Chapter 16 #2
“Well, you’ve been saying you need a change of pace—and that you miss your best friend in the whole world.
Why don’t we propose she finish the last two months of school down with the pack?
Then she can spend weekends shadowing me, seeing if this is the kind of career she wants to pursue.
If it works out, she could intern with me over the summer.
We could make regular trips down to the pack.
It’d be a win-win, because I’d get to see you more often. ”
“That’s a lot of responsibility to take on. What about freedom and traveling the world?”
I think about how I felt this morning, waking up to Carter in my kitchen making breakfast. Maybe settling in one spot for a little while wouldn’t be so bad. Maybe—if he was amenable—we could see if this thing between us could work out.
“I’m really enjoying this new position at the event hall. It might be the change of pace I need.”
“Just make sure you’re not biting off more than you can chew. Speaking of, how is the lounge opening going?” She leans back, curling up on the couch.
“The lounge? Oh, you know… the usual.” I wave my hand in the air for emphasis.
“The usual? What mischief is afoot? The Rosemary I know is full of confidence when it comes to event planning.” Netti raises an eyebrow as she peers at me through the screen, but my gut twists as though she’s only a few feet away, wearing that I told you so, do as I say, not as I do air about her.
“You’re one to talk,” I retort. “You jump straight from graduating into a full-time healing position and helping with pack responsibilities.”
“Idle hands lead to mischief, and you know I always do better when I’m busy.” She shrugs, then adds, “But you’re deflecting. What’s going on?”
Running a hand through my hair, I twist it up into a messy bun and jab a pen through to hold it in place before finally forcing myself to face the glowing screen.
My reflection stares back faintly in the glass—tired eyes, lips pressed together in frustration.
I exhale through my nose and sink back against the counter.
“It’s just… fine, you’re right.” I rub the back of my neck, shoulders tense.
“I may have bitten off more than I can chew, and to make matters worse, nothing seems to be going right. The decorations I ordered weeks ago? Wrong color. Completely useless. And the band I booked canceled on me last minute, so now I’ve been scrambling to find a replacement. ”
I drag my palms over my face, muffling a groan.
“On top of helping chase down errant teen wolves and working your full-time job.” Her voice crackles through the speaker, too calm for the chaos in my chest. “You need a break, Rose, before you burn yourself out.”
“I know.” My laugh is brittle, humorless.
“And I plan on it. Remember? I told you I’ll be visiting the pack more with Alexandria—and you—once this gig is over and the event hall slows down for the summer.
” I push my laptop slightly away and lean on the edge of the island, fiddling with a stray ribbon from the sample decorations.
“Plus, my contract’s up for renewal in a couple months.
I’ve got time to decide if I want to stay… or pursue something different.”
The words hang heavy in the quiet. My fingers tighten around the ribbon until it leaves a crease in my palm.
Maybe something different isn’t such a bad thing. New town. New job. A clean slate, far away from the last messy remnants of Jett lingering in the corners of my life. But would that just be running away again?
I glance at the screen, at the woman who knows me better than anyone. My chest tightens. And then there’s Carter—whatever this thing is between us, fragile and fierce, blooming in the space between stolen glances and half-swallowed words.
Would leaving mean losing that too?
“And there isn’t perhaps any other undisclosed reason why you’d suddenly be willing to visit the pack so frequently? It wouldn’t happen to do with a tall, dark, and handsome—”
“Who is she calling handsome? She better not be talking about Connor. I can’t stand being around them making googly eyes at each other more than I have to.” Carter’s voice cuts in as he pushes open the door, arms ladened with luggage, Dria trailing behind him.
Goddess damn shifters and their impeccable hearing.
“I’ve got to go, Netti. I’ll let you know.” I hang up and turn back to the two wolf shifters standing in my living room. My eyes zero in on the luggage in his hands. “What is that?”
“Well, this is the luggage for Alexandria’s new clothes from yesterday, along with some toiletries. This bag is my duffel and laptop I grabbed from the hotel when I checked out.” He sets everything on the floor and looks expectantly at me.
My stomach plummets, and I fight to keep the disappointment off my face.
Of course. I should’ve known he’d be heading back to the pack as soon as his mission was over.
Checked out. Out of the hotel—and soon, maybe, out of my life.
My chest squeezes at the thought, but I push it away. There would be time to deal with my so-called love life later. One—no, two—mind-blowing orgasms in the shower did not make a relationship.
“Rose?”
“Sorry, I got lost in thought about the lounge’s opening night.” I shake my head and turn back to the sink, putting away dishes from breakfast—anything to keep my hands busy and my mind from spiraling.
“How did the conversation with Netti go?” he asks, stepping up behind me, one large hand sliding over mine just as I reach for another cup.
“It went…” I glance over my shoulder and immediately regret it. His cerulean eyes lock on mine, and a tug deep in my core answers, magic humming in my veins, heat pooling low. All I can think about is how he felt between my thighs last night.
“Yes?” He flashes me a wolfish grin, and my cheeks burn. I clap my hands together, duck under his arm, and fix my gaze firmly on Alexandria, refusing to let him see me unravel.
“So, I’ve got a plan.”