A/N: Sorry this chapter is posted a day late! To make up for it, I'll update twice this week ;)

Anyway, time for Rhys and Riley to meet again.

*****

"What do you mean Alec was there?" I shouted, startling both siblings. "Was he following Riley?"

"Calm down, Rhys." Keri raised her hands at the level of her shoulders to appease me. "I can't be sure, but I don't think so. I think he saw Riley walking alone and decided to tease him."

"To frighten him, you mean," Anthony pushed himself off the desk he was leaning on. "The boy was terrified. I thought he might cry."

"What did Alec say?" I growled, my body shaking.

"He spoke of the murder," Keri replied. "He said something like 'You shouldn't walk alone. There's a vicious killer on the loose'."

If anybody but my nephew had said that, I'd think it was out of concern. But Alec?

It had to be intimidation.

"Your nephew is trouble, Rhys. I know Everett cares for him, but we can't have him around anymore. He treats us like scum. And with another murder?" Anthony shook his head. "And that right after Alec got back in town."

"The perpetrator is a shifter, you know that, Anthony," Keri gently reminded her brother.

"But what if they had help?" Her sibling wasn't giving up. "We know the shifter is trying to make it look as if we are involved, but we don't know why; what if Alec is pulling their strings? He could be blackmailing them, he could've charmed them..."

"Even Alec wouldn't go that far." Keri waved him off.

"Do you agree, Rhys? Do you agree with my sister?"

I furrowed my eyebrows as I contemplated on it.

I didn't want to think Alec could do something as horrible as that, but could we really be sure?

He hunted down a Nighter... He and Vika had killed it... But what about a person?

What about a human being?

In such a horrific, nightmarish way... And for what?

To piss Everett off?

"No," I quietly uttered, then repeated louder. "No. I don't think Alec would go that far."

Anthony's jaw fell slack and he blinked at me, speechless.

"Very well." He then muttered, walking towards the door. "You have your opinion, I have mine. And I'll be contacting the Sentinels to tell them about it."

He closed the door to dad's study and I heard him wishing good night to my mom on his way out.

"I'm sure the Sentinels will find Alec had nothing to do with it." Keri leaned back on the desk, taking the same pose her brother had been in a few minutes ago.

But what if they find he's involved with something else?

"It is strange that he keeps coming back to Woodville though." A crease had formed on her forehead. "Maybe it's to tease Everett? To say 'Hey, I'm here, but I'm not going to stay at your home'?"

"I don't know." I sighed and leaned next to her. "Maybe."

"Well, one good thing came from Alec's encounter with Riley yesterday."

I raised an eyebrow at her.

"I finally got to meet your mate." She smiled. "I like him, Rhys. And I think it's safe to say that he likes you."

That he likes you...

I listened to the rain outside, repeating her words in my head.

He likes you...

Did Keri tell me that because of something Riley had said to her?

She'd refused to share the details of the conversation they'd had yesterday in the Milk & Cream.

No matter how much I asked... Begged... She just kept smiling and insisted that I'd visit Riley today. Which I planned to do.

Bad weather be damned, I was going to meet my mate.

I got up from my bed and walked towards my wardrobe, sighing when I realized that my only not-faded jeans were in the laundry basket. I grabbed one of the old pairs along with a shirt.

Maybe Kennedy was right; maybe I need to buy new clothes, I thought as I dressed.

I got out of my room and headed downstairs, taking two steps at a time. I grabbed my black leather jacket from the coat hanger, my keys from the bowl on the corner table and a large black umbrella.

I'll definitely need this.

Zipping my jacket up, I opened the door and shivered as the enormous, cool raindrops assaulted me. I tried to open the umbrella, but it bent under the pressure from the hollering wind. My ears filled with the drumming of the gushing water and the whistling of the air. I closed the umbrella and covered my head with it, running towards the car.

Once inside, I threw the useless black object on the floor at the passenger seat and started the engine. My feet were already cold, but thankfully my boots didn't leak so at least they weren't wet. I couldn't say the same for my hair and clothes though.

The windshield wipers waved like crazy as I drove towards the mall. There was no traffic. Not surprising though: who'd be mad or desperate enough to go out in this weather?

I'd rather be at home too, but it was Tuesday; I always visited Riley on Tuesdays.

I also needed to know what he and Keri had been talking about the previous day and I had to apologize for last Friday.

And I wanted to see him again. I wanted it badly. That glimpse on Saturday wasn't enough; I needed more of him.

I parked the car in front of the mall and got out. The wind had calmed so this time I used my umbrella the way it was meant to be used while I jogged towards the building. The automatic doors opened on their own and I rushed towards the second floor.

Seeing the Milk & Cream sign, a smile bloomed on my face, but at the same time my stomach tightened with nerves. I pushed the door, the bell chimed and he looked up - he was cleaning the bar again; surprise, surprise! - his gaze connecting with mine.

"Hey," I greeted, perching my behind in the usual spot and lightly shaking the closed umbrella. "Where can I put this?"

"Just place it as the base of the bar," my mate told me and turned around to grab a mug.

"How was your day?" I asked as he proceeded to fill the ceramic with coffee.

"Not very busy."

"Is everything okay?" I worried when I saw his hands shake as he handed me my beverage.

"I just..."

He sighed and placed his hands on the bar. My palm was covering his left hand before I even realized I'd moved my arm.

"Riley, what's wrong?" I leaned forward. My thumb moved from left to right over his soft skin as I tried to sooth him.

I wanted to question whether he was still upset because of my nephew, but I didn't wish to remind my mate of Alec in case the older boy was not to blame this time, so instead I asked:

"Did someone upset you?"

"Would you go out with me on a date?" He blurted.

I pulled back, my eyes rounding.

Did my ears deceive me?

Did my mate really just ask me on a date?

Was I dreaming of him again?

That couldn't be it. I felt the electricity between us; this was real.

Speechless, I leaned forward again and swirled my hand so it was beneath his palm. Then I lifted his arm and kissed it right below the wrist.

Just one little kiss and my lips were burning.

"Is that a yes?" He muttered, standing perfectly still.

"It's a yes." I nodded and my thumb trailed over his fingers before I pulled back. I didn't want to make this awkward by holding his hand for too long.

"Would you excuse me for a moment?" He asked and dashed towards the restrooms before I could utter a reply.

Riley asked me out.

We were going on a date.

We were...

Oh, my god, we were...

Blood rushed towards my face and I took a huge gulp of my coffee.

Water.

I should've ordered water.

Cool, calming water.

I took a deep breath.

I was lightheaded.

My throat was dry.

I'd just drank, but my thought was dry.

I lifted the mug again.

Was I getting a panic attack?

I'd imagine it would feel something like this.

I wiped my sweaty palms in my jeans and reached for my phone.

"Riley asked me out" I typed the text and send it to my mom, dad, Kennedy and Keri. Their responses came at once.

Mom: Oh, sweetie, I'm so happy for you!

Keri: OMG!!! HE DID?

Kennedy: Bro, please tell me you remembered to say yes...

Dad: I'm happy for you, son.

I sent "Thanks" to mom and dad, "Yes" to Keri and "I'm not that much of an idiot" to my brother. He immediately replied.

Kennedy: Aha. That's why last time you forgot to tell him when and where. Just keep it cool, okay, bro? If you got any questions, ask the pro ;)

I shook my head and pocketed my phone.

It was embarrassing to ask my baby brother for dating advice and yet I knew I would at some point. I'd talk to Keri, mom, dad and sometimes even Kelly about relationships, but for some reason I always ended up running things through Kennedy. In the end, why not?

He was charm and confidence incarnated; everybody loved Kennedy.

"So, I was thinking," Riley started when he got back, the roots of the hair over his forehead wet as if he'd washed his face, "that maybe we could go to the movies on Friday and then get some dinner? We could meet at the cinema..."

"No," I cut him off.

Shock and rejection replaced his smile.

*****

A/N: No? Why did Rhys say no? Any of you remember? If not, can you guess?

Did you enjoy their interaction before this moment?

Do you agree with Rhys that Alec offered to walk Riley to the Milk & Cream just to mess with him or was it out of concern? The encounter is in Ch. 6 of You are the Answer, by the way.

What about Anthony's accusations? Do you think Alec is somehow involved in the murders?

Please support this chapter with a VOTE and don't forget to check for the second update during the weekend!