Being(s) In Love 03 - A Beginner’s Guide to Wooing Your Mate by R. Cooper

strange thing for a baker to say. Theo also hadn’t brought any money and had no idea why he was ordering a latte. But Zeki was happy to make him one. That was his job, Theo reminded himself, yet studied every single move his mate made. He absently scratched at his nose as Zeki concentrated on preparing the milk. “You can… barista?” That was not a word.
    “Yeah, I worked all through college.” Zeki didn’t appear to notice his gaffe. “My dad makes good money, but school is expensive, especially back East.”
    “Yes.” Theo tried not to notice the tourist staring at him incredulously. “Right. You got your degree. Congratulations. I forgot to say that before. But you are… you’re… not staying… in town?”
    “Town talking about me, huh?” Zeki rolled his shoulders. “This town likes to gossip.”
    “Yes, but….” Theo frowned as he explained. “But it’s meant to be a good thing. It’s meant to let the rest of the pack, the town, know if someone needs help.”
    Zeki faced him again, surprise all over his face. “Yeah,” he allowed after a bit. “That makes sense.” His smile was gradual this time, more friendly than flirty. “No one ever told me that before. Thank you.” He went on before Theo could straighten up and feel any more foolish for reacting so strongly to a simple thank you. “But it’s also plain gossip too, sometimes, isn’t it? I mean, I know things about the sheriff and someone named Littlewolf and I’ve never met either of them.”
    “Ah.” There, Theo lost his words again. “There’s a good reason everyone is talking about the sheriff. His relationship affects everyone. He runs the town, in a lot of ways. He’s… nice.” Sheriff Neri was a lot of things, but “nice” wasn’t the word most people would have used. The few times the sheriff had spoken to him, Theo had struggled not to bare his throat for him on the spot. He imagined, if he hadn’t already been mated, he would have done it, like almost everyone else in town did.
    “I hear he’s hotter than the pavement in August,” the tourist butted in. Zeki glanced at the man as if recalling his presence. Theo smiled again. He was brimming over with every emotion and carrying more in his hands. His legs were shaking. He leaned against the counter too, and inhaled deeply when Zeki returned to him.
    “Listen, I….” Zeki paused for the tourist, his admirer he seemed to have forgotten, then came to rest on the other side of the counter in front of Theo. “Listen, the other day, what I said. I shouldn’t have—”
    Theo bent his head as if examining the pastries on display. His hair fell over his face. “How have you been since high school? College was safe?” Safe wasn’t the right word, he could tell from how Zeki stopped moving. Theo tried to find the phrase that would satisfy the knot of worry in his chest that he’d lived with for five years. “Good for you?” he amended. “Fulfilling?”
    “I spent all my time learning and working, trying to pick up all I could about different methods. Not much partying. I guess studying was a habit I couldn’t break.” Theo didn’t know why Zeki would sound so sheepish about all his hard work. He’d been proud the other day. “I wanted to be the best, to show people what I could be.”
    “You were always smart,” Theo agreed.
    Zeki’s fingers tightened on the paper cup with the latte. “I didn’t think….” He exhaled. “I didn’t know you noticed me then.”
    The tourist pushed away from the counter without another word. Theo listened to him leave, the bell above the door tinkling behind him.
    “I didn’t, much. Until….” Theo veered away from dangerous territory. “Do you… do you plan to use your degree in town?” He hated asking when he knew the answer. “Wolf’s Paw doesn’t have any wizards.”
    Zeki snorted as he pushed a plastic lid onto the cup. “No one here wants a wizard in residence. If they did, they’d have one