A Mist of Brightness

Five

I paced in the small front area of the cabin to try to make time go faster. I couldn’t believe I was doing this. I was going to go on this “date” of his against my better judgment. I knew this was a bad idea but I couldn’t stop myself earlier from getting ready.

Knowing it was a lunch date, I dressed casually in a simple light blue dress that reached the top of my knees. It had lace on the top and bottom. I hoped it was simple enough to convince him I led a simple life.

I’d kept my hair down, not wanting to look like I’d put much thought into this.

Who was I kidding? This was all I could think about last night. I’d already made the decision long ago to not accept having a mate. I was fighting for freedom from what a mate entailed in our society. I was not willing to go along with that. But I knew that if I didn’t at least talk with him that I’d regret it for the rest of my life. I’d always have that curiosity burning in the back of my mind.

The worst part was he was probably a gamma or delta if I was lucky. This is exactly what I was trying to avoid.

Of course, other potential mates could come along, but he was my soul mate. Anyone would be curious, right?

I looked myself over for the millionth time and had second thoughts. Why was I being so nervous?

This was also a good excuse to not go to the base today. I knew they were expecting me, but after what happened the previous day I didn’t feel like dealing with them. I’d make an excuse that my grandmother needed me. Speaking of which, I needed to—

The knock on the front door startled me out of my thoughts.

I took a deep breath and slowly walked to the door. This wasn’t anything big, I wasn’t accepting him and this was just to settle my curiosity. Nothing to be nervous about.

Opening the door, the first thing I made eye contact with was a bouquet of yellow and white daisies.

I trailed my eyes to his and again was awestruck for a bit before stepping aside and letting him in.

“Hi,” he said.

“Hi,” was my shy response back. Idiot. He wore dark jeans and a black button up shirt. He’d also tried to look nice.

“These are for your grandmother. Is she here?” He glanced around, trying to locate her in the little cottage.

So he was a suck up. Great.

“No, she’s visiting famil—” I stopped as I reached to grab the flowers. I stepped back and glared accusingly. “How’d you know I live with my grandmother?”

“Your phone,” he stated simply.

That’s when it clicked that he’d never given me my phone. And then I became angry. “You went through my phone?”

He walked around me and sat down on the recliner, the daisies still in his grasp. “Some of it. I had a buddy help me unlock it. After that I only had to scroll through a few messages to know you take care of her. Your friends sound sketchy by the way. Oh, and you’re not very good at giving relationship advice.”

I had no words for the amount of anger I was feeling. He had invaded my privacy and shown me he was just like every other man: controlling, demanding, and dominating. Thoughts raced through me and I couldn’t formulate words.

My expression must have conveyed what I felt pretty well. He sat up more alertly and put the flowers on the ground so he could put his hands up in defense and stand up.