The flower behind Cal’s ear was too big of a bunch, and fell into Cal’s face three times before Ray gently took it away and put it on the ground, to either be forgotten by Cal and return to the earth, or to be taken home and dried, if that was Cal’s plan.
Cal smiled absently, then frowned, then reached for his phone.
His wandering around the start of the trail had only taken some of his energy. They should have hiked first, possibly, but they—Ray—was supposed to be here as part of his plan for recovery, or discovery, or any of the corny names the counselor had suggested he call his current quest.
Ray likedplanbetter thanquest, although it was not truly a plan despite the planner Ray had pointedly left at home. The planner was filled with notes on things Ray needed to do and wanted to do.
Benny called them sidequests in a larger quest.
Calvin had looked like he was already thinking of a sequel about his knight.
Ray kept the planner closed when either of those two were over. He left it open for Cal, but he didn’t think Cal had glanced in it. Cal seemed to regard it as more of a diary or a journal. Maybe it was. Ray had never kept one before.
But he had a monthly goal, written in for each month since he’d bought it:Spend time with him and make him happy. Make sure he knows he is loved, and why.
Keepingwas a more involved process than claiming a mate. People should give fairies more credit.
Ray looked back at his book, letting his ears and nose monitor Cal for him. The scent of the woods clung gently to Cal’s hair. If they made it down to the beach, the ocean scent would stay with him too, especially if he took off his shoes and socks to run into the water.
He’d be damp. For days afterward, the inside of the car would smell like ocean water and Cal’s laughter and resentment at being cold.
A long sigh made Ray blink his eyes open.
Cal was burrowed in closer to him than Ray remembered, watching him fondly. “You were either asleep or about to be. I didn’t mean to wake you. Sorry.”
Startled, Ray raised his head and scanned the picnic area again.
The hikers were gone. The kids were still there, looking more glum now. A family of humans, two mothers and a child in a stroller as well as one big enough to walk but needing to hold a hand to do it, were rearranging backpacks, obviously about to head into the trees.
Ray should have noticed, even if he wasn’t alarmed by them.
But they were just people minding their own business, here for the same reasons he was, or close to them. To see the tiny bit of wilderness that belonged to their city.
He breathed in and out, then nodded. He hadn’t been alarmed or on alert. That was good. Progress, probably.
“Inarticulate Ray thoughts? Cal commented. “Not able to voice them yet?”
“You talk like a counselor.” Ray’s voice was a touch hoarse. He didn’t think he’d been asleep. Just lost in his thoughts and Cal’s chocolate-covered cherries and oatmeal cookies scent.
Cal scoffed. “No, I really don’t. The terms maybe, but not the attitude or gentle manner.” He stopped abruptly, staring at Ray with a considering, dangerous glint in his eye.
Ray was immediately suspicious. “What?”
“You’repretty good at that, sleepywolf,” Cal explained after Ray’s softly barked prompt. “Patient—with everyone but a half-fairy publicly trying to seduce you, anyway. And methodical and willing to take years to see something through to the end. You got people to trust you despite being, you know, intimidating at first glance, and a cop they had no reason to like. Maybe that’s your magic too.”
Ray had a feeling he was frowning but Cal didn’t remark on it. He just waited, watching Ray deal with this pronouncement.
Ray wasn’t sure about the suggestion, although he did think Cal meant it. Ray wasn’t a therapist. Werewolves were about feelings, Cal said it often enough, but not… guiding people. He couldn’t advise anyone to do anything risky or challenging if he also needed to protect them.
But it wasn’t a compliment Ray had ever gotten before. It felt like Cal looking up at him and seeing a half-shifted werewolf for the first time and calling him beautiful.
Cal should have led with that, not popsicles. But Ray hadn’t made it easy for him. And he wouldn’t have believed it.
“You can still investigate too, you know,” Cal added, ignorant or somewhat-ignorant of Ray’s current thoughts. “It’s not like we have hobbies that would keep you from learning new skills to add to what you already have.”
This time, Ray knew he frowned. “I thoughtthiswas going to be a hobby.” Hiking. Nature. Parks. Concerts, maybe, eventually.
Picnics.He nearly growled at the thought.
