Chapter 15 - Nora
I woke up to my phone alarm going off. I rolled over, turning it off, and paused.
Everything from last night came flashing back, and I felt my face grow hot.
I remembered his tongue against mine and just moments later, over my clit.
I’d given myself orgasms before, but nothing like what Kaleb pulled out of me.
I squeezed my thighs together, feeling sore, and swallowed. I was a little embarrassed now in the daytime, knowing how quickly it all went down. Kaleb had made me come apart several times. He’d been careful but also giving me what I wanted.
I crawled out of bed and threw my robe on. I slipped out of my room and into the hallway. I peeked into Kaleb’s room, finding it empty, which meant he was downstairs.
I straightened my shoulders as I made my way down, thinking of how last night meant something. We both admitted that not everything was fake. Maybe he was ready to admit that this was real. Maybe we could talk about it.
I made it down the stairs and paused. The main floor was silent—not silent like someone was reading or on their phone, but silent like no one was around.
I walked into the living room, finding it empty. Both of the couches were bare, and the TV was off.
I turned, heading into the kitchen, and found it empty. The coffee pot was half empty, and a used mug was sitting by the sink. I turned, looking toward the front door, and found his shoes and keys gone. My shoulders sank.
A part of me knew something had shifted. Kaleb was always up when I left. I walked over toward the coffee, pouring myself a mug, and sat down. I stared at my coffee, unsure of how I should even feel.
I knew deep in my bones that last night meant something. You couldn’t fake that look he had in his eyes. You couldn’t fake emotions like that.
“It wasn’t fake,” I said softly, not sure who I was trying to remind.
Even if they were real, what difference did it make? Kaleb made it clear that we weren’t anything. So, why was I letting myself get hopeful?
I shook my head, not wanting to let myself cry about this. It was like the rejection all over again. I was looking into things too closely and overthinking it again.
“Just have fun,” I said, taking a sip of my coffee.
There’s nothing wrong with having fun. Maybe I should just take Jade’s advice.
” If Kaleb didn’t want this to be serious, that didn’t mean I couldn’t get anything out of it.
Maybe I should treat this like a stepping stone for my future.
The more I learned now, the more I would know what I wanted.
I should just have fun and enjoy myself.
But even I knew that it wasn’t that simple. You couldn’t walk away from something like this without someone getting hurt. It wasn’t going to be Kaleb. He didn’t seem like he wanted a future like that. He’d stated that in the very beginning. He didn’t want a wife, and he didn’t want any kids.
I was the one looking too deeply into everything. I was the only one letting her emotions take the reins.
My phone rang, and I glanced over to see it was Kaleb. I pulled it up and answered, “Hello?”
“You are awake.”
I nodded. “Yeah, I woke up a few minutes ago. I’m just having a cup of coffee.”
“Good. I just wanted to see how you’re feeling this morning. Last night was fun.”
I frowned at his wording. Fun. Was that what it was? I chewed on my cheek, feeling my heart sink. “I’m okay. It was fun. I didn’t hear you leave this morning.”
“I was out early this morning. We had a training session. I didn’t want to wake you.”
I rubbed my thumb along the rim of my mug. “When are you going to be home?”
“Late, I think. I was also calling because I don’t think we can go for another date tonight. We will need to reschedule.”
I bit hard onto my cheek, tasting blood. I nodded. “Sure. That’s okay. I understand things come up.”
“Great. Talk to you later.” The line ended before I could respond.
***
I arrived at the shelter, and as soon as I got to the back area where the dogs were, they erupted in barks.
I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Alright, you guys. I’m here.
Give me a moment.” I unlocked the back door, propping it open with our doorstopper.
I then went to each of the kennels and let the dogs out.
All of them jumped on me eagerly, and I bent down, giving each of them kisses and pats before they finally made their way outside.
Once they were all outside, I swept each of their kennels and gave them fresh water in their bowls. I was pouring them some dog food when I spotted Charlie sitting in the hallway, watching me.
“Hi, Charlie,” I patted his head as I placed the food in Spot’s kennel. “Are you watching me again today?”
“You know he is really attached to you,” Mike spoke up as he walked into the back.
I nodded. “I know he is. But so are a lot of the dogs we’ve had before.”
“Not like this.” Mike bent down, running his hand over Charlie’s back. He scratched behind Charlie’s ear, and Charlie leaned into Mike’s hand, enjoying it. “He looks to you for everything. He hardly eats when I’m around and yet has no problem when you come.”
“Maybe he just likes women.”
“Or maybe you should put the poor guy out of his misery and adopt him.”
I sighed, looking at Mike. We’d had this conversation several times. “You know I can’t have a dog.”
Mike shook his head and waved a finger. “You couldn’t in your apartment, but aren’t you living in a house now?” Mike raised an eyebrow at me. “With a yard? Sounds like you could have a dog.”
I chewed on my lower lip as I stared at Charlie.
I would have to talk to Kaleb about it first, since it was technically his house.
And when we did decide to split ways, I would have to look for a place that was dog-friendly, which could be a pain in the ass.
Unless I purchased my own house after all of this. I could. I’d been setting money aside.
“I’ll have to think about it.”
“You know,” Mike continued, a smirk pulling at his lips. “Dogs are known to be great companions and amazing distractions.”
The smug little shit.
I sighed. “Fine, take him off the website.”
Mike looked at Charlie. “Did you hear that? She finally gave in.”
An hour later, I was calling the dogs inside. I scanned the yard looking for Spot, who was not coming back. I stepped outside, looking in each of the corners. “Spot? Come on. Do you want breakfast?”
I watched as a little head popped up from behind the dog playground we had set up. I smirk. “Come on.”
He came running across the yard, and then I heard the door behind me. I turned, and my body stiffened as Ryan walked into the back dog area. The dogs all seemed to go silent when he came around, like they could sense the ugliness I saw.
“Well, if it isn’t witch Nora. My dad still kept you employed after the news?”
I swallowed as Spot came running through the door. He stopped once he spotted Ryan and started to growl. I smirked, always finding the dogs had a way of protecting me.
Ryan kept his distance, but that didn’t shut him up.
“That I’m a witch? That wasn’t news, Ryan.”
Ryan laughed. “No, but you having magic is. As if being a witch wasn’t dirty enough.”
I knew my face gave it away that I was insulted. Normally, I would just let it go on, but this time was different. I wasn’t in the mood to listen to him banter on about whatever he wanted. I was sick and tired of him constantly thinking he had the upper hand on me.
“Being a witch isn’t dirty,” I snapped back, crossing my arms.
He snorted.
I stepped closer, Spot following me. I decided now was the time to shut him up. “You know, now that I know I have magic, I have been training with it. Learning what I can do and what I still need to learn. It’s crazy the things that I’ve found.”
Ryan’s face dropped slightly, and he looked almost uncomfortable for a moment. But he quickly fixed it, giving me a smug expression. “I’m sure. You learning how to hold a wand and recite spells?”
He laughed at his own joke, finding himself funny.
But I decided to go along with it. I smiled.
“I don’t need a wand, Ryan. I just need a spell book, and you should know I know I’ve read deep into the one I have.
I learned how to make someone silent, how to turn things into different shapes.
” I took another step toward him. “I even learned how to transfer pain. I can take the pain and suffering of other animals and put it into another body.”
Ryan paused, seeming confused by my words. I grabbed the scissors I had sitting on the side, opening them. I then pulled my sleeve up. “Want to find out how good I am? I can transfer the pain right to you.”
Ryan turned white, and I smiled as I brought the scissors down to my forearm.
I just pressed it onto my skin, hardly touching it before Ryan started to back up.
He slammed into a kennel, and the dogs all erupted.
They barked and started growling loudly at Ryan.
I watched as fear filled his face now, and it gave me pure joy.
He grabbed the door, yanking it open. “You fucking crazy!” he yelled as he ran out of the room. I started to laugh as I closed the scissors and tossed them back to the side.
But just as I turned to shut the back door, I heard someone walk into the dog area. I turned back and froze as I took in Kaleb. He had his hands shoved into his pockets, looking confused as he stood in the doorway.
“Why does Ryan look like he’s going to piss himself?”
I hated how good Kaleb looked. He looked like nothing had happened last night, and we were still the same. It stirred up all the emotions I spent all afternoon shoving down.
I swallowed. “Don’t know. He’s not a fan of dogs.”
Kaleb raised an eyebrow at me. “He’s calling you crazy.”
I shrugged. “And maybe I am. What are you doing here?”
He frowned. “I was driving by when I spotted Ryan’s car here, so I thought I would stop in and make sure everything was okay. I know that he’s been bothering you.”
“And as I’ve told you before, I’m more than able to take care of myself. You don’t need to babysit me.”
His eyes hardened. “It’s not babysitting, Nora. I’m caring.”
I turned, needing to end the conversation before I started to yell or cry. “If that’s all, I have work to get back to.”
He was quiet, and I expected him to call after me, but he didn’t. I grabbed the dog pooper scooper and moved closer to the back door. I looked over my shoulder, seeing Kaleb seemed unsure of what to say, what to do. I could see he was thinking, but didn’t say anything.
“Is that all?” I asked, eager to end this.
Kaleb looked at me, and I watched his face fall. “No. I’m going to be heading out to catch up with Brandon. See how their hunt went.”
I nodded. “Alright, thanks for letting me know.” I moved, letting the door slam shut behind me, ending the conversation.