Page 1 of Avaritia

Prologue

TEN YEARS EARLIER

“So, how was your Criminal Law class? I feel like of all the classes you’re taking, that one sounds the most interesting,” I said to my boyfriend, tucking my phone between my ear and shoulder as I moved the pot of rice off the heat to finish cooking.

“Well, obviously, it’s interesting, but it’s not like a crime show like you’re probably imagining, Eri,” Sebastian replied dismissively. “It’s a really complex topic.”

“Right.” I cringed at my own ignorance. “Sorry. I didn’t mean for it to come out like that.”

Sebastian was a nice guy. The best guy. Everyone said so. He clearly didn’t mean to make me feel like an idiot whenever I tried to talk about what he was doing at law school. It was an accident. Besides, I could have looked into it more, figured out what it was he was actually studying.

I was just on edge from him being so far away, that was all. Long-distance relationships were challenging for anyone. Once Sebastian graduated and moved back home, and once we weren’t four hundred and forty-eight miles apart, things would be back to normal. Everything would be wonderful again. He’d either find a job at a regular law firm here or work for the Hunters Council’s in-house legal team. I’d be a manager at Furocious by then, and we’d finally have that winter wonderland wedding we’d always talked about.

Just two and three-quarter years to go.

“Mom says you haven’t visited her in a while,” Sebastian said in a faintly accusatory tone, drawing me back to the unpleasantness of the present rather than the daydreams I preferred spending my time in.

“Work has been super busy—” I began, wincing slightly at the reminder that I was overdue to go kiss the ring at my future mother-in-law’s house. Sebastian was everything, and of course I loved him more than life, but he was a teensy bit of a mama’s boy. But it was fine. He’d probably grow out of it once we were married and had kids of our own.

As he regularly pointed out, I didn’t have a good idea of what a normal parental relationship looked like, so I couldn’t judge his.

“It’s a pet store, Eri. You’re not curing cancer.”

“No, I know that—”

“And you know how hard it’s been on Mom with me deciding to go out of state for law school. It’s always been us against the world, and she’s really struggling. I’m really counting on you to help her out, Eri. Maybe drop a meal over there or something. Wifey shit, you know. I don’t trust anyone else to do it.”

A small flutter of hopeful butterflies took flight at the word wifey. “She doesn’t like my cooking.”

“You could make something she likes. You don’t have to put spices in everything. She also wants to know what time you’re picking her up to come and visit me this weekend?”

Shit.

“I, um, thought this weekend was just going to be the two of us?” Silence. “It’s just that it’s our anniversary, and we were going to do something special,” I tacked on hurriedly. He’d probably forgotten.

I mean, it wasn’t great that he’d forgotten our five-year anniversary, but he was busy. Law school was hard. I shouldn’t judge.

“I’m all she has, Eri.”

And there it was. The argument I couldn’t win. The fight I could never have because I’d look like the devil incarnate if I said anything to counter that.

It felt like swallowing bile to concede defeat, but I forced it down anyway. “Maybe we could do something for our anniversary next time I’m down. Just the two of us.”

Sebastian exhaled. “I knew you’d understand. You’re the fucking best. You’ll sort out the logistics with Mom for this weekend, yeah? I’m due at a study session.”

“Absolutely, of course. You should go.” I took a steadying breath, trying to find some sense of inner calm. Sebastian was busy. Law school was a lot of pressure, and Deb’s constant whining about him moving away wasn’t helping. He needed me. I didn’t want to add to the already huge load he was carrying.

“I love you,” I added, hoping my voice sounded cheerier than I felt. I hated this feeling of constantly counting down, waiting for the good times to start, never being able to enjoy the present. My whole life was on hold, and while I’d voluntarily agreed to this arrangement, I couldn’t help but resent it a little at times too.

And that only made my self-loathing worse. As Sebastian often pointed out, I was the one with everything to gain from this temporary pain. He’d make good money once he graduated, and he was doing it for us.

“Love you,” Sebastian replied easily, the words providing a familiar sense of comfort after years of hearing them. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

I swallowed thickly. “Yeah. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

By the time the end of my shift rolled around on Friday evening, I was the closest I’d ever been to bailing on a visit to see Sebastian. I wouldn’t, of course, but I really felt like it.

A delayed delivery meant that Mrs. Hartford couldn’t buy Rembrandt’s usual brand of kibble, causing her to have a complete meltdown in the middle of the store. Just when I’d calmed her down, a new customer arrived with an adorable little spoodle pup, who’d promptly peed on my canvas sneakers.

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