It turned out that Fin didn’t want to come with them. He was dancing with Katie in the living room of the house and promised to Uber it home. Rain didn’t mind, his brother was old enough to manage on his own. But he could feel the unspoken questions in his brother’s eyes.

He walked Quinn out to his car and helped her in. She’d been quiet once they left the backyard. Deep in thought could be a good thing for him, or bad. She let him hold her hand on their walk outside. Then didn’t balk when he helped her into the car. All little steps that said she was growing more comfortable with him.

“Hungry?” he asked when he got in the driver’s seat.

“Sure, I’m always hungry after a nap,” she said trying to joke.

“I know it may seem a little odd and I know how much you love hamburgers, but I was thinking of some place a little quieter?”

“I’m sure wherever you want to go will be fine. I’m not picky.”

Rain started the car and put it into gear, heading towards downtown. They drove for a short distance before Rain turned on the radio. They both had things on their minds and he needed time to sort his out and he was sure she could use the time too.

Pulling into a tiny parking lot, he helped her out and walked her around the corner of a nondescript building that had a small awning over the front door that reached the street.

“13 Coins? I’ve heard about this place but never ate here. Isn’t it like where politicians or something used to hang out?”

Rain held the door open for her. “I don’t know about that. I do know they have a great bar, a nice wine list, and steaks any hour of the day.”

“Hmm, that is appealing.”

“I’ve come here, I’m embarrassed to say, intoxicated and ordered dinner and breakfast together. It was delicious, I think…”

Quinn smiled at him. “Well, it obviously left an impression.”

The hostess greeted them and led them over to a booth against the window. The bench seats reached the ceiling and had sides that jutted out from the back that gave it a very private feel, like a cocoon.

Once inside the booth, the noise dimmed, and even the clatter of the chefs working behind the long bar counter was muted. The only time someone intruded was when they approached the table; otherwise, it was like you were in your own little world.

“This is cozy,” she said, pulling her purse over her head and setting it beside her on the table.

“One of the many reasons I like it here.”

The waiter stopped by and introduced himself. He handed them menus and asked for their drink order.

“Quinn?” Rain asked.

“I’ll have whatever you’re drinking?”

“I was actually going to have an Old Fashioned. You ever try one of those?”

“Can’t say that I have.”

“We’ll take two and wine with dinner. Two classes of water too, please.”

The waiter left and Quinn stared out at the rain that had started on their drive. It was making the streets shine and the glow from the street lamps reflected the city in the puddles.

Rain let her ponder the outside world while they waited for their drinks. He wanted to talk to her without interruptions.

The drinks came along with a charcuterie tray with meats, pickled vegetables, and olives.

The waiter stood by as Rain asked Quinn, “Anything looking good?”

“It all looks good, but…”

She didn’t finish her thought, she was looking uncomfortable.

“Can you give us a minute?” Rain asked the waiter.

When he left, Rain reached across the table and took her hand. “What? Do you not like anything here? We can go somewhere else. I want you to be happy.”

“It’s really expensive, Rain,” she said on a whisper.

Rain looked down at the menu and frowned. He’d been to much more expensive restaurants and didn’t think anything about the cost, just whether or not Quinn would like it.

“Dinner is on me. I would never have suggested taking you anywhere if I wasn’t picking up the check. You ask me out, you can treat me. But tonight was my idea so I took you somewhere I could afford. So please, it doesn’t matter what it is, just pick something and we’ll have a wonderful meal.”

“You know that just makes me more uncomfortable. What if I pick something that costs more than you? I’d be mortified,” she said, her voice low like she was talking about planting a bomb.

“I’ll make sure I order more than you so that won’t be a problem,” he whispered back leaning over the table trying to be comical about it.

“Stop being funny, I’m serious,” she hissed.

“So am I,” he hissed back.

He saw the waiter and gestured for him to come back over. “I’m going to have the Steak David and the rock lobster.”

“Both, sir?”

“Yes, and let’s start with pan fried oysters. Quinn?”

Her mouth had fallen open while he recited his order. It was enough food for a horse and he probably wouldn’t be able to finish it.

“Umm, I’ll have the jumbo prawns scampi style?”

The waiter wrote it down then took their menus.

“See, was that so hard? Good food, good company, nobody barfing in the bushes.”

Quinn laughed. “Well, the night is young and we do have a window seat. You never know downtown.”

“We can only hope.”

* * *

The appetizers came and they chatted casually about their classes, and when their entrée’s arrived, they ate and laughed together over the ridiculous amount of it. Quinn told him about her first classes at U-dub. How she struggled with the amount of work and realized it was nothing like high school.

She focused on studies and let the rest of her life get chaotic. How many groups she tried to join at once and how she attended one tree people meeting and then decided that she couldn’t get up early on Sunday mornings just for trees.

“I felt bad about it. I really did. But I had to choose between using my efforts to help people or help trees. I’m just not organized enough to help both.”

“I’ve got the trees covered. Besides, your organizations probably take a lot of your time.”

“They do, but sometimes I feel like I’m making a difference, even if it’s a little one.”

“I remember having that freshman zeal. The “we are the generation to change the world.” And we will make our mark, blah blah.” She threw in some air quotes at the end.

“You don’t feel like that anymore?”

“No, I don’t. I realized somewhere around the middle of my sophomore year that I don’t think we are all supposed to be the name that changes the world. I stopped and imagined if we could all do just a little. Every person doing something small to make a difference, that way it would all add up to something bigger. Thinking like that took a lot of pressure off and let me focus on my studies. Although my ability to be on time and in clean clothes hasn’t gotten any better.”

“Speaking of which… for Friday’s event, is there anything else I can do?”

“Bring more people? We’re trying to make sure that the students know about the resources available. A crowd seems to draw them in, and then they don’t feel like they are under a spotlight while they’re getting the information they need.”

“I’ll see what I can do. You ready to go?”

They had finished their dinner and were sitting drinking coffee.

“Yes. I can honestly say that I’ve never actually ordered coffee after a meal at a restaurant. Isn’t that strange? I live off of it normally, but I only ever get it to go. I kind of like sitting down and having sugar and cream in little pitchers.”

“Well then, every time I take you out I’ll make sure we order coffee. I happen to know a crab house on Lake Union that has the fanciest coffee service you’ve ever seen.”

“I keep letting you take me out I’m going to get fat.”

“Doubtful. Good food is good for you.”

Rain threw some money down on the table. There was a stack of bills that Quinn tried really hard not to ogle.

“Let’s head out. I’m so full I’m afraid I’ll fall asleep. I’ve got class in the morning,” Rain said as he held the door open.

It was still drizzling outside. “Stay here, I’ll bring the car around.”

“Rain, it’s just around the corner. I won’t melt.”

“Let’s not risk it.”

He jogged off to get the car. When he pulled up, Quinn was shaking her head at him but smiling all the same.

Rain got out and opened her door for her. She waited this time knowing he would open it for her.

“You don’t know how badly it kills me to not grab the handle myself,” she said pausing in the doorway.

Rain took a risk and leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “I know, but you know it makes me happy to do it. Thank you.”

She shook her head and got in.

They drove back to the dorms and Rain figured out a way to hold her hand while he shifted the gears. She didn’t even balk at it.

When he parked, she waited for him to open her door out again. They walked hand in hand to her dorm. When they got to the entrance, he opened the door and stepped inside with her.

“I’m going to leave you here, but I wanted to make sure you got in safe.”

“You are a rare breed, Rain Rochon. A confusing, slightly antiquated, but rare breed.”

“I’m just me. I haven’t figured out how to be anything but. Around you, I’m a gentleman. If it makes you uncomfortable I’d like to say I could stop, but I really can’t.”

“I’m starting to see that. It would be like changing who you are. I can’t do that to you.”

“I appreciate that. So I feel like I’d be pressing my luck if I were to ask you out for tomorrow.”

She sighed and the little sound told him a lot. “Not pressing your luck, but I have work tomorrow. Thursday morning is my laundry, cleaning, reading day. My little break in the week.”

“What time should I pick you up on Friday?”

“I actually have a lot to get ready for the event. I’ll meet you there? In the square?”

“Sure I’ll try to get there early to help with set up, say four?”

“That will work.”

There was a pause as they stared at each other. Rain wanted to kiss her. But the desire to feel her mouth against his didn’t outweigh his desire to not go backwards in the progress he’d made.

He didn’t have to think about it long when Quinn pushed up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips against his.

Rain’s hands immediately went to her waist and pulled her closer to him. Her soft mouth opened under his lips and he took the chance to slip his tongue into her mouth.

His bear roared in his head when her tongue touched his. The kiss was hot and intense. A first kiss was about learning something about someone but not with talking. Mouth to mouth, it was another interview like a first date. Kissing, touching softly, a dance between two people.

Rain was memorizing all of the textures and flavors of his mate. He could only hope that this was the first of a million kisses between them.

She broke off the kiss first, gently pushing against his chest although she seemed reluctant to do it.

“Wow,” she whispered as he moved his mouth from her lips to her forehead.

“I don’t know about you, but I think we should do that often.”

“Rain, you spin my head. I think I need to think about all of this.”

“Go to bed, have sweet dreams. I’ll see you on Friday,” he whispered. He used the chance to pull her into a hug. She felt like she fit him, a puzzle piece that slipped into place with no effort or force.

“I will. You be careful walking back to your dorm. There are lots of weirdos out there.”

“Don’t worry. I am one of the weirdos.”

Rain stole a quick kiss and then brushed his thumb over her cheek to get one last feel in.

He knew that if he didn’t walk away now, he’d try to kiss her again, and he wanted more than a kiss, so much more.

Once the door closed behind him, he turned to look at her. She was still standing, watching him. Quinn raised her hand in a wave and turned around to walk down the hall.

Rain watched until she turned the corner. He and his bear were going to have to deal with the fact that they couldn’t watch over her all night. If there had been a handy tree and he knew which window was hers, he might be able to set up camp. But he didn’t know and he couldn’t risk anyone seeing his bear up a tree.

Tomorrow was going to be tougher. A day without her, a day not knowing what she was doing or who she was with. On Friday he’d see her again. Then the dreaded weekend. He had planned to go home to see his family, but there was no way he would be able to go without her. That meant he’d have to come up with an excuse his family would buy.