been strung in the trees overhead to provide mood lighting and music played loudly enough to hear but low enough to hold a conversation. It was one of Rylan and Trystin’s favorite spots for a quick meal and it felt weird to bring Thrett there. Good weird.
As they bit into their sandwiches and groaned with happiness, she felt the stress of the day melting away. He seemed less uptight too, and Rylan caught herself peeking at him over her pita as they ate.
“I owe you an apology,” she finally said, setting down her food.
“Mmhmm?” he mumbled with a full mouth.
“I shouldn’t have made that snarky comment about you being the king of one-night stands. It was uncalled for.”
Thrett swallowed and then gave her a soft smile. “Apology accepted, though not necessary. It wasn’t like you were entirely wrong. At least in recent years.”
She dropped her gaze to her plate, unable to look him in the eye for fear he’d see the red-hot jealousy blazing in them. “Yeah, Ginny mentioned that several teachers at school told her you have a, um…one-night rule.”
When she chanced a glance up, he looked somber. Hardly the braggartly arrogance she’d expected. “I do.”
“Guess we don’t have to worry about that then. Do we? We already had our one night. Pressure’s off.”
She tried to chuckle at her lame attempt at humor but it sounded hollow to her own ears. Thrett just looked downright sad.
“You’re the reason, you know,” he said, putting down his shawarma and leveling her with a nipple-pebbling stare.
“Reason? For what?”
“My rule. I created it because of you.”
She wasn’t sure whether to laugh or be insulted at his tasteless joke. “Sure, our one night together turned you into the man you are today.”
“It kinda did. Everyone since you has paled in comparison, so there was no point in repeat performances. Rylan, you might not believe this, but…you broke my heart.”
Brains couldn’t explode. Could they? Because Rylan was pretty sure hers was on the verge. The backs of her eyes burned with tears she refused to let fall.
“That’s not nice, Thrett,” she whispered, poking at a stray piece of tomato that had fallen out of her pita.
His hand covered hers until she returned his gaze. What she saw there shook her to her core. Pain and sadness, but no deception or even a glint of humor. Whatever this was, it wasn’t a cruel joke.
“I’m not kidding, Rylan.”
She pulled her hand away gently and frowned. “How is that possible? We spent one night together.”
He sat back and thought for a moment before speaking. “I know. I can’t really explain it, but I was hoping for more than that. Much more. But then…I woke up and you were gone. I never understood why, either.”
Rylan’s head was still whirling by this unexpected revelation, and she chewed on her bottom lip while she digested it. “Do you want the honest answer?”
“Lay it on me.”
“I’m human. Never knew dragons or werewolves or bear shifters even existed before I met you. Actually, I didn’t know until you fell asleep after our…assignation.”
A crease dug between his eyebrows. “What do you mean until I fell asleep?”
She explained how he’d outed himself. “I was terrified and confused. I ran, thinking you were going to wake up and blast me with fire or something. It wasn’t until months later that I learned more about shifters, but by then it was too late. I’m sorry for hurting you, Thrett, but it certainly wasn’t intentional. I was just a kid and I was frightened for my life.”
The muscle in his jaw clenched as he nodded. “Well, that’s certainly understandable. I wish I could say I should have been more upfront, but I’m not sure the night would have ended any differently. I knew better than to pick up a human, but you just… I just…” He trailed off, shaking his head.
Never once in the intervening eight years had Rylan imagined this particular conversation going so well. She’d always assumed if they ever met again there would be a lot of yelling. A lot. There still might be once she revealed her final piece of news to him, but for now, she couldn’t have been more thrilled. She hadn’t been just another notch on his bedpost after all!
With the weight of the world lifted from both of their shoulders, they finished their meals in companionable conversation. Thrett was as charming as ever, and Rylan was happy to let herself be charmed by him. When the food truck owner unplugged