need to think about. He just felt it.

His bear was just under his skin, growling and roaring and absolutely itching to get out and murder this guy who had the nerve to sit there, talking to her, in public like that.

“Craig,” said Jasper, through gritted teeth.

Craig jolted back to earth, and realized that his cappuccino had spilled a little into its saucer and people were looking at him oddly.

He gave them a single business-like nod, grabbed the chocolate croissant off the counter, and joined Jasper at a small table right behind Olivia and her companion.

“They roast their own beans here,” Jasper said, too loudly.

Craig just nodded, then picked up the chocolate croissant and shoved a third of it into his mouth. He couldn’t believe that Jasper had wanted this table, right behind Olivia and her companion.

Just thinking the word made his bear grumble. Craig cast a sidelong look at the guy. He was big, yeah, and a grizzly shifter for sure, but if Craig took him by surprise...

Then he overheard a snatch of conversation.

---