Page 21 of Wanted Beta

Not after he hollowed me out.

Even if I can still feel that first kiss on my lips, he’s not a part of my life anymore.

He was never going to be my mate, and I’m never going to see him again.

I wish it didn’t hurt to remind myself of that.

Sighing, I sit up in bed.

The temptation to bury myself under the covers comes and goes.

I really don’t want to spend all day feeling sad over something that happened a year ago.

My heart already broke for what I lost. Thinking about it will only make me feel worse for being dumb enough to trust another guy, even if the circumstances were totally different.

I don’t know how long I sit there for, trying to convince myself to get up, but when my sister knocks quietly on the door, I finally manage to drag myself out from under the covers.

Stifling a yawn, I take a few steps and open the door.

Catherine’s already dressed.

Why am I not surprised?

“Just thought I’d better wake you before it hits noon,” she tells me. “If you want to go get some junk food, now’s the time.”

“I’ll be ready in ten,” I tell her.

She nods. “I have to go out later, so you’ll be on your own for dinner.”

“No problem.”

“I’ll be in the kitchen when you’re ready to go out.”

She leaves and I pick out clothes to take into the bathroom.

Despite crying for a bit last night, I just look the usual amount of tired this morning.

I don’t look like I’ve had an allergic reaction to shellfish, I just have the usual bags under my eyes.

In about fifteen minutes time, I’m cleaned up and dressed, and I’ve applied just enough make up to look less like I’m exhausted.

A spritz of perfume on my collar, and a slick of gloss on my lips, and I’m ready to head out into the world.

I put my cross-body purse over my shoulder, and I walk into the kitchen to find Catherine sitting at the table with a half-finished cup of coffee in front of her.

“That was quick,” she tells me.

“Yeah, well I’m having some serious candy cravings,” I joke.

She gets up. “Then let’s get going.”

“You can finish your coffee first.”

“I’m done,” she admits. “It’s already cold.”

She was probably waiting a while before she knocked on my door to make sure I was awake then. I feel a little guilty about intruding on her life like this. She probably does stuff on the weekends and here I am making her go out to get candy.

“If you’ve got other stuff to do …” I start.

---