#Chapter 69 I don’t like being here without you
Rachel POV
Dave’s Diner
Burgers and fries ca fast at Dave’s Diner. We had to wait longer for the milkshakes, but they ca in giant, old-fashioned milkshake glasses with enough shake for a second pour in the stainless steel mixing cups which ca alongside. I’d ordered banana while Nathan had asked for chocolate.
"Is your phone going off again?"
My phone had been buzzing angrily every few minutes since our drinks arrived. I’d seen Tyler’s na on the screen; I had zero desire to explain to him I wasn’t able to talk because I was having dinner with Nathan.
"It’s Tyler. He’s persistent. He will also not be any angrier in an hour than he is right now. We can enjoy our al in peace."
"I don’t think you get a lot of that with Wright. Peace, I an."
I knew what he ant and he wasn’t wrong. Nathan was, on paper and in person, the more pleasant of the two Alphas, but he wasn’t the one who made my heart beat faster or my blood race through my veins. I had already co to terms with the fact I was ant to be with Tyler whether it made sense for either of us or not.
"What about you? Do you get a lot of peace with Charlotte Wright?"
I raised a brow in defiance at Nathan while going back to my shake. I hated the idea of that bitch being in Nathan’s life even if I didn’t want him for myself. I just---wanted soone better for him.
"Char? We’re just friends. Our parents want more, of course, but mine are reluctant to accept the marriage offer since she’s not my fated mate."
Nathan shrugged a broad shoulder and finished his burger. Everything about him seed cleaner, neater, more refined than Tyler. I could see a confidence in Nathan which ca from being beloved from birth.
Did Tyler worry I wouldn’t choose him because Nathan Lewis was a shining example of what an Alpha was ant to be? Did Tyler ever really worry at all?
"You’re not dating her because you like her? She’s a beautiful woman."
I hated admitting it, but Tyler’s sister really was attractive. I didn’t think I was fishing for complints. I was genuinely curious about how Nathan saw Charlotte, what he thought about her, how he felt about her.
I didn’t want Nathan for myself, but I did want him to find soone who would be good to him. He deserved soone who would love him.
"You’re a beautiful woman," Nathan said, reaching across the table to touch my hand.
I was struck with mories of the two of us holding hands over milkshakes in high school. I pulled my hand away because the mories were strong enough for to feel the heat of his hand around mine even though he’d not gone so far as to grab my hand.
"And you’re a very handso man, Alpha Lewis. Tell what you’re planning to do with yourself now you’re back here. I haven’t gotten the scoop on you! I’m sure you have more going on than trying to avoid being wrangled into an arranged mating."
Nathan took the bait and changed the subject to his plans now he was back in the city. I wasn’t surprised to learn he was planning to get his Master of Business Administration from a local university with an excellent record. He would start working for his family imdiately. House Lewis made their fortune in real estate; Nathan had the perfect personality for handling prospective investors or buyers.
I lost track of ti as we finished our food and sipped our shakes. Tyler had called three tis before starting to text. His texts were getting more and more aggressive the longer I delayed responding to him.
Finally sick of the sound of my phone buzzing like an angry hornet, I excused myself to call Tyler.
"I’m sorry, Nathan. Tyler is getting anxious. I’ll be right back. I’m just going to tell him where I am so he’ll let us alone to finish here, okay?"
I slipped out of the booth then stepped out onto the sidewalk to make my call.
"Tyler! You’re driving crazy. I’m having dinner with Nathan at a diner close to my apartnt. I’m perfectly safe and just fine so you---"
I was cut off as a familiar black sedan pulled up onto the curb in front of . My mouth was probably hanging open when Tyler practically leapt out of the car to grab my arm. I almost started to talk into the phone I was so startled.
Falling into the backseat with a yelp, I couldn’t do anything except shield my head from hitting the opposite door as Tyler shoved over enough to get in with . Adam pulled off the curb before I could so much as hang up the call.
"Do you have any idea how worried I was?"
"I have so idea since you were ssaging incessantly. How did you even find ?"
"Adam can track anyone. This was easier though. I still pay for your cell phone. I pulled up the GPS. I thought you’d been abducted or attacked or you were having a dical ergency!"
A part of was furious Tyler had barged into my life as if he had a right to track down anyti he wanted.
The larger part of was flattered he cared enough to panic on my behalf.
"I wasn’t though. None of those things. When you saw Dave’s Diner pop up on the location tracker, did you really think I was in trouble?"
A flush spread darker over Tyler’s high cheekbones. He clenched his teeth hard enough for to see a muscle in his jaw ticking away. I decided to give him a mont to collect himself because he looked as if he needed it.
Taking advantage in the lull of activity around , I texted Nathan to let him know Tyler had picked up. I tried to make it sound as if it was a spontaneous yet voluntary trip rather than what amounted to a public abduction. Nathan sent back a simple reply telling not to worry and I wanted to hug him again for being so understanding.
"You had a gift for her?" Adam hinted, amusent in his tone telling he was laughing at Tyler or or both of us.
Probably both of us from the grin he was sporting as our eyes t in the rearview mirror.
"A gift?"
Tyler had been so inattentive to during our mating I’d taken every shred of kindness from him as a major event. The idea he’d hunted down to give a gift before I left for unknown territory chard completely.
I put my hand on his arm and lightly squeezed his bicep, giving him a sincere smile as I leaned into him.
"What kind of present did you just have to give before I went out of town?"
Tyler’s eyes were fixed on my lips as he replied, "I don’t want you to open it in the car. Will you go back to the house with ?"
I liked he asked rather than simply telling Adam to keep driving. My affection for him doubled even as I wished I had been able to finish my milkshake or at least tell Nathan I was leaving in person rather than abandoning him in the diner.
"Yes. Thank you for asking."
"I’m---working on it."
Tyler hesitated before draping his arm over my shoulders. I curled into his side, enjoying the weight of his arm around and the scent of his Alpha musk as I lay my head on his chest. We had a few minutes to sit together just sharing space before Adam made the circle into the drive I knew so well I could recognize it in total darkness.
I liked Tyler had called it ’the house’ instead of ’our house.’
This place had been my prison more than my ho when we had been together. I wanted to see it differently though and I let myself be chard by its modern design, glass windows and doors, and the way the light reflected off it as the day was dying.
I could see myself raising a baby here.
The thought was surprising enough I didn’t protest at all as Tyler tugged out of the sedan. I followed him into the house. Signs of life existed in the space I hadn’t seen before: glasses on the tables, paperwork strewn beside the formal sofa, and even a pair of house slippers I didn’t recognize in the entryway.
"I take it you’re trying to let the place have a more ’lived in’ feel to it now?"
"No, I’ve just been an enough to keep even Magda at bay. I don’t like being here without you. I don’t like living without you."
Tyler cupped his hand around the back of my head, leaned down, and captured my mouth in a fiery kiss so hot I thought I would burst into flas.
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