(BL) Hunting The Field Guide novel Chapter 145

Chapter 145: Kissed, Missed, and Cried?

The coffee shop had several nice, plush chairs set up around the glass windows, overlooking the city. They were comfy, large seats that you sunk into when you sat in them. There were a few tables that had better views than the rest, and luckily, Taylor and Kellen scored one of them as the staff was clearing and cleaning it.

It was quiet around this time of the day, since it was between people getting off work, and others going to dinner. As the two of them settled into the chairs, Kellen with a tea latte, and Taylor with a regular latte, Kellen took a moment to try and center himself.

Everything had happened so quickly. From beginning to end, it had been a rollercoaster. Kellen wasn’t exactly sure what had happened, but he wasn’t upset that the Captain had snapped. He understood. He just knew that he needed to apologise to Hill for his outburst.

Kellen turned his gaze to Taylor, and took her in. Like the Captain, they had been brushing against each other basically only for guiding, but unlike him and the Captain, Taylor also had a pulse on his parents. They had gone for tea at least once in the two weeks.

But Taylor, in her white lab coat, her hair pulled back in her usual sharp ponytail, and her latte in hand, looked tired. She had large dark circles under her blue eyes, and she yawned. Kellen sighed, and Taylor sighed at the same time. Both gave small, weary smiles.

"Even in this situation we’ve found ourselves in, that’s fucking hilarious." She took a sip of her latte, before placing it down on the table in front of her. "Alright. Tell me, Kellen, what the hell is up with the Captain? What happened at the shoot today?" Kellen put his tea down on the end table, before slouching back in the chair. He hung his head on the back of the chair for a minute, letting the texture and softness comfort him before he spoke.

"A lot of things, actually. Uh, Pamela lied to us about what we were there for. She also threatened Brent and I that they were going to hunt us down if we tried to run away. The Espers took a lot of photos, but it felt like Brent and I took twice as many. Uh, things went off the rails rather quickly, and for everyone, not just for the Captain and I. They had us doing a lot of suggestive poses, but it got worse after I..." He trailed off, sighed, and rubbed his hands all over his face.

That wasn’t exactly the beginning of all of their problems, so he should really start there. He took a few seconds to himself, knowing that Taylor was waiting. "The Captain and I haven’t seen each other for two weeks outside of your 15 minute guiding sessions." Kellen confessed, and Taylor’s eyes grew as wide as saucers. She leaned forward in her chair, her expression shocked.

"What? No, that can’t be true. You guys live next door to each other! How the hell has Captain Thatcher been managing?" Kellen tilted back, before sitting up again. He threaded his hands together, and rested them on his knees, frowning.

"I imagine the same way I have been. Denial. I didn’t realise how miserable I was not seeing him until I saw him at the photoshoot with Hill." Kellen closed his eyes, sighing. "Our first shoot was so awkward. We hadn’t touched each other besides holding hands for so long, but the Captain was perfectly fine." Kellen couldn’t help the note of frustration that seeped into his words. Taylor gripped on the edge of her seat, staring at him as he looked out the window, pouting.

"Well, he clearly isn’t fine now, so what happened?" Kellen felt his cheeks heat and he dropped his head, staring at his threaded fingers for a minute before he untangled them and met Taylor’s gaze.

"We were holding this position and I just couldn’t stop myself anymore. I kissed him, and then told him that I missed him." Taylor covered her mouth with her hands.

"The Kellen Woods told another human that he missed them? After kissing them? What the fuck did you do after that? Cry? That’s the only way I can understand why the Captain was so angry at Hill when she came in." She was shocked, and Kellen could understand why.

She wasn’t wrong for reacting the way she had. Kellen was an exemplary Guide. He kept everyone at a perfect distance, and that had probably included his friends and family after a certain point. Kellen was big enough to admit that. He had also never dated, since he hadn’t had time for relationships while trying to get over himself.

The first two things listed were enough to freak anyone who knew him out, since they were so out of character for him. The last one? Where he’d actually cried?

Fuck, someone should have bought a lottery ticket.