Page 9 of Knot Their Boo
“Yes! I didn’t think anyone would get it. I assumed everyone would just think I’m a black cat,” I say.
“For the record, I’m just a black cat. Sugarbat here is Binx. But we got these costumes three years ago so we could match long distance, and I was not going to let them just sit in the closet tonight,” Plum supplies, and I smile.
“She was my virtual twin for spirit week my junior year of college,” I explain to Rhian for context. He closes the small gap between us, reaching out to tap the cat ears, and smiles.
“Suits you.” Rhian takes a deep breath of my scent, letting out a soft, almost too quiet to hear, grunt. “It really is good to see you again. It’s been too long. I’ve missed you.” Is it just me, or is his voice huskier? Holy shit, is he flirting?
“Yeah, it’s been a while.” I swallow thickly, shivering as my skin erupts with goosebumps. “Plum said my Grams talked to you about the candles?” I ask, needing to change the subject. I cannot handle him flirting with me. I’m already feeling weak.
Rhian nods, taking a small step back from me. “She did. She wanted me to make a space for your candles in my shop. I told her I’d be happy to. We cleared a space out yesterday, so if you want to come by and check out the space, I’ll be here all day tomorrow.” The gentle tenor of his voice soothes my nerves. Rhian has such a relaxed, calming presence. I always felt so at ease around him.
I guess some things don’t change.
“Wow, that’s really kind of you. You didn’t have to do that for me.”
“Well, your Grams did insist, actually.” Rhian chuckles as we move off to the side of the ticket booth to make room for others. “I’ll give you both a season pass tomorrow as well, so you can come back free of charge all month long. And for Christmas as well, Plum. I think I saw you here no less than two days a week last year,” he teases, making Plum blush.
“Thanks, Rhian. I appreciate that. I’ll have more money to spend on cocoa that way.” Plum laughs, glancing around.
“Nick’s been asking about your homemade jam, if you wanted to catch up with him. He’s covering for our little brother at the pie booth,” Rhian says with a knowing sort of smirk, and my eyes widen. Wait. Is she still into Nick? Oh, I’m grilling her about that later.
“I think I’m going to go get myself some pie then. Why don’t you two catch up?!” she says, turning and walking away with a little wave before I can protest.
“What if I wanted pie too?!” I demand, but she just walks away faster, making me giggle.
“I can get you pie, Sable. Or I can take you on a hay ride?” Rhian takes my hand, lacing our fingers, and I follow him as he heads further into the pumpkin patch. His hand is calloused, proof of his hard work on the farm, and warm against my chilled skin.
“We could do both,” I suggest, watching Plum. “Maybe we should let them have a moment though,” I add, frowning. “When…” I trail off, not sure how to phrase my question.
“They haven’t. He thinks she’s too young, and she thinks he’s too stoic, stubborn, and hard-headed,” Rhian explains.
“Those sound like the same things.” I chuckle, glancing down at our clasped hands. Why do I feel like a giddy teenager? Huh. When was the last time I held hands with a guy?
I wasn't celibate for six years, but I wasn't focused on dating. I was focused on my degree, and then working a job I didn’trealize I hated until two years in. Maybe Trent? The only guy I could kind of call a boyfriend. He’s a beta, and was only the second person I ever had sex with. He was also the last person I had sex with, and that was three years ago.
Yikes. Is that pathetic?
No more pathetic than giving your virginity to an alpha when you knew damn well you were going to break his heart three days later.I wince.Shut up, hindsight Sable. No one asked you.
“They’ll work it out. They can act like they don’t like each other all they want, but one of them will break eventually.” Rhian chuckles, leading me toward a hay ride entrance. I nibble my bottom lip, frowning. “What's the matter, Sable? Scared I’m going to seduce you on a hay ride? I promise you’re safe with me,” Rhian whispers in my ear as we approach the line for the family-friendly ride.
“Am I? I don't know, it's been a while since we talked. How can I be sure I'm not your next haunted hay ride victim?” I tease. I was trying to keep the mood light, but Rhian drops his head.
“It has been a while. Okay, more than a while. And that's my fault. I never explained… I'm sorry we drifted apart. That was never what I wanted, and by the time I realized my mistake, you were already gone.” Rhian takes my hands in his and pulls me in close, resting my hands on his chest. I'm sucked into those beautiful blue eyes of his. Hypnotized by his amazing scent.
“You don't owe me anything, Rhian. We were kids. Life happens, and sometimes people drift apart.” I shrug, trying to pull away from him because this moment feels so intense.
“I don't want to just be something that happened to you when we were kids, Sable. Let me make it up to you. Starting right now.” When he wraps his arms around me in a tight hug, I fucking melt.
“You smell unmated!” I blurt like an idiot, and Rhian chuckles.
“That your way of asking if I'm single?” He pulls back, looking down at me as the couple in front of us climbs into their hayride. “I'm not seeing anyone, but I haven't spent the last six years alone either. Nothing serious. Guess there was this girl from my past that I never got over,” he murmurs, pulling me back in for another hug.
Fuck, is he saying what I think he is?
Am I the girl he never got over?
Sable
