Page 39 of Forbidden Cravings

“Yeah, once or twice.”

“Not the normal puppy love, you cry for a few days then move on post break-up kind of love. The soul shattering kind where you know there is no one else who will ever satisfy you the way this person does. Who fills your heart, body, and soul and makes you realize you were never complete before?”

“That’s deep. I can’t say I’ve been there.”

“It’s not a good place to be,” I mumbled.

“Why not? Sounds like it’s a fantastic place to be.”

I remained quiet, thinking about how numb I was to everything without Mason, how just those few days with him had left me completely out of control and craving to be near him again.

“It’s not. It hurts too much,” I finally replied, rising from my seat. “Take me home, please.”

He said nothing further, and I knew he wouldn’t share our conversation. He was a good guy, one I was glad the family had assigned to me these past few years.

Billy motioned for my other guard to follow and escorted me home. I sent a text to Angie to let her know I’d left, although I knew she wouldn’t even look. She was likely in one of the private rooms riding the mayor’s son by now.

I stared out the window, watching the lights pass by, hating how my chest carried an ache that wouldn’t subside and wondering if it ever would.

Days passed agonizingly slow,like peeling wallpaper from the walls of a dilapidated home. No matter how many passed, the ache didn’t disappear, but only seemed to grow. I thought of texting or calling Mason. I had his number. Tyson had given it to me years ago, in case I couldn’t reach him. But every time I thought about it, I worried it was the wrong thing to do. He hadn’t called me. Maybe he’d moved on, his heart not carrying the same never-ending emptiness that mine held.

What if he was trying to forget me and talking to me would only worsen things? And there was a chance that if I did text him, Tyson would see it. I was certain he’d kept my brother in the dark, just as I had. Otherwise, Tyson would have called chewing me out by now.

Riley called me a few weeks later to tell me she was returning to Greyson in a few days.

“I get to pick the bridesmaid’s dresses,” I teased her.

“Bridesmaid’s?” she asked.

“You’re saying yes, right?”

“I am but Casey, I’ve been away two months. He may have moved on?—”

“Stop it. That man is still pining over you, just like you are him. He didn’t risk Mason’s wrath by coming to Treemont just for a fling.”

“Maybe,” she said, sounding nervous.

“Ri, I’m serious. He killed for you. That kind of man does not fall out of love that fast…if ever.” My words hit too close to home, reminding me of Mason, the pain in my chest growing tenfold.

“I’ll see in a few days.”

“Are the guys going with you?”

“What?” She sounded terrified. “Are you mad? There’s no way I’d take either of them with me. Especially Mason. He’s liable to get overprotective and shoot Greyson.” I had to chuckle because it was the truth. It was the same thing Tyson would do. “No, I’m going alone. I’ve already talked it through with them and we have a plan in place.”

“Okay, but be careful. There are ramblings of the Bad Omens out here. It’s not good. Everyone is on edge.”

“Are you okay, Case?” she asked.

“I am. I’ve got guards and I never get to go anywhere alone. It’s a wonder they don’t have them stationed in my apartment. Thankfully, they don’t.”

“You sure you don’t want to come home? I’ll need help planning this wedding.”

The ache in my heart filled momentarily with her words. “From me?”

“You’re the closest friend I have.”

“Of course I’ll help you. Just let me know when and I’ll drop everything to be there.”

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