16. Good

Torin’s pov

Raelyn came running toward me, but there was something different in her expression.

Usually she seems happy to see me, but now she seemed down.

We’d been running together for a few days now. Usually when I run during training, I try to go as fast as possible, sprinting for long periods at a time. But with Raelyn we like to jog, so we’re able to hold a conversation at the same time.

I let her set the pace and pick the route as we go through the park.

She chooses different routes each time, so we see more of the park. Some days it takes us longer because she seems to lose her bearings for a moment. I know I could easily help, but I don’t want to step in unless she needs me.

I actually think solving problems herself makes Raelyn more confident.

Look, I know it’s not my job to raise her or anything. She’s an adult. It’s just adorable to see her trying and succeeding. Seeing that sense of pride in herself.

I did notice something else, besides those little moments of pride.

Moments where Raelyn is keeping herself back.

In simple conversations she would start to talk vibrantly, excitedly telling me something only to stop herself halfway. I sometimes try to ask more questions, hoping to see that excitement back on her face, but Raelyn has a way of changing the subject back to me, and

I’d rather not push her in any way.

Although I don’t mind talking, I feel like as an alpha or boss I already talk a lot. So with Raelyn, I’d rather listen. Besides, she’s much more interesting than me, and it saves me on coming up with lies.

Telling her I was the mayor instead of the alpha was already a lie; I had to keep going, even though I knew nothing about being a mayor.

Thankfully we hadn’t really gotten into the heavy stuff yet. It would be harder to lie about those things. Up until now we had casual conversations, nothing too deep. Although I would love to get to know more about Raelyn, I could tell she didn’t trust easily.

“Hi Dimples,” I said as she reached me.

“Hi Torin,” she replied, her eyes not meeting mine.

As usual, I followed her pace, jogging beside her. “So, what’s new?”

“Nothing much,” She replied.

“Well, my sister finally picked her dress for her eighteenth birthday party. Sadly, I had to watch while she modeled at least thirty of them before picking the first one she actually put on.”

“That’s nice.” Okay… Something is really going on; Raelyn is never this short with me.

Do I ask? Will she actually answer?

“Maybe you could join the party? At night we have a private celebration with just close family, but before that it’s basically just a dinner and dance situation. My mother and sister have been planning it nonstop.” I asked. It would require a lot for Raelyn to come to the party. A lot of people would have to lie, and it would raise questions if I brought a human, but I wanted my mate to meet my family.

“Wouldn’t your fiancée mind if I showed up?” Raelyn asked.

I stopped running, frozen as I looked at Raelyn.

Oh, shit. Of course… I’m an idiot… I told Dylan I was engaged, hoping he’d stop being jealous. Of course he’d tell Raelyn. Married people tell each other things.

What was better?

Should I lie to my mate again or confess I’d lied to her husband? The second option made me look desperate, and the first might push Raelyn away.

Even though I said I’d wanted to be friends, I hadn’t really acted like it, and I think Raelyn actually enjoyed my flirty remarks and my brief touches.

Shit… I really screwed up with this. That’s why I need to let Colton plan all my schemes. I hate lying in general, but I hate lying to Raelyn even more.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that, -“

Shit, she took my silence as anger.

“No, no, Rae, you have nothing to feel sorry for.” I said. “I just, um, honestly, I don’t think the wedding is going to happen. The whole relationship was forced upon me, and it never really felt real.”

Because it’s not…

“Forced upon?”

“Yeah,” I said, this time I didn’t need to lie. "People don’t like the idea of a mayor being single or the boss, for that matter. We pride ourselves on being family oriented, but it’s kind of odd when the head of the company doesn’t have a family. Since I turned eighteen, people around me have been trying to set me up.

“Oh…” Raelyn smiled and then quickly hid it by biting her lip. She was glad I wasn’t really engaged.

“But I told Dylan about her because I tried to ease his mind. It was kind of a bad move on my part, only telling him half the truth. But I really like hanging out with you, and I didn’t want him to be the reason you couldn’t. You know?”

She nodded, “he does get jealous really easily.”

I walked towards her and looked into her eyes, “look, I know we just met last week, and this whole thing is a bit unconventional. But these walks with you are the best part of my day. I don’t want anything to ruin that. Not even your husband. I would never expect you to lie for me. In a good marriage, you can tell each other anything, right?”

She stared at me, doubt in her eyes.

I could see the wheels turning in her head.

Without thinking, my hand reached out to touch her cheek, “what is it?”

She placed her hand on mine, “my marriage isn’t really like that.”

“Like what, Rae?”

Her eyes went down, “good.” She removed her hand from mine, and I slowly let go of her face.

“Do you want to tell me about it?”

She shook her head.

“Do you want to talk about something else?”

She nodded, “yes.”

We continued to run and talk, but her words kept repeating in my head. I always thought her marriage wasn’t good, but to actually hear it gave me hope and made me sad at the same time.

Raelyn deserves so much better.

When we were done, I gave her a hug goodbye, like every time we ran together.

“Dimples?”

“Yes?”

I took my phone out of my pocket and handed it to her, “can you give me your number?”

“Um,” she hesitated, “why?”

I smiled at Raelyn, trying to ease her mind. “Friends talk, don’t they? On the phone, in real life, they text. Besides, I want you to be able to reach me if something's wrong. Or even when you just feel like talking. You can call me or text me any time. I’ll make time for you.”

She blushed and started putting in her number. Then she frowned, “I’m not always able to pick up the phone, though.”

“That’s fine. I’ll wait for you to call.” I replied while she handed me my phone back. She put her name as Dimples in my phone, which made me smile when I saw it.

I gave her another hug, not wanting to let go but knowing I had to, and watched her walk away. When I couldn’t see her anymore, I called her.

“So, how was your day?”

She giggled, “well, there was this very tall gentleman who was really nice to me today.”

“Is that what I’m called in your phone?” I teased her.

She giggled again, “no, something else.”