by Sable Sylvan
“Fine, fine…here,” said Kim, writing her number down on a pad of paper. “Text me.”
Kim grabbed the hoodie and put it on. It was a little big but it hid her wardrobe malfunction.
“A thank you would be nice,” said Gabe, as Kim turned to head to the door.
Kim turned and got in Gabe’s face and flipped him the bird. “A fuck you would also be nice,” said Kim sarcastically.
“Fuck you? Gladly,” said Gabe, and with that, Kim frowned, unable to find another retort, to head to the rest of her classes…leaving Gabe to call up his best friend, his dance partner, his colleague, and discuss what the heck had just happened, and how he’d managed to turn it into a second chance for them to woo their fated mate.
Chapter Six
“Wait, so hold up, what happened?” asked Tashia, sitting on Kim’s bed as Kim rifled through her closet that Friday. Kim had survived seeing Jace and Gabe three more times each during the week, as she had Monday, Wednesday, and Friday classes with them, and of course, while Jace had made sure to let her get to Gabe’s class on time, she’d noticed both of them eating her up with their eyes, and Gabe had made sure to remind her of her obligation to them after class on Friday.
“Gabe said that in order to borrow his jacket, I had to go out to dinner with him and I needed the jacket so I wouldn’t be flashing these God-given curves at all and sundry,” said Kim. “So now, I have to go meet them at this nice restaurant downtown, and I don’t have anything to wear.”
“Girl, you could’ve just asked to borrow something of mine,” said Tashia. “We’re the same dang size! I’ll be right back. You just find a pair of nice shoes and some tights in there. Let me handle the rest.”
Tashia left and came back with a pile of three dresses and three matching nice jackets. She had Kim play fashion doll until they had put together the perfect outfit, a black and red outfit that looked retro rather than too Gothic, perfect for the nice restaurant that Kim had been invited to. A pair of black pantyhose and black Mary Jane shoes completed the look, and Tashia lent Kim one of her nice silver necklaces, not too gaudy but just enough to draw the eye to the space between her upper curves…her cleavage.
A sweep of blush here, some lipstick there, and Tashia was ready to let Kim look in the mirror.
“Whoa,” said Kim, turning her face from side to side. “Tashia…you have skills.”
“Tell that to my parents,” said Tashia. “They convinced me to do pre-med instead of going to beauty school…but they’re right, I’ll afford way more makeup as a doctor than as a beautician, ironically enough. You know, Kim, you care a lot about how you look given that you apparently don’t even like the guys.”
‘“Hey, I’m allowed to have pride in my appearance,” said Kim. “Plus, it’s a power thing.”
“Girl, the only power thing you need are those powerful curves,” said Tashia. “The only question is, are these the men your curves deserve? I’m thinking yes.”
“Tashia, who’s side are you on anyway?” asked Kim.
“On yours, which is why sometimes I gotta talk you outta your own head,” said Tashia. “After all, sometimes what’s best for the heart is what the mind rejects. Don’t your romance novels say anything about that?”
“Ugh, the last thing I need is for my life to become a romance novel,” said Kim. “Keep the romance and the reality separate, thank you very much.”
“Hey, whatever floats your boat,” said Tashia. “Speaking of floating boats…you gotta catch a cab. It’s nearly time for your dinner.”
“Oh, shizz,” said Kim, grabbing her plain black purse and the black peacoat that Tashia had lent her. “Thanks, Tashia. I’ll knock on your door once I get back.”
“You mean if you get back,” said Tashia.
“Ha-ha, very funny,” said Kim. “There’s no frikkin’ way I’m sleeping anywhere but in my own bed tonight.”
Kim headed out the door and ordered a cab ride from her dorm to the swanky restaurant in downtown Seattle. It was her first time seeing downtown Seattle at night, as during the trip to Bear Buns, she’d had her head down, looking at her phone, avoiding the giggling gaggle of girls in the SUV and their immature comments. She hadn’t had the chance to appreciate how gorgeous the city looked at night. It was a little rainy, a little windy, but that just made the city look even more alive. To think that people had come here so many years ago and settled this wild land…well, Kim could barely imagine Seattle as anything other than the glimmering, sparkling tech hub it was.
The cab pulled up to the restaurant. Outside the restaurant were the two bear shifters she told herself she was loathing to see, but whom she couldn’t help but smile about once she spotted them.
“Hey,” said Kim. “Sorry I’m late.”
“It’s fine,” said Jace. “Was this place too far out of the way for you? Should we have selected something closer to campus?”
“It’s okay, really,” said Kim.
“Glad to see you finally found a jacket,” teased Gabe.
“Any more jabs like that, and you won’t be seeing that hoodie back,” said Kim.
“Good, you better keep it under your pillow and smell it at night,” said Gabe. “Given you won’t exactly have me and Jace there to keep you warm.”
“You’re the worst,” said Kim, rolling her eyes. “So, one dinner, that’s what I owe you for the hoodie, right?”
“Let’s make things interesting,” said Gabe. “How about this. I’m gonna wipe your slate clean. No debt. You don’t have to get dinner with us…but you can if you want to.”
“Are you frikkin’ kidding me?” asked Kim. “I got an outfit together for a swanky restaurant, got a frikkin’ makeover from my best friend, paid for a cab, with my own money, and you’re gonna pull that shizz?”
“I don’t think that answers the question, Ms. Matherson,” said Jace.
“After all I did to get ready for this date, you better be darn sure that I’m gonna be having a meal at this restaurant,” said Kim. “And you better have made a reservation, because I don’t want to wait one second longer for food. I skipped out on dinner in the cafeteria tonight for this date. I’ll be eating here, with or without you two…and you two are free to join me if you so please.”
“Of course I’d love to escort you to dinner, Ms. Matherson,” said Jace. “It’d be my pleasure.”
“No, stop, no ‘Ms. Matherson’ stuff outside the classroom,” said Kim. “My name’s Kim. You want me calling you Prof. Clark and Prof. Johnson in public?”
“In public I could care less, but in the bedroom?” said Gabe.
“Gabe, you cut that shizz out right now,” scolded Kim. “Don’t you dare sass me after practically extorting me into a dinner. We’re gonna go in there, have a nice dinner, and that…is gonna be that. Now, are you going to be a proper gentleman and escort me?”
“It’d be my honor…Kim,” said Gabe, lending Kim his arm. Jace took Kim’s free hand in his and opened the door for her.
“Johnson, party of three,” said Gabe to the hostess.
The hostess checked a large reservations book. “You’re actually slightly early, but…a table did just open up,” said the hostess. “Right this way.”
The hostess led the trio to a white tablecloth covered table with three chairs in a triangle.
“Wine?” asked the waiter.
“Water, please, sparkling,” said Jace.
“You two can drink if you want,” said Kim. “I’m not a child, other people can enjoy things even when I can’t.”
“Trust me, we have to drink enough at work,” said Jace.
“You do?” asked Kim. “At Bear Buns?”
“At Bear Buns and at the university,” said Gabe. “At least at Bear Buns, it’s around fun people, but at the university…well, let’s just say that wine and cheese doesn’t improve how whiny and cheesy some of our professors and peers are.”
“You two are both doctoral candidates, right…it’s so hard to think
of you two as students,” said Kim.
“I’m glad,” said Jace. “I intentionally try to give off a more…distinguished air.”
“It’s all an act,” said Gabe. “If you haven’t been able to tell, we’re pretty great at putting on an act. Kim, tell me, because I know Jace won’t want you to tell me…does Jace wear glasses in class?”
“Actually, yeah, he does, and I haven’t seen him wear them outside of class,” said Kim. “At least, I didn’t the night we…’met’. What’s the deal with that?”
“They’re fake glasses, okay?” said Jace. “Thanks, Gabe, now I need to find a new prop to make me look respectable.”
“Is there data to back up this theory, that people treat you differently with your…props?” asked Kim, unable to resist smiling at just how goofy Jace and Gabe were.
“Pages,” said Gabe. “And the props that have resulted in Jace getting the most respect are…glasses, followed by tweed jacket with bonus leather elbow patches, followed by artificially distressed bag, and finally, old shoes.”
“So if you have the data, why don’t you do the same thing?” Kim asked Gabe.
“Because I don’t need a gimmick to command respect,” asked Gabe. “Also, I don’t give a shizz if my students respect me or not. I’m the one grading them, not the other way around.”
“Excuse me, are you ready to order?” asked the waiter.
The waiter took their orders. Gabe ordered a steak, rare, while Jace ordered Alaskan salmon. Kim opted for a surf and turf option consisting of a filet mignon along with a half order of grilled salmon. Of course, the food was absolutely divine, and during dinner, conversation flowed far more freely than Kim expected. She actually found herself enjoying Jace and Gabe’s company, and for a dangerous few hours, found herself wondering if maybe, just maybe, she should give the two a chance, especially after they not only ordered her a cab back to her dorm, but rode in the cab with her for safety.
“I actually had a great time, thanks,” said Kim. “Maybe, just maybe…I’ll give this fated mate thing a chance. But no promises!”
“Of course, Kim, no promises,” said Jace, helping Kim out of the cab. The cabbie idled by as Gabe got out of the car too. Jace took Kim’s hand in his and raised it to his lips, before brushing the back of her hand, still wet with his kiss, against her cheek.
“Oh, Kim…there’s just one more thing,” said Gabe.
“Yes?” asked Kim, leaning in close and raising one eyebrow.
Gabe leaned in and took Kim’s head in his hands, lifted her chin up, and kissed her, deeply but without tongue, before leaning down to whisper in her ear…
“Don’t forget you have a problem set due online on Sunday night,” said Gabe.
Gabe pulled back. “Goodnight, Kim,” he said with the same cocky grin that always seemed to be on his face before he got back into the car, leaving Jace with Kim to have their moment.
“He’s such a cocky bastard,” said Kim.
“You haven’t seen shit in the way of cocky yet,” said Jace. “Plus…you do get that it’s a defense mechanism, right? It’s so exceedingly obvious, he wears it on his sleeve.”
“Defense mechanism against what?” asked Kim.
“Against rejection from his fated mate, of course,” said Jace.
“So if his defense mechanism is being cocky, what’s yours?” asked Kim.
“I don’t need one…because while Gabe just pretends to be cocky? I’m confident. I know that I’m going to make you mine. I know that soon…you’re going to be ours,” said Jace. “Remember…you can run around the world running from fate, and still end up back where you started, so it begs the question…why try running away at all?”
Jace pulled Kim close. Gabe’s kiss was still fresh on her lips, but Jace’s kiss didn’t wipe Gabe’s away. No, it turned the two kisses into a passionate amalgamation that was stronger than either kiss could be on its own, and as Kim touched her lips, Jace got into the car again. The cabbie started the car and drove off down the street, away from the dorm.
Kim was still licking her lips to taste the last of her professors’ kisses as she entered her bedroom. Kim got changed out of the clothes Tashia lent her and wiped the makeup off before getting changed into her old ratty pajamas. She went over and knocked on Tashia’s door and returned the clothes before dishing with Tashia about the date and heading back to her room to start on her homework. That darn problem set was better finished than not finished.
Kim was lost in thought, her over the ear noise cancelling headphones placed firmly over her head when she smelled something weird. Was one of the girls on the floor using a straightening iron? Maybe it was a really bad smelling candle or some awful incense, or some room spray gone bad. Could it be burned food? Had somebody had a birthday with candles that were really sooty? No…the smell was too strong for that. Kim’s eyes started to water. Her vision was hazy. She looked up. There was smoke covering above her. And where there was smoke, there had to be something else…something terrible.
Kim opened the door to her room. The hall was ablaze, with fire alarms going off. She hadn’t heard them because of her headphones and loud music, but now, in the smoky dorm, she couldn’t see which was the exit and which way led to certain doom. Kim quickly grabbed her backpack and did what she was precisely not supposed to do, loading it up with all the important things she needed: her personal documents, her laptop, her favorite book, and her wallet. She’d learned in the fire safety class not to do this, but when under extreme pressure, the human mind did crazy shizz.
As Kim headed out, a burning door crashed into the hallway, blocking her way. She couldn’t remember what was the most efficient path out of the dorm. She tried to forge on, but a large decorative beam fell and almost hit her.
Kim coughed, and that’s when she saw something. There was no frikkin’ way it was possible, right?
In front of her were two forms she would have recognized anywhere, two bears whose cinnamon fur was now covered in dark black ashes, their eyes bright as embers against charcoal. There was no way that in front of her were…
“Gabe? Jace?” asked Kim.
The bears were making their way towards her, through the smoke and the flames. Kim tried to get on top of Gabe but couldn’t, barely able to hold onto his fur, dropping her backpack. She tried to reach for it but Gabe kept walking away, while Jace pushed any fiery debris out of the trio’s way. They were making their way, quickly but cautiously, through the inferno, together.
This had to be a hallucination, didn’t it? Before Kim could think about it any further, she blacked out.
“Kim? Kim?” Kim heard a voice. Was it Jace? Was it Gabe? Was it some higher power? Kim’s eyes fluttered open. Oh. It was both of them…but they were shirtless, in their human forms.
“Kim, can you hear me?” said Jace, but Kim’s eyes fluttered shut again.
Chapter Seven
“Where…where am I?” asked Kim as her eyes fluttered open for a split second.
“You’re at St. James Hospital,” said a nurse. “You were in a fire. You inhaled a lot of smoke, but that’s why you’ve got that oxygen mask on. You’ll be okay. Just rest.”
Kim’s eyes fluttered shut but before they did, she could’ve sworn she saw two familiar figures, who she recognized as they’d been in her dreams…
Kim woke up. This time, she felt better. The nurse wasn’t around, but two handsome men were, one on his laptop, the other with his nose in a book.
“Jace?” asked Kim. “Gabe? Is that you?”
Jace shut his book and Gabe put his laptop down. They came up to her bed but gave her space to breathe.
“Kim…we haven’t left your side all night,” said Jace.
“We’ve been here in shifts,” explained Gabe. “We didn’t want you to be alone if…I mean, when you woke up.”
If. Even though Gabe had taken it back, it was obvious what he meant. He’d been scared, scared that Kim could’ve died.
“I’m f
ine,” said Kim. “I was stupid to have had my headphones on, and not checked what was going on when things smelled funny. I shouldn’t’ve packed a bag to…” That’s when Kim realized why she’d packed the bag. Her eyes welled up with tears.
“It’s gonna be okay,” said Jace.
“Did the firefighters…manage to get my bag?” asked Kim.
Jace looked at Gabe as if to say something, and Gabe gave him a look Kim didn’t understand. Did Kim really not realize that they were the ones that had saved her from the fire? It was a conversation they could have another time.
“What’s going on?” asked Kim. “Tell me what’s going on.”
“None of your belongings survived the fire,” said Gabe.
“No…you don’t understand,” said Kim. “There was something in that bag that couldn’t be replaced.”
“What was it?” asked Jace.
“It was a book,” said Kim.
“What kind of book?” asked Gabe.
“A romance novel,” said Kim. “Don’t laugh, I know it sounds silly, but…it’s the last thing I have that reminds me of my grandmother. “
“Why is it the last thing?” asked Gabe.
Kim looked at Jace. She knew that he already knew exactly why.
Kim sighed. “I wrote about this for my scholarship essay. My grandmother is the reason I’m even at this college. You see…my parents are meth addicts, but meth’s just their main poison of choice. Crack, heroin, coke, you name it, and of course, they love the bottle. I was taken from them at age five and placed with my grandma. I lived with her until I was fourteen…and she passed. Those nine years were the happiest of my life. We didn’t have a lot…but we had each other. After that, I was passed around foster homes and over time, the trinkets I had from our time together were stolen by other foster kids…or sometimes the parents, looking to punish me or pawn it for money. The items that never got stolen? The romance novels she’d shared with me. They couldn’t be pawned for anything and nobody wanted them, nobody but me. I know that a used ninety-nine cent paperback isn’t special, but to me…they were worth the world. Even more important than the words inside were the words my grandma left me inside the book, an inscription on the front page, in faded blue ink, faded from me rubbing over the words so many times to feel her close to me. They inspired a love of reading and a value system that was more based on emotional worth over material price, values that would serve me well at any college.”