Word Count: 1688

~Rosie

Time could be showing me anything.

We sit opposite each other, waiting. He's given me next to no information, which only makes me more nervous. My foot taps impatiently on the floor, as we wait for the younger Time to appear. Apparently, Time bought an apartment right next to his old one to visit sometimes. I'm about to find out why he likes this place so much.

"You'll have to go out alone, and keep a low profile. He will be too distracted to notice you," he tells me. He looks solemn, and I am too. I'm going to be watching this alone, witnessing what Time is skeptical about. "I'm afraid I can't explain myself right away, either."

"So it's bad?" I say.

Time shrugs, before the time on the clock catches his attention. He motions for me to stand, which I do so quickly, wiping my swearing palms against my pants.

Before I had the chance to step out the door, Time grabs my arm, holding me back for a single moment. When I look up, I see concern floating around in his eyes. He skepticism is making me nervous, still. Seeing an immortal like him unnerved by his own past and letting me see it almost makes me want to close my eyes.

"Know that things change, and that I'm happy to talk about this afterwards," he tells me, to which I nod silently. We'll see how bad this really is.

After being given a jacket with a hood, I slip it over my head, and slip out the door,. The place is empty, the door beside Time's current apartment is closed tightly, no one in sight. I'm not sure how I'm going to get a good look at this, but I'll try, at least.

Sounds from the back of the hallway alert me of his arrival.

Pulling the hood further up, I hold the book that was handed to me by Time had a prop, pretending to leave up against the wall and read it.

Does Time really think this will work?

Glancing to my right, I watch what looks like younger Time and a girl stumble down the hallway, laughing animatedly between each other. I try to swallow, but my throats is arid dry. The closer they get, the better look I get at the two.

They are dressed like they have just been out all night. A few buttons to his dress shirt seem to be missing, and his jacket is pushed back. He looks happy about it, though, but the closer he gets, I can see those golden eyes are glazed over. I never knew immortals could drink, but clearly he's been out doing something of the sort, tonight.

The girl he is with is admittedly beautiful. She's the conventional pretty too, that plenty of people flock around on a night out. Tonight, it's clear, that Time got lucky to get her. Or maybe it's the other way around.

The closer they get, the more obvious it becomes.

I can see why he's interested in her. She has a perfectly angular face, a big round eyes the colour of milky chocolate, with full red lips to match. Her hair is as golden as Time's eyes, it reach all the way down her back to her waist. Even I happen to notice the way her right dress hugs every inch of her. I doubt she's insecure about anything.

Are these the kind of girls Time is into? It makes sense, I mean look at her. She's perfect. But then again, she doesn't look anything like me.

It's disappointing, honestly.

I might not be trying for Time's affections, but knowing that even though I'm his mate, I'm not his preference in girls. Maybe that's quick for me to assume, but I can't help it when I see who he is bringing back to his room on this night.

The wander past me, not taking any motive of me. I breath in Time's familiar scent, but it's masked by the cloying scent of cologne and something else. Alcohol or stronger.

"I had fun tonight," I hear Time tell her, once they reach the door to his apartment. I'm standing a little way off, and though they don't notice me, I still feel uncomfortable. I shouldn't be listening in to something like this. No wonder why Time seemed nervous about my reaction. This is the last thing I want to witness my mate doing.

Yet, I still stand here, watching them.

"I had fun too. I've never been with an Immortal like you before," she comments. Her tone is suggestive, as she lays the palm of her hand on his chest. It takes a lot within me to not to let the nausea in my stomach bubble up to my throat.

"I would have never guessed," he murmur, looking at her intently. He's playing with her, teasing her while taking advantage of her apprehension.

She seems desperate to get inside his room, though. The door is propped open only slightly, and I can see the way the girls eyes dart inside, curious about what is inside. Their flirting is only a dance, like foreplay. They both want to go inside, they are just waiting for the other to pull the trigger. From here, I can see how much Time is enjoying himself.

"I'm glad you approached me, you're so hot," she comments.

The way they are talking to each other is starting to make me sick, but I try not to think about the implications. This is to understanding more about his past. Surely a lot has changed since. Right?

"Why don't you come inside so we can talk more?" He asks. Time seems to be getting bored of the back and forth. They both know what each other wants, but she's hesitating, but not from a lack of excitement. I can tell she's nervous because of his status as an Immortal. He could ruin her life if he felt like it. She knows that, but I think that's what makes her want him even more.

I barely register her response, before Time kicks his door open slightly, grabs the girls waist, and with a giggle, they disappear into the room, the door shuddering closed behind them.

I stand in the hallway for a moment, not sure what to do.

This entire experience has shaken my world, as much as I hate to admit it. Taking in a deep breath, I wait until I'm sure the flush in my cheeks has vanished before stepping back inside the apartment with Time.

He's sitting down in the lounge, staring off into nothing. The moment I walk in, he gets to his face, surveying my face to gauge my reaction.

"So I assume the point of this exercise was the show me that you were a player?" I question. Time doesn't reply right away, as I walk over to the couch, and collapse into it, kicking my feet up onto the coffee table, not concerned with having manners right now. I need to clear my head after what I just witnessed.

Time remains standing. "Key word, was."

I raise my eyebrow at him, to which he continues to defend himself. "This was a dark time in my life. A time where I was looking for validation from random woman because every one I got close to previously always broke my heart. This felt like the safest way to get what I wanted, but to not fall for anyone."

"All you've proved to me is how sad your life truly is," I tell him. I hate the way I'm sounding right now. Spiteful, jealous.

"It was a period of my life I'm ashamed of, yes, but I've dealt a much worst hand to people over having sex with them. I did this because I never thought I deserved a mate," he explains.

I consider that silently.

Time takes a step forward, kneeling in front of my chair. Having him sit so close to me makes me nervous. I can smell that scent again, however, it's different from earlier. It's all I can smell, nothing interfering with it.

"Were all the woman you were with look like her? Nothing like me?" I ask softly.

It's the first admission of insecurity I've had with him, and it hurts. If Time thinks I want him, then all this will become so much harder. It's easy to keep him a fair distance away, to wait until he's done with what he wants and I can go back to finding my brothers. But he's my mate, and it hurts knowing he probably doesn't even have interest in me like that. It's selfish of me to think that, when I don't want him...

Time frowns, moving to sit next to me on the couch. The proximity is unnerving, but I don't find myself moving.

"Do you think I don't think you're pretty? Because if that's so, you're foolish for thinking that," he tells me securely. The way he is looking at me makes me want to look away, but I can't. "You have no idea how attracted to you I am. You're the most beautiful, and honestly the sexiest girl I've ever met. You're my mate."

I hate the way his words make me my heart flutter. I'm not weak enough to be moved by the validation of Time. Yet I can't help the way I feel.

As I'm looking away, suddenly, I feel the touch of Time's fingers against my chin, pulling my attention to him. I already know what he is going to do before he does it. And I can't turn away.

He leans forward to kiss me, and as much as my mind tells me no, my body betrays me.

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Hey guys! If you're enjoying the story, you can head over to Radish and read Time ahead of Wattpad!

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Hey guys! I've released Thought's own story on Radish, which is available now! I want to see by the end, which of the brothers your prefer

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~Midika 💜🐼