Chapter 41

Soma’s POV

We drove for a while before Oliver pulled off and turned off the car. He looked at me and smiled and then got out of the car. We were wherever he wanted to show me, this place was beautiful, the woods the animals, and the beautiful lake.

“This place is beautiful!” I exclaimed. I couldn’t believe these kinds of places were real. I’ve always seen pictures. “This is all yours?” I said looking at him.

“Yes.” Oliver smiled. “Come feel the water it’s warm,” he said kneeling and putting his hands in the water.

I walked over and did the same thing, the lake was heated. “How, how is this possible?”

“It’s a spring that is warm, when I found this place I knew it was my happy place. I come here a lot when I want to think or to be alone or just in nature.” he smiled running his hands through the water. “Maybe you’ll come here if you decide to move onto the lands.”

“Maybe.” I smiled.

He wanted me to move with him, I wanted to but I wasn't ready to give everything I have for someone. I didn’t know how to, and I was scared that he would leave me or I would lose him some other way. I didn’t want to think about that, but those thoughts tugged at my heart and it scared me.

“What are you thinking about?” Oliver asked touching my face.

“Everything,” I said without looking at him. “I don’t know what to do, part of me wants to move here so you can keep me safe, but then another part of me wants to keep me where I am and show this Detective I am not scared of him.”

“But in the end what does your heart say?” he questioned.

“I don’t know Oliver, I don’t want to move too fast. This would technically be my first relationship and I am afraid that I might mess things up.” I said with a sad face.

“Well, why don’t we take it slow, you come here on the weekends to destress and we can get to know each other that way. There isn't going to be pressure on you I promise. But I would love to kiss you, at least a quick one.” he said with a cheesy smile.

“I’ve never kissed anyone before,” I said blushing. “But I am willing to give it a shot, just be warned I am not going to be very good at this.”

“I’m not going to judge your kiss,” he said leaning down towards me.

Once his lips hit mine I felt those sparks in override. His lips were soft and light. He didn’t keep the kiss long, but I wanted more. I wanted him more, something inside me was clawing its way out but I was a little stronger.

“That was amazing!” I blushed.

“When you get used to me, I will show you a real kiss. I want to show you so much, I want you to see everything about me,” he said touching my face. “I will let you in my heart if you want to be there, I promise.”

I didn’t know what to say, I knew he wanted to be with me that was obvious. I was still worried he would get hurt with the whole Detective Marks thing, but I had to think about us as a future and not worry about the cop.

“So I should get you home huh?” Oliver asked breaking me out of my head.

“Yeah, I guess.” Part of me didn’t want to go home, but I needed to. With Mouse and my store, I needed to keep my life going. This was a new relationship that would build and if we did get to the point of living together, I would let my apartment go.

Leaving the pack lands I felt weird, something called to be there. Something wanted me to tell Oliver to turn around and stay there. I wanted to stay close to him, maybe it was because of what has happened and he was the one person that made me feel safe. I wanted to be honest with him, but then again I had to protect myself. I needed to ensure I didn’t get hurt in all of this. Why did Oliver want to be with me, we were two different people. He had everything together, me I was someone that lived on the edge of everything and had nothing to show for it. Yes, I have my store, but that was after years of being a messed-up teen. I want good to my adoptive parents, but they loved me no matter what. I was grateful that they were my parents, but there was always something missing, something I was searching for but didn’t even know what it was either.

Shaking my head I didn’t realize we were already back at my apartment, Oliver was starring at me.

“Sorry I was thinking.” I blushed.

“I know, I’ve been talking to you for a while, but you seemed to zone out. I will see you tomorrow, come by for some coffee before you open so I can spend some time with you.” he half-smiled.

“Alright see you tomorrow,” I said before getting out of the car.

Walking to my door I felt like he was watching, I turned to face him and he was. He smiled and waved before leaving the parking lot. I still wanted to be with him, I thought I was going crazy but maybe this was what love felt like. I knew I shouldn’t second guess myself, but this was something serious and I was afraid of serious.

A loud meow greeted me when I walked in. “Hey Mouse did you miss mommy?” I asked picking him up. He snuggled into me, I missed him just as much as he missed me. “So mommy has a new man in her life, I don’t know what he is expecting of me, but I like him,” I said petting his head, he just meowed at me.

“Yeah I don’t know how serious he wants to be right now, but he says he wants to take it slow.” I smiled at the thought. I was glad Oliver was understanding and wanted me to go at my pace. I just hoped nothing messed it up, but with my luck, I knew something would happen and my happiness would be clipped away. It was something that always happened to me, I wasn't sure if I was a cursed child or if this was just something that happens, and wants to see if you have faith that everything would turn around. I did, I knew things didn’t have to be messed up. Maybe this with Oliver was meant to be and everything would be fine in the end. I would have to be patient, and go slow and see where it would lead us.

Putting Mouse down, I decided to make some tea. I hadn't had a couple in a few days and I was dying for one. I wondered if Oliver liked tea, I knew he didn’t drink coffee so it was kind of weird that he had a coffee shop but didn’t drink the stuff himself.

Waiting for the water to be ready, I grabbed a muffin out of the cabinet and ate it while I waited. Mouse ate his food and then snuggled on the couch waiting for me to turn something on. I didn’t feel like watching anything so I decided to clean a little before I took a shower and headed to bed early.

I wasn't sure why I was so excited today, but I couldn’t wait to see Oliver. I rushed over to the coffee shop and waited for my cup by the window looking out on the road. I missed Nick too, he hadn't called since leaving me. I hoped everything was okay, and he would be able to come back to New York and finish his stay.

“Here’s your coffee and cookies.” the cashier brought over everything for me.

“Thanks,” I said taking a drink.

“Nice you made it.” Oliver smiled big when he saw me by the window. He sat down and watched me. “Don't take this wrong but I couldn’t sleep last night. All I thought about was you.”

“I didn’t sleep much last night, I think I was excited for today,” I said taking a bite of coffee. “You don’t drink coffee?”

“Na, this whole idea was Micah’s. He wanted to be a part of the human world, and he noticed that they loved this coffee. So he thought this was a win-win for us, I guess it has been because we’re still in business.” he chuckled. “But you seem to like both coffee and tea?”

“Well I rather have tea, but coffee does it better sometimes.” I giggled.

We talked for a while before I had to leave. I didn’t want to leave, I didn’t want to open my shop, I could just sit there with him all day. I knew this was dangerous to feel this way, but there wasn't anything I was going to do about the way I felt. It was new and scary, but I wanted every part of it.