A/N: I'm doing another character interview and I've asked people on facebook to vote for the character they want me to question. Don't have a facebook? Don't worry: you can vote in the comments! The options are:
- Rhys

- Riley

- Rhys & Riley (joint interview)

- Alec

- Kennedy

- Keri

The links to the previous character interviews with Alice from The Green Girl series and Tyson from Here We Go Again will be in the comments.

Now back to Rhys' POV.

*****

"No," I cut him off.

Shock and rejection replaced his smile.

I immediately realized my mistake and silently cussed myself.

"I'll come pick you up, Riley. I don't want you to walk on your own; it's dangerous right now," I explained.

"You mean that man. Or people." His voice was low. "I hope they catch them soon."

I sighed. I wanted to reach out, hold his hand and console him; I wanted to tell him that everything would be alright.

But I'd have to lie to do that.

"They are doing their best," I began narrating the distressing truth, "but Kelly says there isn't much that they could use. There are almost no traces..."

"Kelly? As in Keri's cousin?" He interrupted and I nodded. "What does she have to do with it?"

"She's a police officer. She works on the case along with Detective Callum."

I resisted the urge to add 'He's human and we needed one of us on the case'.

"Is she the uniformed officer who spoke with the media on the day of the last murders?"

"Yeah." I didn't even attempt to hide the proud smile.

And then I slipped:

"She's one of our best."

I clamped my mouth shut, but it was already too late. My mate looked as if he was about to commence asking a long line of questions I would not want to give an answer to.

I cussed myself again.

I seemed to do a lot of that when it came to Riley.

My shoulders slumped in relief when he changed the topic:

"It seems kind of strange to find out people from the Bullets have regular jobs. I mean, except maybe for running that pub of yours."

"We don't actually have an external income from that place, you know." I was happy I could fill him in on how things were run in our pack without having to worry that what I said would lead to uncomfortable questions. Talking about our jobs was safe; after all, we all had legal ones.

"I mean," I went on, "the only visitors of that pub are us. So when I buy a beer, I'm paying a zero point zero something out of my own salary."

"You mean, because the community pays the Bullets' leader and the second in command to take care of them?"

Okay... I was wrong. This was bordering on uncomfortable and maybe even dangerous. It would be tricky to explain why my best friend and I got paid without using the terms Alpha and Beta in the sense that we shifters did.

Thankfully, it seemed that Riley was only seeking confirmation to something Keri had already explained.

"That's correct. Keri and I are too busy with..." pack "...family business to hold a regular job, so the community pays us. Each family gives a small percentage of their income for a community fund which is spent on things like building work out facilities, helping out sick members who can't pay their hospital fees and mine and Keri's salary."

"What did you do before you became her right hand man?"

I smiled.

Another safe question.

"I worked in construction along with Everett and our dad."

A series of emotions went across his face. For a moment he appeared surprised, then briefly disenchanted and then his cheeks turned rosy and his eyes darkened.

I cocked my head to the side, wondering what was on his mind. Before I had a chance to ask, he spoke:

"What about your mom? What does she do?"

The image of her tugging a strand of hair - mostly light brown, but with some white poking here and there - made me smile again.

"She's a social worker."

Whatever Riley thought about made his cheeks even redder.

He cleared his throat.

"So, what time will you pick me up on Friday?"

He tried to sound casual, busying himself with wiping the bar.

Was he nervous like me?

"I'm not sure I'll be free yet." I picked up the mug and took a sip.

I was going to do everything in my power to go with Riley that night, but things were hectic in our neighborhood since the last murder. I was sure Keri wouldn't mind me taking the evening off - she'd understand; they all would, when it came to my mate - but I wanted to leave myself a door opened, just in case; I didn't want to disappoint Riley by telling him yes today, then cancelling on the odd chance of something coming up.

It was unlikely though; nothing short of a pack-related emergency would keep me away from my mate this Friday.

"How about I get back to you on this when I come on Thursday?" I suggested.

He stopped cleaning the bar to look up at me.

"What if you don't come on Thursday? What if the weather is really bad or..."

My heart skipped a beat.

Riley wanted this date probably almost as much as I did.

"The weather is bad today, but I'm here, aren't I?"

I covered his hand with mine and caressed it with my thumb.

My heart reacted again, its thumping deafening in my ears when he smiled at me.

"I'll be back to see you on Thursday, Riley. I promise."

Even if it is just for five minutes, just to say hi and make arrangements for our date, I'd be here, my mate.

It was quiet.

I'd never been on a date before, but I was pretty sure we should talk about something... Anything.

So far our conversation had consisted of "Hi", "How are you", "Shall we get going" and "Thank you" when I opened the car door for Riley.

He hadn't said a word since he got into the vehicle.

Was he nervous?

Was he regretting going out with me?

He'd been the one to propose it and he'd seemed excited about it when I'd stopped by the Milk & Cream yesterday.

I should say something.

Maybe something funny.

I tried to think of anything witty, but drew a blank.

Maybe I should finally apologize for last Friday. I'd failed to do so both times I'd visited Riley at his work place; things had gone so well those two days that I'd been scared to bring the awkward handshake up.

I parked and glanced at my mate; he seemed lost in thought. Before I realized it, I lightly caressed his shoulder. The gesture startled him, his eyes moving from the car window to me.

"Is everything alright, Riley?" My voice was low, my throat dry. "Have you... Have you changed your mind about tonight?"

"About the date? No, no, Rhys, I haven't changed my mind." He spoke quickly, his eyes rounding in surprise... Or was it fear?

"I was thinking about one of my colleagues and... stuff," he added, his nose wrinkling as he pouted. He then shook his head and went on, more cheerfully: "So, which movie do you want to watch?"

"I don't know." I let go of his shoulder to unbuckle my seatbelt. "Both movies start at the same time. I think I'm more inclined to see the romantic comedy though."

"Really?" He raised his voice. "I love romantic comedies."

"So do I." I smiled like every time I found we had something in common. That was a good sign, right? A sign we could have a future together.

I looked into his brown eyes, allowing myself to imagine such a future, to imagine waking up next to each other, me driving him to and picking him from work, us cooking and having dinner together before we went upstairs to...

The blush on his cheeks horrified me. Had I said something out loud?

Did I just share what was in my head?

He couldn't read my mind, could he?

Whatever the reason for his coloring, it couldn't be that. Riley was not a Gifted. He didn't even believe that they existed.

"The romantic comedy it is." He turned away and got out of my vehicle.

"Do you want to get some popcorn?" I offered, remembering how much he'd enjoyed the salty treat last time and we slipped between the people who were coming out of the cinema.

His eyes barely left his feet to glance at me before he replied:

"Can we get one of those big packages and share?"

"Sure." I sped up to hide my grin and held the door to the building opened for him. "I'd love to share with you."

My food, my home, my life - I'd gladly share everything with you, my mate, I thought, blood flooding my face. Riley noticed it and tried his best to stifle a giggle. He looked absolutely adorable in his attempt to stay serious, his head tilted downward and his eyes peeking through his eyelashes as he looked up at me.

I knew then that I would not see the movie. Just like the previous time, I'd be too busy admiring my mate to pay attention to what was happening on the screen. After all, what could be more fascinating than him?

*****

A/N: Well, the next chapter will be difficult to write; it will be their first kiss after all ;)

What did you think of this chapter?

Do you remember what was on Riley's mind while he and Rhys were in the car (Ch. 9 of YATA)?

Please support the chapter with a VOTE if you enjoyed it and don't forget to vote in the comments for the character(s) you want me to interview.

Expect the next chapter over the weekend.