Strange Fates

Chapter 6 - You Must be Joking

Elijah arrived at your door early the next morning, coffee in hand. Instead of the smiling face he had come to expect he was met with a note that said you had left early for the shop. Elijah pursed his lips as he turned around to head for your bookstore. He didn't mind meeting you somewhere else, but he did wonder why you hadn't texted him. Perhaps you had and he simply hadn't seen the message. His phone wasn't exactly easy to check with both of his hands full.

When he arrived at the shop, he tried the door and was surprised to find it unlocked. A bell above it jingled announcing his arrival. He called your name when he didn't immediately see you.

"I'll be right there." You were somewhere in the room with him, but he couldn't pinpoint your location exactly. There were far too many tall shelves for that.

After a moment you popped out from behind one of the shelves and gave him a wide smile. "Hello, Elijah."

"Good Morning, sweet girl." He leaned forward to press a kiss to your lips. You turned from it far more quickly than normal. Almost as if you were embarrassed. He frowned. Something had shifted between the two of you from when he saw you last. "Are you feeling all right?"

Your brows shot up in surprise. "Yes, of course. Why do you ask?"

He shook his head. "No reason. So why the change in venue this morning?" All it took was a glance around to see that the work wasn't completed yet.

You sipped at your coffee and gestured toward the far wall. "The flooring I wanted is backordered. Jackson brought by some options that are in stock. I just need to pick one and they'll start on it today."

"Well, that explains the early morning fieldtrip." The corner of his mouth kicked up in a grin. "Have you made a decision yet?"

You hummed. "Already sent him a text actually. Shall we go?" You tilted your head toward the door as you spoke.

"Certainly." He held the door open for you to step out. He watched you lock up then offered you his hand. You took it, linking your fingers with his.

As the two of you walked toward your house, it was obvious your thoughts were elsewhere. A long sigh only underscored this belief. He pulled you to a stop when you reached the porch and tugged you down to sit on the steps with him. "All right, talk."

"What?"

"Something is obviously bothering you. Let's hear it."

You dropped your face into your hands making Elijah frown further. You sighed again than looked back up at him. Rather than saying anything, you slid up the arm of your shirt. His brow furrowed as he tried to figure out what you were trying to tell him. After a moment, he realized another triangle rested beside his own on your soulmark. He grasped your arm gently and ran his thumb over the triangles. "When?" His voice came out rougher than he'd intended and he cleared his throat.

"Last night."

"You were with Camille last night were you not?" He wondered where the two of you had gone that you had not only encountered this other person, but had occasion to touch them as well. Realizing he was fuming with jealousy he did his best to rein it in. Knowing that you were not his alone was one thing, seeing it in practice was quite another. He wondered how upset you would be if he removed the competition.

"I was. Then I wasn't."

His brow lifted at your enigmatic answer. It wasn't like you to be coy. There was something about your meeting that you didn't want him to know. So be it. He clenched his teeth together and a muscle twitched in his jaw. Then a cold dread settled in his stomach as he remembered the conversation he'd had with his brother this morning over breakfast.