Chapter 44
After that, the three of them finished their lunch as quickly as possible before clearing everything up. Once the tasks were completed, they left in two separate cars. Percy got into his own car and headed toward the building where the new reading café would be located. Meanwhile, Rohan and Diego rode in one of the two new cars their omega had bought for them. They were going to one of the more scenic hillside spots they’d reserved the previous day, and Rohan was determined to decorate the area as beautifully as possible. He wanted to give Percy a night to remember.
* * * *
“Damn it!” Diego cursed under his breath as he attempted to steady himself on the lowest, thick branch of the tree.
The tree was approximately fifteen feet tall, and was located within the area Diego and Rohan had rented for their date with Percy later that evening. Since it was government land, they had to lease the spot from the environmental agency. It was obvious they weren’t the only ones who thought of enjoying a final outdoor activity before winter set in within the next two weeks or so, because Diego noticed several groups of people putting up stuff in the spaces they were allocated.
“Diego,” Rohan called from underneath the tree. “Are you okay?”
Diego glanced down and nodded. “Just having a bit of trouble wrapping these fairy lights around this branch. I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. Stop nagging like an old man. Why don’t you take care of the other stuff on the list?”
Rohan gave Diego two thumbs-up. “All right then. Holler if you need me.”
“Will do.”
Diego resumed his tasks, and he succeeded in dealing with a few others, too. By the time he and Rohan were done with the decorations, they were both a bit sweaty. However, Diego couldn’t care less. He was pleased with the result, and judging by Rohan’s scent, the other alpha was just as delighted. Diego stood behind Rohan and rested his chin on the other alpha’s right shoulder as he surveyed the scene in front of him. The two of them were quiet until Rohan turned to Diego
“Percy will like this, won’t he?”
Diego nodded. “Absolutely.”
“It’s already thirteen minutes past four, and the journey from here to the bookstore is about thirty minutes each way. Shouldn’t you leave now to fetch Percy?” Rohan asked. “I’ll stay and order takeout. Everything should be ready by the time the two of you get back.”
Diego groaned a little as he stretched his arms and legs. “Yeah. I’ll do that. I’ll see you soon.”
He hugged Rohan tightly, and he was elated when the other alpha returned his embrace immediately. Rohan used to be stiff in terms of his expressions and actions. He was terrible with words, and he didn’t know how to show his affections, especially when he was in public. Lately, he was getting a whole lot better, and Diego noticed the improvement. He pulled away after a moment and kissed Rohan on the forehead, ignoring the other alpha’s blushing cheeks as he bade farewell and made his way to the car.
His journey to the bookstore didn’t last as long as expected. When he arrived, he took a few seconds to admire the building from the outside. The vertical, thick piece of metal that covered most of the front of the building was gone so the second floor and the rooftop on the third floor were now visible. A new coat of paint was being applied, giving it a fresher and more cheerful outlook. He entered the building and smiled as he always did while observing the progress that had been achieved so far. The wall that separated the front and James’s previous office was gone. Now, he could see the staircase that led to the second floor. The workers had finished painting the first floor. The counter and the small kitchen were on the right, while the new tables and chairs were arranged neatly on the left. Diego was about to make his way up the stairs when he noticed Percy coming down. Percy beamed at Diego when the omega reached the bottom.
“Hey! You’re here,” Percy greeted. “Where’s Rohan? Why didn’t you call and let me know when you got here?”
“I’ve just arrived. Rohan’s taking care of the food. We’ll meet him at the secret spot.”
Percy rolled his eyes. “How mysterious! Are we leaving now?”
Diego nodded as he suppressed his own amusement. “Are the contractors still busy working upstairs?”
Percy shook his head. “Nah. Apparently, they’d been here since seven o’clock this morning so they all left about fifteen minutes ago. I was just admiring the second floor and the rooftop. This reading café will be gorgeous when it’s done. The rooftop will be popular in spring, summer, and fall, but we may have to install an automatic canopy up there to protect the customers and the furniture when it rains or snows.”
“Good idea,” Diego agreed as he reached for Percy’s hand and gently guided the omega out of the bookstore.