Page 20 of Enchanted

I gave a clipped nod.

“Guess that’s why fate made you a healer,” Benji mused. “Maybe fate knew you’d need your powers to save him.”

“Maybe,” I said hollowly. “I’m so fucking relieved I could.”

Benji tapped his fingers rhythmically. “And then you compelled him to forget you because he can’t be yours.”

“He can’t.”

“Why is that? Is he straight?”

“No, but he’s also not single. Ethan has a partner. Someone he loves.”

“Ah.” Benji fell quiet, his clever mind likely working through everything.

I waited for him to arrive at the same conclusion I had—that Ethan would never be mine. That I’d have to wait while he spent his life with another before dying when he did.

But when he spoke, that wasn’t what he said. “I don’t think that’s the problem you believe it to be.”

I stared at him. “What? He has a boyfriend, Benji.”

“So? People break up all the time.”

“And sometimes they don’t,” I said hotly. “Just look at all the couples here, Ben. All of them are ’til death do us part and beyond.”

Benji smiled. “You’re proving my point, Rami. Everyone here is mated. They’re meant to be together. Just like Ethan is meant to be with you.”

“You can’t know that. I mean, look at my history. Every man I’ve ever been interested in has been with someone else. It’s just what happens. Why is that?”

“Maybe fate was getting you ready for this exact situation.” Benji rocked back and forth in his chair, something he did when he was thinking deeply. “So you wouldn’t be surprised when it happened.”

I snorted. “Well that didn’t fucking work.”

“I still don’t think you have anything to worry about. Once he spends more time with you, he’ll see how wonderful you are.”

“I don’t want to come between him and his boyfriend,” I said heavily.

Benji laughed. “Rami, you’re his fated mate. If anything, this boyfriend is coming between the two of you.”

I stared down at my hands, still seeing the blood that had covered them three weeks ago. “I don’t want someone to be with me because they have to be. I want them to want me. To choose me.”

“Then make him choose you. He can’t do that if he doesn’t know you, Ramiel. You know I’m right. I always am.”

“It’s not that simple. He doesn’t want to be friends.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know,” I said slowly, running through our conversation for the millionth time. “Honestly, it doesn’t make sense. He looked excited to have another friend, but then he changed his mind in the next breath.”

“That’s odd,” Benji said. “Doesn’t make sense to me either. How did he seem? Like, in himself?”

“Lonely.” The word rose with ease. “He seemed lonely.”

“Then be his friend.” Benji nodded. “That has to be the plan for now.”

“I can’t do that, Ben. He said he didn’t want that.”

“But you compelled him afterwards?”