Second Chance Mates

-15- 🌹 Slowly Becoming Lovers

"Breathe deep, let it wash over you. We're slowly becoming lovers, I promise you we won't be like the others. We won't go running for cover."
~Ben Platt, 'Rain'

~~~

*Landon's POV*

Ever since that mind-blowing kiss with Ryland, I haven't been able to stop thinking about him for a second.

It's as if that single kiss flipped my world upside down; or rather, right side up. Because suddenly, I have more clarity than I have in years. The sky is no longer dull, and has returned to its vibrant blue. The sight of happy couples is no longer revolting, and now brings a smile to my face.

I feel like the world's cheesiest fucking poet, thinking about how Ryland parted the dark clouds and reintroduced sunshine into my life. Goddess, when did I start having the sappiest thoughts?

'We're going to be late,' Leo whines in my head as I finish getting dressed.

'We're not going to be late,' I reply with a roll of my eyes. 'It only takes fifteen minutes to get to his pack if I step on the gas. Lunch doesn't start for another forty minutes anyway.'

'Yeah, but you don't want to be late to this particular lunch,' Leo points out. 'Not the best way to help Ryland make a good first impression on your parents.'

Ah, my parents.

While Lucca and my siblings are all aware that Ryland is my mate, my parents are the only ones still in the dark. I wanted to wait until things were a bit more steady between me and Ryland before introducing him to my parents. Seeing how this will come as a huge shock to them, I figured it was best to wait until I was more confident in our relationship.

That kiss swept away any doubt about my feelings for my honeybee. We're slowly becoming lovers, and I'm surprisingly not as scared as I thought it would be.

My door swings open without warning, and I roll my eyes knowing exactly who would barge into my room like that.

"Do you need something, Lucca?" I ask as I finish styling my blonde hair in the mirror.

"Geez, what a way to greet your best friend," Lucca snorts, crossing his arms over his chest. "I hardly see you around anymore because you're too busy with your new boyfriend to hang out with me."

I turn and look at him pointedly. "He's not just my boyfriend. He's my mate."

"You know I don't believe in that bullshit," Lucca waves his hand. "That Moon bitch decides who we're supposed to be with, and we're just expected to accept that and only be with one person for the rest of our lives? I'm not going to be with someone against my will."

"It's not like that," I shake my head. "It doesn't feel forced. It feels... I can't even find the words to explain it."

"That's because it's not real," Lucca deadpans, making me glare at him. "You only think that way because the Moon makes you feel some weird connection to him. Be honest with yourself. If you didn't feel some supernatural pull towards him, would you still want to be with him?"

In the few seconds I take to contemplate that, my mind is flooded with memories. The way Ryland's honey eyes twinkle whenever he looks at me. The way he always puts my needs first, promising that we'll take things at my pace. The sparkling sound of his laughter, which never fails to make my heart pound with delight. He's been nothing but patient and kind to me, even when I can tell he's holding back for my sake. Ryland came into my life at a time where I felt like nobody understood me; nobody truly cared enough to see beyond the surface of what I show others. He sees me. He gets me. And he still wants to be with me.