Page 9 of Awakened
“That explains why Connor can’t look me in the eye.” I let out a sigh. “No, we fell into an unfortunate habit but stopped before total damage was done. I don’t think he understands why I’m leaving . . . or that I have to leave.”
Seth put out his cigarette and pulled me into a tight hug. “Doesn’t fucking matter if he understands.” He kissed my hair. “You have to do what’s best for you.”
Wrapped in his warm arms, breathing in his smoky and oddlyclean smell, I tried not to think about how much I would miss him. How much I already missed him.
I blinked back tears. “Can this be our goodbye?”
“What do you mean?” he murmured into my hair.
I leaned back to look him in the eye. “I don’t want to say goodbye to you again when we go back to the house. I can’t keep saying goodbye to the people that I love.”
He cupped my cheek and ran his thumb under my eye, wiping away the tears. “Sure, Les. This can be our goodbye—for now.”
“Thank you.” Raising to my tiptoes, I brushed my lips against his. “I’m going to miss you.”
Seth inhaled as I exhaled, his fingers sliding from my face to the base of my neck. “You have no idea how much I’m going to miss you. I—” He released a long breath as his gaze dropped to my mouth. There was an infinitesimal head shake, and he pressed a kiss to my forehead. “I don’t know what I’m going to do without you.”
“You’ll be fine.”
He scoffed and pecked my forehead one more time before letting me go. “Let’s get back inside before Brand comes out here.”
Reluctantly, we went back to our table at the back of the restaurant. Brandon looked at us with concern while Connor glared at Seth. The whole vibe was terrible, and we finished breakfast in an uncomfortable, awkward silence.
Back at the house, Connor said his goodbyes. Seth just waved and started to walk back toward the pack house.
Emily asked Blondie to wait for her in the car. Once he was in the passenger seat, she threw herself at me, knocking us onto the grass. Laying on top of me, she said, “I’m going to miss you so much. Promise me you won’t become a shut-in.”
“I promise.”
“Okay. Just know I’ll be checking on you.” She gave me a watery smile. “I love you, Les.”
“I love you, Em.”
Brandon cleared his throat, and Emily got herself up. We hugged one more time, and then she turned and walked to her car, bumping my brother as she passed. Brandon pulled me into a side hug, and we watched her drive away, honking like a fool.
“She’s a nightmare,” Brandon mumbled. I couldn’t help but laugh. Brandon and Emily had always been at odds with one another. My dad always joked that they would end up being mates. Brandon had nightmares about that for years. Lucky for him, their shifts came and went, and they weren’t.
“That she is.” I let out a long breath. “I guess we should head out. At this rate, we’ll make it to Sarah’s by four.”
Brandon nodded and climbed into the driver’s seat. I took one last look at the little white house I’d inherited when my dad passed away. Aiden moved in with me a few months after the funeral. On our first night in the house together, a massive storm caused a leak above our bed. Grabbing all our blankets, we built a fort in the living room and spent the night wrapped up in each other, planning our future. I shook my head and smiled at the memory, the pain in my chest bringing tears to my eyes.
Clearing my throat, I climbed into the cab of the U-Haul.
“You ready for this, Les?”
“I don’t know.”
THREE
Nearly four hours in a U-Haul with Brandon.
Sweet Moon Goddess.
We weren’t even ten minutes outside Kirksville when he asked, “Do you know when you’re coming back?”
I sighed and looked out the window. “Not really.”
“Ah. Guess that’s why Seth’s filling in for you. I’m worried training will get lazy with him. He jokes too much.”
