by Liv Rider
But they’d met here, and they’d met now, and they’d met while Shaun had decided to lie his ass off. They wouldn’t be going anywhere, because they’d never get to start.
Chris frowned at him. “You don’t know that. I mean, yes,” he continued, holding up his beer when Shaun opened his mouth to argue, “he seems like an attractive friendly guy, but maybe he has annoying habits. Maybe he doesn’t tip. Point is, some things you don’t find out about someone until you know them better.”
“Fair point.” Shaun’s instincts still told him there was nothing wrong with Mitchell, but his rational mind sided with Chris. “But you were saying I should date him. Why are you saying he might be an asshole?”
“My point is that you won’t know until you try. You can beat yourself up about telling him the truth now, or worry about doing that later. After you’ve made sure he’s not an asshole.”
“I’d still have to lie to him and say we’d broken up or something.” The thought of that made him feel nauseous. Lying to Mitchell in the first place had been bad enough, but he didn’t want to pile lies on top of lies. “Look, it doesn’t matter. There’ll be other guys.” Guys who wouldn’t be disappointed by him from the start. Guys who weren’t impressed with the Shaun he’d made up. “Let’s just get through this wedding with no incidents, all right?”
“If you say so.” Chris took another sip from his beer. “Seems like a waste not to try, especially since he’s into you, but it’s your call.” He put the empty bottle back on the table. “Anyway, now that we’re temporarily relieved of our cat-sitting duties, what do we do?”
Shaun eyed the Inn. “Head inside for something to eat? We should stick around for when they want to give us the cats back.”
“Good call. I think they’re about to serve lunch. C’mon.”
Lunch was another extensive buffet, with several soups and salads along with delicious-looking sandwiches and more delicious-smelling pastries. Since he couldn’t see Mitchell anywhere, and both Caroline and Natalie were outside with Emily, Shaun felt at ease enough to make up for his meager breakfast.
Natalie’s and Caroline’s husbands went to another table, although they still gave Shaun a disapproving look. Other wedding guests arrived, but to Shaun’s relief he knew none of them. The Millersburg guests hadn’t arrived yet. He watched his parents and Mitchell’s parents return from their walk. Mitchell’s parents greeted several guests with handshakes and kisses on the cheek, while his parents went to the lunch buffet and joined Shaun and Chris.
“How were things over here?” his father asked.
Shaun filled him in, with his mother going outside because she couldn’t wait to see Emily in her wedding dress. His father talked about how good the walk had been, then asked Chris when he’d be coming over for a visit.
“Um,” Chris replied, looking at Shaun.
Shaun hoped he looked less like a deer caught in headlights than Chris did. “We weren’t planning on a visit any time soon.”
“Why not?” His father looked from Shaun to Chris. “I’d like to get to know your boyfriend better.”
“You can get to know him now,” Shaun argued, while Chris nodded along.
“Don’t be ridiculous. This is Emily’s wedding. Talk to your mother about setting a date. She keeps better track of our calendar. You can stay for the weekend.”
“We’d have to look at our schedules too,” Shaun said. “Isn’t that right, Chris?”
“Definitely, sweetie.” Chris got up. “I’m gonna get another muffin.”
Shaun tried not to glare at his friend’s retreating back.
“Or would you rather we visit you?” his father asked. “I know you don’t like coming back home. Natalie and the others have been treating you all right, haven’t they? I know Emily gave them an earful several times.”
He smiled at that. Of course his sister had stood up for him. “It’s been pretty much what I expected. Kinda glad to be sitting in the back during the wedding.”
“I’m sure everyone will be on their best behavior this afternoon.”
Shaun nodded. It was the reception and party afterwards he was more worried about. “Let’s hope so. I’m gonna get more food.”
The line at the buffet had gotten busier, and by the time he got back to the table, his father had left and other people had taken the empty chairs. He didn’t recognize them, so they had to be from Dale’s side of the family. He saw Chris lining up to pour himself another coffee and chatting to the older lady next to him. The only tables with space were the standing ones. He joined the one closest to him, where Mitchell’s parents were eating their lunch. He hadn’t had time to talk to them yet, and since they would be Emily’s in-laws, he should at least introduce himself.
Mitchell’s father, as tall and broad as his sons, with black hair graying at the temples, looked Shaun up and down. “Emily’s brother, yes. I’ve heard about you.”
“From Emily?” he couldn’t help asking as he put his plate and cup of coffee down. Mitchell’s father had steel gray eyes, and Shaun felt like the older man saw right through him.
“Nothing but good things,” Mitchell’s mother told him. Her eyes were the same shade of light green as Mitchell, and her friendly smile put him at ease.
“That doesn’t sound like her,” he said, aiming for light-hearted. Mitchell’s mother laughed, but her husband’s eyes narrowed.
“Are you saying your sister is a liar?” the older man asked, his voice stern.
“What? No, I was just—” Shaun fell silent when he realized Mitchell’s parents were dragon shifters as well, and that they’d disapprove of lying and dishonesty. He couldn’t have made a worse joke if he’d tried. “It was a joke.”
Mitchell’s father frowned at his wife, who nodded. “You always take matters too seriously, dear. It’s a wedding.”
“Weddings are a serious matter,” Mitchell’s father replied.
Shaun kept quiet as he sipped from his coffee. It was better than sticking his foot in again.
“You were here all morning. Do you know where Dale is?” Mitchell’s mother asked.
Shaun explained he hadn’t seen Dale since after his photo shoot. “But he wanted to stay out of the way so he doesn’t see Emily before the wedding.”
“Oh, I should have known.” She smiled fondly. “Well, I hope someone gets him some lunch. He’s probably nervous, but he should eat something.”
Shaun was about to agree when he felt a shiver run down his spine. He didn’t wonder about a draft this time, but knew Mitchell was in the room somewhere. He could sense the other man’s presence. If he told Chris, his friend would laugh and tell Shaun he was being ridiculous.
He glanced over at the buffet, and sure enough, Mitchell was there with two plates, filling them up with pastries and sandwiches. “I think that someone has arrived.”
“Ah, wonderful.” The older woman left the table and Shaun watched as she walked over to her son. Fear settled in his stomach, but he couldn’t bring himself to turn away when Mitchell turned to look at their table. He felt a jolt when Mitchell’s eyes met his. Mitchell glanced over at his father, then back at Shaun. His face turned pale, then he went back to talking to his mother.
Shaun tried to eat his sandwich as quickly as possible without looking like he was in a rush. He had to leave the table. He could always say he had to go back to watching the cats. That photo shoot was probably over by now.
Mitchell and his mother joined them at the standing table, with Mitchell looking like he’d rather be anywhere else. “I have to get this to Dale.”
“I know, I know.” His mother patted him on the arm. “But tell me, how have things been going this morning? Anything I need to know about?”
“Everything’s fine.” Mitchell’s eyes were on his mother. “According to schedule.”
Shaun kept eating, wondering why Mitchell looked so nervous. His eyes kept flicking from Shaun to his parents.
“Shaun mentioned Dale didn’t wa
nt to see Emily before the wedding,” Mitchell’s mother said. “Where is he?”
“We went for a brief walk, and now he’s on the parking lot telling people where the empty spots are and welcoming them.”
“Good,” Mitchell’s father said. “Someone should do that.”
“So, you’ve been getting to know each other?” Mitchell asked, eyes darting from his father to Shaun and back to his plate.
“It’s Emily’s brother,” Mitchell’s father replied. “Of course we want to get to know him.”
Shaun hoped that the older man had sounded less threatening when he first met Emily.
“You two should get to know each other too,” Mitchell’s mother said. “You’ll practically be family soon enough.”
Shaun nearly choked on his sandwich at those words. At least his red face could be put down to that, while Mitchell and his flushed cheeks didn’t have that excuse.
“We, um, talked a little last night.” Mitchell picked up his two plates. “I should get this to Dale now. It’ll get cold.”
Mitchell’s mother looked concerned as she watched her son go. “But nothing on those plates is hot.”
“I need to check on the cats,” Shaun told her, before either of Mitchell’s parents could ask him more questions. “It was nice talking to you!”
There was no way the couple didn’t know something was going on between the two of them. He just hoped they wouldn’t find out what.
He went outside and saw Chris at one of the picnic benches eating his lunch with two old ladies. “There you are.” He nodded over at the playground. “Come on, let’s go.”
“Is that your boyfriend?” One of the old ladies looked Shaun up and down in a manner that was worryingly similar to Mitchell’s father.
Great, was there one member of Mitchell’s family Shaun hadn’t made a terrible first impression on by now?
Chris sighed dramatically. “Yes. He’s just stressed over the wedding, you know.”
“The cats.” The other woman nodded in understanding. “Chris here told us all about it”
Shaun tried to keep his smile friendly and polite. “Yes, which is why I want to make sure both cats are fine after those pictures.”
Chris got up. “I’ll bring my empty plate inside and then I’ll be right with you, okay, honey?” He collected the empty plates of his two new friends too, promising to bring them more coffee.
“What a wonderful man,” the woman he feared was Mitchell’s grandmother told him. “He’s a keeper.”
Trust Chris to be charming to Mitchell’s family while Shaun just made an idiot of himself. “He’s something all right,” Shaun muttered.
Natalie and Caroline were more than happy to give Rumple and Stiltskin back to him, the two of them making a lot of comments about how important it was to keep a close eye on things. Fortunately, while Shaun was biting his tongue, Chris mentioned the buffet. Kelly insisted on getting lunch and making sure Dale wasn’t there so Emily could eat.
Emily told the photographer to have lunch, then told Shaun and Chris to be in place half an hour before the ceremony started. That still gave them over an hour to walk around the Inn and the surrounding area. This time the cats were more in a wandering mood than a napping-in-the-sun mood.
Shaun wasn’t surprised when the cats led them around the building and over to the parking lot so they could both receive more cuddles from Dale. He didn’t see Mitchell anywhere, which Shaun told himself was a good thing. He watched aunts and uncles and cousins park their cars, along with acquaintances from Millersburg. Most of them gave him the cold shoulder so pointedly that Jake commented on it.
“What do they all have against you?” Jake asked, after his parents’ neighbors had walked by. Mr. Smith had ignored him, while Mrs. Smith had given him a stern glare.
“It’s a long story,” Shaun hedged. “They think I stole some stuff years ago, but I had nothing to do with it.” Jake must’ve heard something by now from Natalie, Caroline, or their husbands.
Jake still looked skeptical. “That’s a long time to hold a grudge.”
“It’s a boring small town, what do you expect?” Chris told him.
That led to a friendly argument between himself and Chris, and Jake and Bryan about the benefits and drawbacks of small towns versus cities. It was a pleasant distraction from people from Millersburg sneering at him as they passed on their way to the Inn’s entrance.
Before Shaun knew it, it was time to grab Rumple and Stiltskin, and take their seats.
The wedding itself went as planned, and even though he’d already seen Emily in her wedding dress, his chest still tightened at his father walking her down the aisle and the look on Dale’s face when he took her hand. His baby sister was getting married to the love of her life, and the two of them were so happy together.
His eyes kept wandering over to Mitchell, despite trying his best to ignore the other man. At least he had Rumple in his lap to stop himself from staring too much at the back of Mitchell’s head, since she refused to lay still, like Stiltskin was doing in Chris’ lap. Rumple kept getting up to walk in a circle before lying down again in the same position. What was even the point of getting up if you lay back down the same way?
When it was time for him to release the cats, his stomach squirmed with nerves. Everyone’s eyes were on him as he put Rumple down in the center of the aisle. He ran his hand down her back. “Don’t embarrass me, please,” he whispered to the cat. Her tail was up and quivering in nerves or excitement. He unclipped the harness, and his heart caught in his throat when she stood frozen. He glanced down the aisle at Emily, who called her name again. “Go on.” Shaun gave her an encouraging little push. “Go say ‘hi’ to Emily. There’s a treat in it for you.”
Rumple turned around to butt her head against his hand, and before Shaun could pet her, she zoomed down the aisle, a tabby blur.
Chris handed Stiltskin over. “I think she likes you.”
Shaun didn’t take the cat immediately, looking at Emily and watching as she removed the ring from the ribbon around her neck. One down. He took Stiltskin, cuddling her to his chest while Emily put the ring on Dale’s finger.
He put Stiltskin down, and as expected she was straining to get to Dale as soon as her paws hit the ground. She squirmed as Shaun freed her from the leash and ran down the aisle faster than Rumple had. Shaun got up, smiling with relief as Dale caught her.
“Awesome job.” Chris punched his arm in a friendly manner. “No cats were harmed in the production of this wedding.”
“I think the cats disagree.” Shaun was glad his official part was over. “I clearly harmed them by keeping them away from Dale.”
They both applauded when Emily and Dale exchanged their first kiss as husband and wife, but Shaun’s chest ached again as he saw how happy they both looked.
12
Mitchell
It was impressive how today just kept delivering new worst moments.
First, he thought helping Shaun put the harnesses back on the cats was the worst moment of the day, because how was he supposed to do that without apologizing again or wanting to kiss him?
Then he thought watching Natalie and Caroline hurt Shaun was the worst moment, because there was nothing he could do about it. It wasn’t his business.
But no, during lunch Shaun had joined his parents at their standing table, and Mitchell’s mom had insisted on Mitchell joining them. He hadn’t been able to get away fast enough. There was no way his parents had missed his awkwardness around Shaun, and he didn’t look forward to either of his parents wanting to know what was going on.
He thought nothing could top that moment. But then he had to watch his brother marry his fated mate, with the two of them beaming and grinning at each other, looking overjoyed and in love.
And he’d been so close to having that happiness himself. He would have had a chance if only he’d had some self-control. But no, he had to push things and hurt Shaun. He’d let his dragon take the lea
d for once in his life and look what happened.
He is ours. His dragon hissed. Ours forever.
He doesn’t want to be. Mitchell reminded himself stubbornly. Not now. Probably never.
He would have to be more careful. He would have to take even greater care not to go overboard with his need to help and take action. Make sure his shifters knew he was available and let them take the first step if they needed anything. And maybe one day he would meet Shaun again, and things would be different.
He is our mate! Pursue him! Steal him away! His dragon knew exactly what to do.
Mitchell shoved those instincts down. He wouldn’t pursue Shaun. If Shaun wanted to keep in touch, he could ask Mitchell for his number. It was for the best. He’d been perfectly happy before meeting his mate. Once he was back in Lewiston and no longer around Shaun all day, he could lose himself in his duties and friendship with Thomas, Joel, Parker, and Cameron.
His heart ached at the thought of having to be around them. As if watching the two couples hadn’t been bad enough before he’d met his own mate. But if Shaun was happy, then he could be happy. Even if that was with Chris.
Drop him into the lake from a great height!
Mitchell sighed, looking over at the back rows where Shaun and Chris were sitting. Jealousy unfurled inside of him when Chris smiled at Shaun. It would be so easy….
And so wrong.
Mitchell had figured that once the wedding was over, his duty as groomsman was over too. Sure, there was still cocktail hour, and another dinner followed by the party, but apart from showing people where to go at what time, he didn’t think there would be more to it than that.
He escorted his grandmother over to the Inn, wishing she would stop talking about how fortunate Dale was for marrying his fated mate. Jake intercepted them halfway. “Family portraits,” was all the fox shifter said. He pointed to the little beach down the path where Emily and Dale were already waiting with both sets of parents. His grandfather from his mother’s side was there, and two older men Mitchell didn’t know.
