Chapter Eight
S taring out at the ocean spread before me, I let out a sigh before pushing to my feet. I don’t know why I keep coming back here like they’re just magically going to reappear.
Not that I want them to reappear. That’s certainly not why I bought a house on the beach. I’m a whale shifter. Of course, I want to be close to the ocean.
Scoffing, I turn away from the sunset and crashing waves and make my way up the path to my bungalow. I love my house.
It’s far larger than the one I lived in all those years ago—not because I need the space, but because I wanted this house. The moment I saw it, I knew I had to have it. Especially when I realized the beach is private, for a mile in each direction.
Just beyond those boundaries to the west is where the annual heat meet and greet is still held. Although, it’s not nearly as large anymore since I launched Heat Assist a few years ago.
Stopping at the gate leading to my property, I glance back at the waves once more. I can’t help scanning the ocean, looking for people I don’t want to admit I’m looking for.
It’s been ten years since I went through my first heat with Aidan, Carter, Ty, and Oliver. Ten years since they walked out of my house and out of my life. And apparently off the face of the realm. No one has heard a peep from any of them since they left my house.
I’ve tried my damnedest to get over them, but I think not knowing what happened to them has had me clinging to the hope that they might just show up again one day. For all I know, they’re buried in someone’s backyard, just waiting for someone to find their bodies.
They weren’t really anything to me. We only shared one heat and got to know one another a little. I shouldn’t care that they ghosted everyone in their lives, including me. I shouldn’t have felt enough about them to be more than a little hurt.
But here we are, ten years later, and I still can’t stop thinking about them. It’s pathetic. I’m fucking pathetic .
Grinding my teeth, I tear my gaze away from the ocean and enter the code to open the gate. I pull it shut behind me and start up the stairs until I reach the deck that dominates my backyard. It runs along the pool, hot tub, and bar that I had built.
Why have a pool when the ocean is steps away? Sometimes, I don’t want to swim in the ocean. Sometimes, I have a bad day where I don’t have the energy to make the short walk.
I make it to the French doors that open to the backyard, and it takes a lot of effort not to turn around and stare at the ocean once more.
I’m not looking for them.
I just like the ocean.
My shoulders hunch over as I try to remind myself I haven’t made my entire life around them and the loss I still feel now.
It’s all a lie, but it’s what I tell myself to keep going every day.
Throwing open one of the doors, I pull it shut behind me quickly so I won’t be tempted to take another peek.
I’m saved from myself when I hear my phone ringing from where I left it on the kitchen counter. Hurrying over, I roll my eyes when I see it’s my assistant .
“Hi, Haley. What’s up?”
“Hi, Lila! Sorry to bother you at home, but there were some emails I thought couldn’t wait until tomorrow. I tried to call you when I was leaving work, but you didn’t answer. I figured you were out for a swim, so I called you when I made it home.”
Biting back a sigh, I’m already moving to my kitchen table, where my laptop waits for me. “Haley, you should’ve made it home an hour and a half ago. What did I tell you about working so late?”
There’s a moment of silence before Haley laughs. “Not to do it, but we both know that’s not going to happen. Just accept it, Lil. I’m a workaholic, and you couldn’t survive without me.”
“Oh, I’m well aware I can’t survive without you. You’re the only reason the company stays afloat.” I pause, waiting for my email to pull up. I see three that she’s marked as important. “Just the three?”
“Yup,” she says, and I can practically hear the smile in her voice. “Since tomorrow is the last day before heat leave starts, I figured you’d want a head start on those.”
Humming, I open the first one and start reading. “Probably a good call. Thank you, Haley. I’ll read them over now. Go enjoy the rest of your evening with your boyfriend. I don’t want you to even think about work until tomorrow.”
“Not going to happen,” she sing-songs. “I’m going on heat leave, too. All I can think about is all the shit we have to get done tomorrow. But I promise I’ll have lots of fun with Allen tonight.”
I roll my eyes at her tone. I definitely don’t need to know about what she and Allen get up to at home. She’s a dwarf sperm whale shifter who doesn’t seem to have a filter. She’s also one of the people I’m closest to in the world, but there are times I have to tell her TMI.
“Alright, bye girlie. I’ll see you in the morning.” I hang up the phone, knowing if I don’t, she’ll likely keep talking to me. And she was right—these emails are quite urgent.
The first one is another offer from another company to buy us out. They’ve been making the offer for years, wanting to get their hands on Heat Assist, but I’ve always told them no. That should make the email unimportant, but when I see the amount they’re now offering me, my mouth falls open. I might have to seriously consider this offer.
I love running Heat Assist, but it’s just one app. There isn’t much variety in the day-to-day of it all. I spent a lot of time and money putting together this company, but lately, I’ve been wondering if it’s what I want to do for the rest of my life.
Sure, I can always try to come up with other apps, or completely take the company in another direction. I’m just not sure I want to do that. Knowing I can’t make a decision about it now, I send a quick response to let them know I will consider their offer after my two-week heat leave.
The second email involves an HR issue I can’t really do anything about tonight, but it’s something I’ll need to dive into first thing tomorrow. The third email sets my blood boiling and makes me want to rampage.
I brought on someone recently into the COO position because I have no intention of shutting down the company during my heat leave. Our last COO left just after last year’s heat, and it took me this long to find someone to replace him.
Now, this cocksucker thinks he can quit with one day’s notice. He’s in for a surprise tomorrow. While I don’t want someone to work for my company if they’re not into it, he can’t quit before heat leave. Not only is it illegal, but I have no one else to run the company while I’m out.
I’ll be giving his new employer a call first thing to let him know exactly what kind of person they’ve hired. Then I’m going to fire his ass after I make sure the company rescinds their offer.
It looks like I’ll be calling a temp agency to see who they have that can cover the company for two weeks. It’s not ideal, but it’s better than having that asshole there.
I’ll need to go in early and probably work late. That’s not how I want to spend my day, but what choice do I have?
Damn it, my mom is going to kill me. I’m supposed to have dinner with them after work tomorrow. There’s no way she’s going to let me cancel on them.
Slamming the laptop shut, I’m so annoyed that I don’t even think about how easily I could’ve broken it. I’m too busy grabbing my phone and thinking of ways to kill the fucker who’s ruined my night.
I take a deep breath and squeeze my eyes shut, attempting to calm down before calling my mom. She’s difficult enough to deal with on a normal day, and I know if I snap at her, she’ll make everything all about her.
Oh!
Maybe I can call my dad and he can tell her. I like that plan a lot better.
Dialing his number, I wait for him to answer.
“Hey, honey.” Dad’s voice is a calming balm to my soul. “Is everything okay? You’re still coming over for dinner tomorrow, right? Your mom might kill me if you cancel again.”
I snort. “She’s not going to kill you right before her heat, Dad, but good try. Yes, I’m still planning to make it for dinner. There’s just one teeny tiny problem.”
He scoffs. “This ought to be good. Well, go on and tell me so I can figure out what to tell your mom.”
“Have I ever told you how much I love you?”
“A time or two.” He laughs.
“Jimmy, my new COO, emailed me after I left the office, letting me know tomorrow will be his last day—“
“That’s not legal. I can start up a suit against him as soon as I get to the office in the morning.” Dad sounds pissed, making me smile. He’s always had my back, and we think so much alike—it’s not even funny.
I don’t quite hold back my laughter. “Thanks, Dad, but I’m going to handle it. I’m going to call his new employer in the morning. James Carrigan is the CEO, and you know he loves me.”
“And he’s a whale shifter, so he knows what’s up.”
“Yes, he does. Something tells me when I hang up the phone Jimmy will no longer have a job. Especially not after I fire him.”
Dad laughs before growing serious. “You’re going to have to do interviews for people at the temp office, which is going to take most of the day. I’m sorry, honey. That sounds like a rough day for you, and there’s definitely no way you’re getting off at four like you planned. I’ll let your mom know, and we’ll push dinner back to, let’s say, eight? Do you think that’ll work for you?”
“Yeah, Dad. If I haven’t found anyone by six, I’ll just have to schedule more interviews for Saturday.” I settle back in my chair, already feeling better about everything. “Thank you for always being here for me.”
“Always, honey. Always. Go get yourself a glass of wine and watch some TV or read. Go take a bath. Anything to help you relax, yeah?”
I sigh. “That sounds like a great idea, Dad. Thanks again for talking to Mom for me. ”
“Honey, I’ve been playing the go-between for the two of you for at least two decades. I’m used to it. I love you.”
“Love you, too!”
Hanging up the phone, I slip it into my pocket and head for the fridge. Pouring myself a large glass of my favorite wine, I make my way upstairs to my bathroom. Filling the gloriously large bathtub with steaming hot water and bubbles, I smile.
Tomorrow is definitely going to suck, but tonight doesn’t have to.
Setting the glass on the corner of the tub, I walk back into my bedroom and shuck my clothes. Once finished, I grab my e-reader and head back into the bathroom.
I climb inside even though it’s not completely full yet, hissing as the heat hits my skin. Yes, I’m one of those people who likes water hot enough to boil off their skin, but I can already feel my muscles relaxing.
A good book, a hot bath, and my favorite wine sounds like just what the doctor ordered.