Page 22 of Back to You
And he wanted them to be happy again.
* * * *
IT FELT LIKE THEIRfirst date all over again.It wasn’t even a date, or at least, that was what Ronan kept reminding himself of as he parked his car in the small parking lot off Main Street.
He and Vincent had already been through this once.More importantly, they’d agreed to take things slowly.They’d been talking on the phone and texting, and now, they’d go for a walk together.It wasn’t a date.
Even though it felt like one.
Ronan turned off the engine and swallowed.He wasn’t sure that going to the park again was a good idea considering the emotional conversation they’d had there, but there wasn’t anywhere else to go in town.There were plenty of restaurants and nice places for couples, but he and Vincent technically weren’t a couple yet.
Or maybe they were.They were mates, and this felt like more than meeting for a talk.Even with all the history between them, it didn’t feel like talking to a friend.
Talking to Vincent had never felt like talking to a friend.Ronan had recognized Vincent as his mate almost as soon as they’d met, and he hadn’t been able to keep it to himself.He hadn’t seen a reason to.Vincent had been confused but happy when Ronan had introduced himself, and while the confusion had faded after a while, the happiness had stayed.
They’d been happy together until Fulton had ruined everything.If Ronan knew exactly where Fulton had been buried, he’d go there and find him.He could ask Cam, but he doubted the alpha would tell him.He wanted to keep Fulton in the past, as was right.He also wanted to avoid anyone desecrating Fulton’s corpse.Fulton might have been a monster, but he was dead, and he should be left alone.
Besides, Ronan didn’t want to allow the resentment to grow.He hated Fulton, and that would never change, but the man was gone.He could never hurt Ronan or Vincent again.He was in the past, and Ronan shouldn’t be thinking about the past when he had his entire future in front of him.
In fact, his future was coming out of the coffee shop, carrying two coffees.Ronan’s stomach churned at the sight of the small smile on Vincent’s face.He was eager and happy to see Vincent, but he was also worried about the Braden thing.
Cam hadn’t told Ronan not to tell Vincent that the pack was looking into him.Vincent probably knew, anyway.It made sense since Cam had to keep his people safe, and he didn’t know Vincent, no matter who Vincent was to Ronan.Hell, Cam didn’t really know Ronan, either.
Ronan didn’t know how Vincent would react.He could take a guess at how the old Vincent would have, but was Vincent still that same man?Ronan was going to find out.
That was what Ronan was here to find out, at least in part.He couldn’t do that from his car, so he opened the door and slid out.When he looked up, it was to see that Vincent was staring right at him.
A smile slipped onto Ronan’s lips naturally.Most of the time, he had to force himself to smile because he had nothing to be happy about, but that was changing.Every time he thought of Vincent, he smiled.It was a bit creepy, but Ronan didn’t care.For years, he’d thought he’d never find happiness again.How could he have when his mate was gone?But Vincent was there, holding two coffees, waiting for him, and none of what had happened over the past few years mattered.Fulton didn’t matter, either.He’d lost—both his son and his life—and Ronan and Vincent had won.
Ronan locked the car and strode toward his mate.Once he was close enough, it felt natural to lean down to kiss Vincent.Even though it had been years since they’d last done that, it had been familiar once.
Ronan stopped just in time.He hovered for a second, his lips inches away from Vincent’s.When he looked up, he saw that Vincent’s eyes were wide, and he jerked away.
Vincent cleared his throat.“It’s good to see you.”
“It’s good to see you, too,” Ronan answered, feeling like an idiot.Why did he always stop thinking when he was anywhere near his mate?Was it something about Vincent, or was it because they were mates?
It didn’t matter.Ronan just needed to engage his brain and remember that no matter how familiar it felt to kiss Vincent, they hadn’t kissed in years.It wasn’t why they were here, either.
Ronan wished it were.
“I got you coffee,” Vincent said as he raised one of his hands.“I hope you still take it like you used to.”
“I’m fine with whatever.I’ve never been as interested in coffee as you are.”
“I just think that if you’re going to drink coffee, it should be good coffee.”
Ronan grinned.“That’s what I’m saying.”
“I amnota coffee snob.I just can’t stand it when it tastes burnt.”
Ronan didn’t really like coffee unless it was incredibly sweet and tasted of caramel or mint, but he’d always enjoyed teasing his mate over it.
That was what he did as they both walked towards the park.It was completely empty today, which was a relief, but knowing Rosewood, it wouldn’t stay that way for long.If they wanted a private place to talk, they’d have to find it elsewhere.For now, though, it felt good to walk together.Their shoulders kept bumping against each other, and Vincent hummed as he sipped on his coffee.It was like being transported back to before all of this mess happened, and it was easy to bask in the memories.
“How’s Peter?”Ronan asked.He and Peter had been friends once, and he hoped they would be friends again.He just needed to fix things with Vincent first.If he didn’t, Peter would string him up by the balls.
“He’s struggling,” Vincent admitted.“It’s his boyfriend.”
