Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
The common room is suspiciously empty.
I press my lips together and shut the door behind me. Where is everybody?
Bells is on the couch in the corner of the room, her blue hair a dead giveaway. Her roots have been touched up, the dark blonde now a vibrant aqua. Adam gifted her a gift certificate to the hair salon down the street. I see she made good use of it.
“Where is everybody?” I ask, stepping into the room.
I usually go out of my way to avoid speaking to Bells, but she’s the only person here. I have no other options.
“They’re hungover.”
“Hungover?”
“Unless you know another word for drinking too much and regretting it.”
I fucking hate Bells.
I wish I didn’t.
“They were celebrating HPAW’s official demise,” she continues, waving a hand through the air. “I didn’t join them.”
Silence stretches between Bells and me, and I clear my throat before glancing around the room. Talking with Bells is a special kind of torture. I absentmindedly rub the scarred skin on the back of my hand, but I’m quick to release it when I notice she’s looking.
“Do you know what Jack wanted to talk to Caleb about yesterday?” I ask.
At this, Bells fully rolls her eyes. My anger spikes before I realize she’s not directing it toward me. “He and some other humans have decided they want jobs,” she says. “I don’t really know. They thought Caleb could help.”
They want jobs?
That’s… easy. Caleb will be relieved.
Another awkward silence stretches between Bells and me. This is the most we’ve ever spoken, and it’s painful.
“Your hair looks nice,” I force myself to say.
Adam’s my best friend, so I should be friendly to his mate.
Bells touches the ends of her hair, then mumbles out a thanks.
“Well…” I gesture toward the door. “I should probably get going.”
Bells nods, and I rock back on my heels before leaving. I convinced my bodyguards to wait outside for me, and I’m pleased to see they listened. All four of them are still in their wolf forms, their large eyes narrowing as I walk down the front steps.
One of them growls low, a warning.
It’s a terrifying noise, and I stiffen until I realize it’s not directed at me.
“Evelyn…” A voice behind me speaks up.
I turn to see Bells rushing after me. She looks nervous, her hands intertwined and her posture rigid. She doesn’t make eye contact with me, not until we’re standing a foot apart.
I cock my head to the side. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah.” She nods, her fingers twisting together. She hesitates. Long enough that I think she’s going to walk away. “I was just wondering if you’ve seen Adam lately.”
She’s asking me about Adam?
I blink once.
Twice.
Three times.
“Yes,” I admit. “He’s been working closely with Alpha Knox these past few weeks.” I hesitate, unsure if I should tell her more, before continuing. “He’s a middle school teacher. I’m not sure if you know that about him. He’s returning to the classroom next week.”
I pause, waiting for Bells to speak. She doesn’t. Naturally.
“Why?” I pry.
“No reason.” Her answer is too quick. “I just… I haven’t seen him around lately, so I was just wondering.”
She misses him. Finally.
I’d find it incredibly endearing if she weren’t the reason his heart is broken. Adam has been through enough. He refuses to speak about what happened in that HPAW facility, but we all know.
He needs comfort.
He needs someone who won’t walk away.
The only person he’s willing to accept it from has been pushing him away. Bells is his mate, and I wish that title meant something to her. It didn’t to me, not at first, and it’s my biggest regret.
I draw in a breath. “You know you can just…talk to him? Adam has been through a lot, but he’s a good man. If you want to see him, all you need to do is ask.”
Bells cracks a smile. “Noted.” She takes a step back, her gaze flickering toward the large shifters surrounding me. “Thank you, Evelyn.”
She gives me one last look before heading back inside. I watch her leave, nervous to feel hope for Adam.
It’s about time she pulled her head out of her ass.