Page 6 of Midnight Mate
“We ran cross country together.”
Recognition finally hit me. Leslie had been five-foot-nothing and flat-chested, not a curve in sight last time I’d seen her. She hadn’t even triggered her wolf yet if memory served. Now, she’d definitely filled out and grown up. Curvy and cute. And married if the ring on her finger was any indication.
“Oh, of course. Wow, you look…”
She turned away with a sheepish smile. “Different, I know. I have three kids now.”
“I was going to say amazing.” I flashed a smile at her that covered up the pain I was in.
“Aw, you’re sweet. Thank you.” She reached for some papers, and I could tell by her wolf’s scent that I’d flustered her. “Anyway, you can fill these out, and we’ll get you all set up.” She thrust a clipboard at me, all business now.
“Is Meg around? I’d love to say hi,” I said.
Her expression fell. “Meg and Gene passed away about a year ago.”
Her words nearly knocked the wind from me. “I didn’t know. What happened?”
“Car accident up on the pass, end of last season.”
Her eyes filled with tears and I stared back at her, completely lost. My mom had never said anything. But then, we barely spoke these days.
“They were good people,” I said finally.
“Yes, they were.”
Offering a nod, I took the paperwork and limped to the nearest chair.
For the next few minutes, I slogged through the mountain of forms. My phone went off, but I ignored it. Then it dinged with a text. From my mother.
Your father says good luck today.
I scowled and slid my phone away. So we were still playing the denial game then.
“I’ll take that if you’re finished.”
I looked up to find Leslie standing over me, her hand held out. I passed her the clipboard and mumbled a thanks. She smiled and retreated.
Another few minutes passed. I tried hard not to think about Dad. Or Mom. Or anything resembling my old life here.
Breckenridge was home now.
Steve was my family.
Frowning, I remembered the way he’d taken my injury. Disappointment over losing his “star” competitor as he liked to call me, sure. But it was more than that. He’d been after me for years now to go pro. My refusals had meant nothing. If anything, he’d seen me as more of a challenge. But this injury had convinced him that would never happen. His distance from me as a coach made sense. As a friend, it stung. Some family.
“Easton Raines.”
The sound of my name pulled me from my thoughts. The voice that said it pulled my inner wolf to attention.
My head snapped up, and my eyes locked on the girl standing in the doorway. Notgirl. Woman.
My wolf practically growled the correction.
For nearly a month now, the damn beast inside me had been utterly silent. Now, it was all I could do to contain him.
Slowly, I rose, walking toward her as I studied her features. Sexy. Gorgeous. Familiar.
Her deep brown eyes landed on mine, and recognition hit me like a wave taking me under.
