Maybe

Shasta showed up on Monday, as promised, though somewhat hesitant considering he barely rested all weekend. Learning he was the destined soulmate of Anita Chouteau gave him a headache. Not that he didn't want that, he didn't like her changing whims without much thought for his feelings. So he resolved to keep all romance out of the equation until she could love him for more than a mark on his hand. 

He made sure to get there early so as not to run into Anita, but Anita was already there, setting up the bar. If anything, everyone had decided to get there earlier than him. But everyone else was sitting at the bar, watching Anita, and then looking at Shasta.

"Oh, good morning, Shasta," greeted Anita, as happy as any other morning.

"Good morning," he returned the greeting. The suspicious smiles of Sierra and Leigha were doing nothing to ease his nerves. At least Cyrus pretended the conversation didn't interest him.

"How's your hand? Is it all healed?"

"Yes."

He wasn't sure if it was Anita acting normal or the stares from his co-workers, but Shasta had reached his limit.

"Why aren't you doing anything?"

"What do you mean? I'm cleaning the bar."

"You, the soulmate thing, you don't spring that on someone one day, then go back acting normal the next! Men don't like women who flip flop their emotions from one guy to the next, so please make up your mind already!"

Leigha had a hard time not spitting out her coffee but choked on it instead. Cyrus sighed, whether it was at Shasta missing something or in agreement with him, he didn't know.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Shasta, I didn't mean to make you confused. I realized that my actions last week were a bit abrupt, so I decided to ease more into it to help you understand."

"What is there to understand? You said we're soulmates, so now we are stuck together whether we like it or not, or if we have someone else we like or not."

"Do you have someone else you like?"

Anita tilted her head, curious for his answer. The others present all looked at him with the same odd look, but he could tell they knew what she didn't.

"I, um…well? But don't you have Norman?"

"Norman understands."

"Understand? You have been going on dates with him for a few months and he understands to back off because you have a soulmate."

"I'm not backing off!"

Everyone turned to see Norman appear from a booth. How he got in, Shasta had no idea. Considering Leigha didn't turn around, he guessed she had something to do with it.

"I will continue to fight for Anita because if her soulmate doesn't recognize what he has in front of him, I will be there to treasure her."

Norman marched up to the bar, slamming his hand at the other end. Shasta wouldn't have put it past him to jump over the bar.

"I know what's in front of me," Shasta challenged.

"Oh, do you?"

Norman jumped over the bar to march up to Shasta. The man was a little shorter than him but he was crowding a red faced Anita between them.

"Yes! I don't want her to feel forced to choose me because of some stupid mark! I want her to love me for me."

"Shasta."

Shasta looked down to see Anita clutching at his work shirt, her face pink.

"You don't know anything about soulmates, do you?"

"Not…not exactly." He looked away, not able to stare into her bashful face.

"I told you the first day we met. Being soulmates makes you my person. I will always be there to support my person, whether we are together or not."

Shasta looked down as she released his shirt, staring at the wrinkles before looking at him.

"So will you please give me the chance to get to know my soulmate better? And maybe, down the road, we'll see if we want to be more than friends?"

"I… I guess that's fine."

"Thank you!" Anita immediately wrapped her arms around him in a hug. Shasta was too slow to return the affection, and Norman pulled her away.

"I will still fight for her," growled Norman. Shasta pulled her back to him.

"Good luck with that."

"Well, as fun as this was, my cup is empty and we have a restaurant to open. You," Cyrus said pointing at Norman, "have your job. My employees need to set up. This drama has wasted enough time today."

Everyone stood, each moving about the shop to get ready for the day. Anita unhooked herself from Shasta to escort Norman out, wishing him a good day. Shasta returned to the kitchen.

"I guess congratulations are in order," offered Sierra

"We aren’t dating," he grumbled

"She's giving you a chance now, so that's a win. I'll still be cheering for you."

Shasta grunted, "Thanks," as he set about to work

"Shasta."

He looked up to see Anita peering over the window.

"What did you mean when you said, 'I want her to love me for me'?"

Shasta looked away, feeling his face heat up.

"Yes, please, Shasta, what did you mean by that," asked Leigha, appearing next to Anita.

"Please elaborate," added Sierra.

"You need to work," Shasta pushed Sierra out of his way before swinging a ladle at Anita.

"I like you and I intend to win you from Norman, and you," he said, redirecting the ladle to Leigha. “need to butt out of showing favoritism and let Anita decide for herself."

Leigha lifted her hands in surrender and walked back onto the floor.

Anita was pink. "I think I like you too."

Shasta smiled.

"But I also like Norman, so I will take this chance to get to know both of you better as friends."

"Sounds fair."

Anita nodded, smiling at their agreement. Shasta returned the sentiment until Sierra pointed out that he never smiles.