Page 3 of Landing Her Eagle
Daphne clears her throat, refocusing my attention.
“I’m sorry. What?”
She rolls her eyes and sways a bit. Her “one drink” is starting to hit her. “How long are you in Prague?”
I think about how to answer, my mind running through a few scenarios.
“I’m not sure. Another week or two. Listen, Daph, I need to edit some pictures. I don’t know if I’ll be able to FaceTime more this week, but I’ll text you. Promise me you’ll do the lighthouse challenge. I know when it comes time to get in the car and go, you’ll make excuses to stay home. Promise me.”
She gives a half smile. “Gee, a girl doesn’t leave her house for weeks at a time except to go to work, and people think she’s a hermit or something. I promise.”
“Good. To hold you to it, take a selfie at each lighthouse and text it to me while you’re there.”
“Really, Logan Morris? You need proof? Do you want me to hold up a newspaper too, to prove the date?” She sounds exasperated, but she wears a playful smirk.
“Nah, a selfie will do the trick.” I wink. “Have a good…okay, not sucky…week at work. Drive safely and have fun next weekend. Remember—selfies and texts.”
“Goodnight, Logan. Have fun, be safe, take pretty pictures.” She smiles, waves, and disconnects.
My phone dings, signaling a text. I smile as I pick it up, expecting it to be Daphne with something she forgot to say.
It’s not. It’s my cousin, Liam.
Liam: I saw your girl today.
Me: Daphne?
Liam: Do you have some other girl?
Me: No.
Liam: Are you guys dating?
How do I answer him? We aren’t dating, but my goal is to change that. Eventually. Maybe sooner than eventually if Daphne’s lighthouse adventure is a sign of bigger changes to come, a sign she’sready. Finally.
Liam: Because if you aren’t, I’m going to ask her out.
Me: NO!
Liam: No, you aren’t dating?
Me: WTF dude, leave her alone.
Liam: Dude, if you don’t ask her out, I will. She’s too cute to be single.
Me: Don’t make me kick your ass.
Liam: I know you’re all shifter strong and shit, but you’d have to get your eagle self here to kick my ass. You aren’t doing anything from across the ocean.
What. The. Hell? Other than Daphne, Liam is my best friend. Why is he doing this? He’s only a year older than I am, and we did everything together growing up. He works for the same company Daphne does, traveling around the country, scouting new locations for Morgan Outlet Centers and visiting existing centers making sure they’re running smoothly. I don’t know how he thinks he’s going to date Daphne when he’s not home much more than I am!
I end our text conversation with the middle finger emoji and start Googling flights back home. While my relationship with Daphne started as a friendship, through the years, my feelings for her have deepened. I would love to pursue something with her, but I’m so firmly established in the friend zone, I’ve considered having my mail forwarded there. Part of the reason I travel so much is that it kills me to be close to Daphne and just be her friend. If I was close to her, I’d want more, and she hasn’t been ready for that. If she’d even want me that way. Maybe it’s all one-sided on my part.
My eagle knows she’s the one for me. Sure, I’ve dated. I haven’t been a monk since I met her, but those shallow encounters haven’t dulled the knowledge that she’s the one I’m meant to share my life with.
What if she doesn’t think I’m who she’s supposed to share her life with? Maybe she doesn’t want to marry a shifter. At least that would rule out Liam. He’s a cougar shifter, like my mom and brother. Like his dad and sister too. Sure, we’ll play the field some when we’re young and single shifters, but when we commit to a mate, it’s for life. I can’t have a fling with her—if we do this, it’s forever. Maybe she doesn’t consider me forever material? I guess I’m going to have to man up and find out.
If she’s ready for an adventure, I’m going to be the one to give it to her.
