“Pickles. Oh! And I love soft pretzels and queso.”
I mentally add those items to my grocery list.
“What about you?” She asks, and I swallow a bite of food.
“My favorite color is green, like your eyes. I like fall and winter. I would rather be too cold than too hot. I’m not a big sweets person either. I love steak and burgers.”
“What about family? You already know that mine is a disaster.”
“Mine is good. They live down in Florida. I don’t visit them very often. We’re not super close. Never have been.”
“Is that why you joined the Air Force?”
“Yeah. There weren’t a lot of opportunities in my small town. I knew I didn’t want to stay there, so I joined after high school. I met Niko, my boss here, on one of my deployments. When he got out and started working here, he offered for a few of us to join him, and I took him up on it.”
“I’m glad you made your own family here then,” she says sweetly.
“Me too.”
I finish my food and take our plates to the kitchen sink.
“I can do the dishes,” she offers, and I shake my head.
“I’ll just load the dishwasher. Why don’t you go relax, and I’ll finish up here, and then go grab your things.”
She nods, and I hear her head into the living room. I load the dishwasher quickly and start the cycle.
“I’ll be back in a few minutes,” I tell her as I head for the door.
“Should I come with you?” She asks, and I can tell she doesn’t want to do that.
“No, I won’t be gone long.”
I hurry out of the house, jog down the path, and then down the hill to the campsite. Everyone is gone, probably out on another hike. I head to Sophie’s tent and gather everything up, including the tent. There’s not much and I carry everything back the way I came.
I’m back at the house in under twenty minutes.
“You brought everything,” Sophie says as I come through the door.
“Yeah, I wasn’t sure what you wanted.”
“Thanks.”
“Did you want to head into town?” I ask her, and she nods.
“Sure. Can I shower first?”
“Of course. Take your time.”
She takes her backpack and heads upstairs. I remain downstairs, doing my best not to picture her naked.
I fail.
I’m close to rushing upstairs and claiming her, when the water turns off, and I hear Sophie moving around.
Tell her about shifters and fated mates now! My wolf urges.
No. I will soon.