Chapter Eleven
Lars
Goddess bless him, Franklin tried his best. He tried all kinds of ways to get us to engage in conversation with each other, but we answered Franklin’s questions and prompts with kindness but never directly spoke to each other.
Except the time William asked me to pass the chicken.
“How about the two of you have a night stroll out back while I clean up. It’s a beautiful night.”
When neither of us answered, he started picking up dishes. We both helped but were careful not to touch each other. In fact, both of us walked circles around the table, avoiding the other.
“Go on now. Out of my hair. I have a way I do dishes and no one else can help.”
We obeyed even though it was clear neither of us wanted anything to do with a stroll together or even breathing the same air.
As soon as we stepped down the back steps and onto the grass, someone turned on a ton of twinkly lights that lit up the beauty of the property in a new way. It was like the place got more lovely the longer I stayed here.
Which wouldn’t be long.
Only tonight, as it was.
Under the lights and the faint glow from the moon, we walked alongside each other but only for a moment. A new wave of sadness crept in as I realized how much I’d secretly hoped for a reunion with him, minus the subtle hostility and ache.
There was so much I wanted to say to him. Questions left unanswered. Issues I wanted cleared up.
Things that had been burning inside me since the day I realized I’d lost him. Or he lost me.
I scoffed as he branched off the path we were on and walked in a different direction. I shouldn’t be surprised. He walked away from me a long time ago and didn’t look back then either.
I found a bench and decided to sit for a bit. The night was nice but, while I was here, I would soak up as much relaxation as I could despite the circumstances. My wolf settled down but not by much.
All the time and effort I’d spent on this trip. The flight. The people. The ride. The smart-ass driver.
And for what?
To come here for heaven and get hell.
Even with the other night noises. The cicadas. The wind. The frogs. Over all that, I heard his footsteps. Yards away, far enough to be away from me.
I blew out a breath. Despite our history, I felt for him. He had also come here in search of a mate. No matter what happened between us, shifters longed for a partner, even if that mate wasn’t the one Fate chose for us.
Life happened with or without our permission.
He had to be disappointed and hurt.
After a bit more self-imposed misery, I decided to enjoy the night as best I could. I took the rest of the path, the whole time hearing his steps in the distance. His lilac smell permeated the air, and I allowed myself to wallow in it, if only for tonight.
Meandering through the trees, his steps became closer. His scent got stronger. Up ahead, my path crossed with another and, before I knew it, I was face-to-face with William. The man I thought I’d never see again.
We both stopped and looked at each other. So much had been shared between us but, in that moment, all I could feel was hurt.
“After you,” I spoke, hoping my pain didn’t pour into my tone. He didn’t deserve to hear how much he’d caused me.
“Thanks.”
No sooner had he muttered the words and taken a couple of steps when he gasped, his foot was caught in a root that curved above the ground. It all happened in slow motion. He began to fall. I reached out and turned my body and his so that I took the brunt of the impact. William landed on me with a big oomph .
“Are you okay?” My body roared to life. My senses were inundated with his scent and warmth. I touched his hand, igniting a lightning burst of need and want and desperation through my body.
My omega was on top of me.
“I-I am.” He squirmed, but instead of making it to standing, his legs tangled, and he landed on me again, facing me. “Sorry.”
I wrapped my arms around his waist instinctually. “It’s okay. Are you hurt? Your ankle?”
He flexed his foot. “Oh. No. I’m good. I think. Thank you.”
More words than we’d spoken in years.
Our mouths only inches apart, I wasn’t the only one gasping for breath. His chest moved against mine, our hearts pounding in sync. Goddess, I remembered the way those full lips felt, so needy and wanting more. The way he would play with me, teasing me all the time.
The way we laughed.
And cried.
And loved each other endlessly.
Our faces were so close, we could kiss without moving more than a fraction of an inch.
“This is like the old times,” I said, almost forgetting the time in between.
“No, in the old times, you loved me. Then you forgot about me.” His bitterness rose like a cloud between us, and I reared back in shock.