The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

Chapter One Hundred–Forty–Four

FELIX

Having breakfast with Rainier’s friend Bartlett was strangely uplifting. When Rainier first left me there to go take care of something which I’m sure was French for go home to my wife – I nearly broke down in tears. All the strength that I’d gathered for myself on the yacht after my private meltdown, was completely spent with just the ride over. Having to sit next to him, talk to him, pretend there was nothing wrong for him, even after I’d already said my silent goodbye to him, took every bit of strength in me. Everything I had left in my mental reservoir was depleted. I felt beat down. Weak. Worthless and altogether stupid. So the moment Rainier disappeared out the back door of that bar, my bravado completely crumpled.

Bartlett, the incredibly sensitive soul that he is, noticed right off. It started with a few concerned looks my way as we sat down to enjoy the heaping amount of food he’d made. Scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, crispy golden fried hash browns, biscuits with gravy, fruit – you get the picture. My eyes damn near popped right out of my head when be brought it all out.

I’d said, “I appreciate your cooking all this, but… um… I don’t know if I be able to finish must of it.”

He’d laughed heartily and said, “Well that’s okay, because I don’t expect you to. I only made this much because I didn’t know what you

liked. So just eat what you can, and that will be fine.”

I’d attempted to smile back as cheerfully as I could, but I must not have done a very good job because he’d commented on it.

There’s no need for you to pretend with me, Felix. You don’t have to keep hiding behind that phony smile. I can tell you’re struggling with something. I won’t pry,” he said.

The next smile I’d given him was different. It was honestly charming and incredibly sad at the same time. And as my face fell and I’d drawn in a deep breath Id whined, “I’m an idiot.”

int. Now, I don’t know what went on between you two, but knowing Rain as well as I do I could probably take a guess. Rain is a complicated guy. Always has been. He’s made certain… adjustments to his life in order to protect himself. Adjustments that I’m betting he regretting right

asked. “Like

me a big full tooth smile and had said, “He chose to close his heart long ago, I don’t think he ever imagined opening it up again. He’s not the type to lose control, or share his feelings. He’s not the one to do anything frivolous either, or half–hearted. Whenever he does something, be it bring me a new and beautiful bartender or make a promise to her to be back for lunch – you better believe there’s meaning behind it. Even if you may find that hard to believe,

kind that you should tell someone about before letting that person make a fool out of themself. Especially when a fool is all

head again and said. “Never feel like that for putting your heart on the line, Felix. Doing so never makes you a fool.

loved and lost and all that, right?” I’d quoted and my eyes had filled with tears. “So then I suppose I should be grateful in just having met him. A lot

like a very intuitive person. I’m sure you and Rain

bit embarrassed for how damb I probably sounded. “A couple of days ago. But… just like some people never meet, I guess some people only get to have a day. He lied to me. I laid it all out there for

stemnly. “Rainier is not much of a liar. Marybe you didn’t ask the right question. Or maybe he misunderstood the question.

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One Hundred

answered

chance to answer to explain himself. Try and give him the benefit of the doubt. If you really and truly believe

he

it. No need to say it, he’d chuckled. “But everyone makes mistakes, Felix. A

someone they love and they’re scared to death of losing

Apparently it would have to wait until tomorrow because tonight the bar would be closed. Then he left me alone to stew in my new space. So I took the time to shower and change back into