Page 7 of The (Maybe) Murderer Who Knocked Me Up

“Yep. And Coin’s.”

Silver turns and wraps his big arms around me.

“I’m fine,” I lie. “You don’t need to do this.”

He doesn’t say anything in return. He just hugs me. Which makes it all worse, because it’s exactly what I need. Silver always knows what to do when I’m sad.

“I thought you were leaving at the end of the summer,” I say. A single tear slides down my cheek. I wipe it away quickly.

“Lucas found his fated mate.”

I pull away from him, not sure if I heard that right. Lucas is Silver’s best friend. They’ve been as thick as thieves for as long as I can remember, even after Lucas presented as an omega.

I always thought Silver would put his paws on him when they were ready to settle down.

“Is he sure?” I ask. “Don’t wolf shifters usually not recognize their fated mate until their mid-twenties?”

Silver nods.

“I’m sorry,” I say.

“It’s not your fault. It’s not anyone’s fault. I just need to get away.” He gives me this sad smile that makes me wish I could take his pain away. It’s my turn to wrap my arms around him. He relaxes against me. For a few moments, we just sit there and find comfort in each other’s warmth.

“You could come with me, you know,” he says.

“I promised Mom I’d help her with the bakery.”

She runs a bakery out of our home during the summer. We sell cookies and bread at the local farmer’s market. Our plan was to expand the business into a few local grocery stores.

“There are bakeries in Houston. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if you wanted to come. Coin is leaving with Uncle Dagger, and Tin’s starting his job early too. The horse trainer he’s apprenticing with asked him if he could. He said summer is the busiest time of year.”

My heart aches as I realize that’s the real reason Silver came in here. Someone had to tell me that Tin is leaving too. How did this happen? We were supposed to have one last summer together.

I hold Silver tighter. “Why does everyone have to go?”

“We’re excited to start the next part of our lives.”

“Why?” I ask again.

“Aren’t you, Quin? We’re eighteen. Weshouldbe excited about what comes next.”

I release him and get out of the hammock. I know I’m supposed to be excited about the rest of my life. Everyone is always telling me that. The counselors at school, our moms, and now Silver. I’m supposed to have some big, exciting plan that’s better than our perfect childhood. But I don’t.

“What if my life is already good just the way it is?” I say. “Why do I have to wish that things were different? What if I don’t want things to change?”

“Things are always going to change, Quin. That’s the one thing that stays constant. If you’re not excited about what’s coming next, then maybe you need to figure out something to work towards. Something to look forward to.”

I turn away from him. He doesn’t understand. I’ve never wanted a fast-paced, fancy career. I’ve never wanted to move to the city.

“What’s wrong with where we are?” I ask.

“Nothing.” He stands and walks toward me. “But it’s just the starting point.”

He holds out his arms, but I don’t need another patronizing hug. I also don’t need him to tell me how to live. Just because I’m not like him, doesn’t mean that what I want with my life is wrong. Ilikeliving with our moms. Ilikeour trailer and our neighborhood.

I escape out of our bedroom and through our living room full of family members packing up to leave. There’s nowhere in this house I can go without being forced to face the reality of the future.

So I leave. Not somewhere exciting, like college. Just outside.

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