Page 19 of Hansen

Evan was rethinking love at first sight because he was already a little in love with this man.“As long as you don’t expect anything, I’d be happy to spend the night at your house,” Evan said, hoping—knowing—he wasn’t making a mistake.

Hansen was the rest of his life, and it looked like the rest of his life was about to start.

* * * *

HANSEN WASN’T SURPRISEDthat Evan wasn’t ready for the next step.He hadn’t expected him to be.He’d been in Evan’s place, and he remembered how overwhelming everything was.Evan needed to find his footing and his place in a life he’d missed out on for years.Of course he wasn’t ready for anything more with Hansen.

And that was okay.Hansen hadn’t been lying when he said that he would give Evan whatever he needed.His instinct was to take care of his mate, of course, but it was more than that.He wanted to take care of Evan because he deserved it after everything, just like all the other survivors had deserved it.

Hansen’s job was more on the fighting side of the mission he and the mutants had given themselves, but he’d lived with the tribe long enough to have helped survivors, too.He liked watching them come back to life.He liked seeing them realize that their nightmare was finally over and that the rest of their life was in their hands.It could be terrifying, but also exhilarating.

Evan was free, and with all the support he had, he could do anything he wanted.

“The only thing I expect is that you allow me to take care of you,” he promised.

Evan was still fiddling with his phone.He’d checked in with Davey, and since Hansen had no doubt that Davey would freak out if Evan didn’t come home tonight, he tilted his chin toward the phone.“You should tell Davey.”

Evan groaned.“He’s going to freak out.”

“Yes, well.He’s been overprotective since you arrived.”

“I don’t blame him.I know he feels guilty, and I’d probably do the same if our roles were reversed.I want to take care of him, too, after the years we spent apart, but he has Orion.”

“And you have me.”

Evan blinked as if he hadn’t remembered that.Hansen didn’t think that was the case.It was more that Evan wasn’t used to people taking care of him anymore.

“I’ll text him.”

“He’s going to call you right away.”

The corners of Evan’s lips curled into a smile.“Probably, but that’s fine.”

Sure enough, Evan’s phone started vibrating as soon as he put it down on the table.Evan’s smile was more pronounced as he picked it up, answering right away.

“You do know you’re not my mother, right?”he asked.

Hansen went back to work with a smile on his face.He loved that Davey was so worried about Evan.He wished it wasn’t out of guilt, although he understood that was only part of it.Evan deserved people who cared about him and who could show him that they did.

As Evan had said, there wasn’t much left to do.Hansen cleaned the tables and counter again, then checked that everything in the kitchen was turned off.Orion would be at work in a few hours—Hansen wasn’t sure how he managed to wake up at three in the morning every day to do this—and when he arrived, he’d find everything clean and neat.

Hansen turned off all the lights, checked that the front door was locked, and turned to Evan.He was still on the phone, softly talking with Davey, but he quickly said goodbye when he realized that Hansen was done.

That was when things turned a little awkward.

Hansen had expected it.He and Evan had never spent the night in the same place, and their relationship was new.Hell, Hansen wasn’t even sure he’d call it a relationship.Maybe friendship?He wanted it to be more, but he wasn’t about to rush Evan.Maybe they could talk about it over dinner.

“Ready?”he asked.

Evan got to his feet.Hansen gave him space as he finished checking the bakery, keeping an eye open when they stepped into the back alley.Orion and Evan had been here with Orion’s father just a few days ago.There weren’t good memories here, but Evan didn’t seem to be thinking about them.He turned the last light off, closed and locked the door, then checked it again to be sure it was locked.

Hansen wanted his mate to be out of there as soon as possible.He realized that he couldn’t protect Evan from memories, and considering that Evan worked here, he probably saw the back alley several times a day, but his lion wanted Evan out of there, and Hansen agreed.

Like everything in the village, Hansen’s house wasn’t far.It was small, more like a cottage, but he liked it.He was fine with something small since he wasn’t planning on having a family.He didn’t have experience with kids, and what had happened today had cemented that conviction.He wanted to focus on Evan and their relationship, and he suspected that Evan felt the same way.It was something they needed to talk about, though.If Evan did want kids, they’d have to move.

Evan seemed fascinated by every trinket in the kitchen.As Hansen got things out to make pasta, Evan picked up pictures, poked at objects, and looked out the window.

That was why Hansen didn’t expect it when Evan suddenly asked, “Do you think I’m a mutant?”

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