“Yeah,” I chuckle. “That does sound like something Carla would do. Please tell me she’s eating something better than baked beans and noodles.”
“Yes,” Jack says, grinning. “She’s cooking something nice every night. I could get used to it.”
“Or you could learn to cook.”
We both laugh, finishing off our beers. I run to the kitchen to get a couple more. Even though I’m pleased to have Jack’s update and the distraction, the need to see Gina isn’t going away. Deep inside, buried under piles of fake calm, is a clawing anxiety that drives me to hunt her down and hold her, kiss her, convince her to stay with me…
“Jack,” I say, cutting through the frivolous tone of the conversation. “I need to see her.”
Jack shakes his head, taking a sip of beer. “That’s not a great idea, buddy.”
“Why not? We’re married—she’s carrying my baby!”
“Yeah, but didn’t you just tell her you want to break the mate bond?”
“No, that’s what she said to me.”
“Hmm,” Jack muses. “Looks like we’ve got one hell of a communication gap here. She says you don’t really want her. You’re just forced to because of the mate bond.”
The words strike me like cold darts, leaving me paralyzed from the inside out. “What?”
“She’s been afraid, ever since she came back,” Jack sighs and shakes his head. “I told you at the wedding, this is super-dicey. She never got over what happened at prom.”
“I know that. I apologized, and she accepted my apology.”
“Yeah, she told me about that. But she said you had something going on with Jill?”
“Not this again,” I groan, covering my face with my hands. “I’m not seeing anyone. I can’t remember the last time I went on a date or had an actual girlfriend. Yes, girls talk to me a lot. I talk back. But I barely notice them., and as for Jill, she’s been a good friend lately. She’s offered me a lot of support, and told me how Gina feels about getting trapped here with me.”
“Gina doesn’t feel trapped here—she wants to be with you!”
“So why did Jill say she doesn’t!”
“I’ll give you one good guess, buddy.”
All the pieces suddenly fall together in my mind, and the effect is devastating. I’m seeing all the recent events from a whole new angle.
“Well, it’s about time you started paying attention,” Jack says. “So, you can tell each and every one of these girls—and Jill—to back right off. You’re hurting Gina, man.”
My eyes close as pain knifes through my chest. He’s right. I don’t even remember that much about walking into the party and talking to Jill, but it hurt Gina. I should have been more aware of it.
And everything that’s happened with Jill since then makes me feel like a complete fool. I thought she was just friendly, and trying to help. She’s Carson’s daughter—she’s always been involved in pack business. It never occurred to me that she could be trying to break us up.
Things were so good! Gina forgave me for everything, and I screwed it up!
I can’t help but remember how it felt to have her in my arms, the way she smiled at me first thing in the morning, and her obvious joy when playing the piano. It seemed like there was no fear in her then.
“I have to see her,” I say, shaking my head, almost ready to jump to my feet. “I need to sort this out, right now.”
“Like I said, it’s not a good idea,” Jack emphasizes. “She’s really hurt right now, and she can’t think straight. I don’t think you guys should try to talk until your emotions calm down.”
“Yeah, well, it’s been like a week, and I’m not calming down even slightly.”
He sighs. “To be fair, I don’t think she is, either.”
“So, I should see her?”
Jack shakes his head. “I don’t think so.”