Page 51 of She Wolf

My eyes fall to the ground, but he lifts my chin slightly forcing me to look at him.

“Even though it’s the right thing to do, part of me feels like I’m taking Jack away from Casey. Away from all of you. I came to Casey for help and look at the life he’s given Jack. Am I really making all these changes just to prove a point to myself?”

He shakes his head and his fingertips graze my cheeks.

“I don’t see it that way. Financially you’re in a stronger position than you were three years ago. You don’t have the divorce hanging over you. Now you’ve got me, and Casey has Anna, it’s just a new phase for the two of you. It will just be an adjustment. You’ll see.”

He's only telling me what my rational side knows. And yet his words bring me the calm that I need. An hour ago, I couldn’t have been more excited, I just need to not let the doubt creep in and ruin it all.

He’s so close that I can’t help but brush my lips against his a few times, he takes the kiss deeper, both of us unable to pull away.

One of us has to though—Jack could walk back in at any moment. Gunner groans when I step back, and he attempts a dorky pout.

Sex with Nick was absolutely horrible in the end, but the way Gunner makes my whole body vibrate from the inside out or the way I wholeheartedly trust his motives and intentions, I know it’s time to take the next step. And honestly, I think I’ll combust if I don’t.

I feel the blush creep across my face as I murmur, “You can have more Gunner Grey. You can have whatever you want.”

He growls and pushes me against the counter, cupping my face with his hands. Just as he’s about to assault my mouth, a loud cough comes from the doorway, and we freeze.

“Jesus, Gunner. I told you I was happy, but that doesn’t mean I want to watch you eat her face off all over my sandwiches. Get a fuckin’ grip before Jack catches you.”

I giggle as Gunner steps back with his hands held up and starts to walk away.

“Don’t worry,” I say to his retreating back. “We’ll be able to do whatever we want in my new kitchen, after next Sunday.”

Casey closes his eyes and scrubs his hands over his face, as Gunner shoots me a wolfish grin. I chuckle and get to finishing up the subs.

***

Packing up to leave Casey’s is bittersweet. I’m excited to move into the cottage, but sad to be leaving the comfort of being so close to my twin brings me.I’ve put too much on him over the past couple of years and it’s time to do things by myself.

What I’m not prepared to do though is pack alone and that’s why I’ve roped in Gunner to help.

He’s been keeping me company for the last hour while I try to clear out my closet, but to be honest, he’s not being much help at the moment.

“Oh, definitely try that on,” he says, as I pull a really fun blush pink number out from the very back.

This is my pre-Nick, pre-Jack section that I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of when I first moved in with Nick. It feels different this time though, so it goes on thenot keepingpile.

“Why did you do that?” Gunner asks from his perch on my bed.

I roll my eyes; I think it’s obvious from the lack of material why it’s got to go. “Because it shows too much thigh, that’s why.”

He leans up from where he’s been lying and snatches it from the pile. "I’m keeping this Coralie because one day you’ll find an occasion to wear it.”

“Oh, yeah, and where would I go in a skimpy dress like that?” I say pointing to said garment. I’m lucky in that I didn’t really put any weight on after having Jack, but I certainly gained stretch marks and a C-section scar to rival any hockey players war wounds.

“My house,” he grins and then folds it neatly beside him, patting the soft stretchy fabric. “This is the Gunner pile. What else you got?”

We go back and forth like that until finally all that’s left is a couple of pairs of shorts and tanks and obviously underwear in just the top drawer of the dresser.

Gunner deals with the boxes for me so I’m not tripping over them every time I need to get into my bedroom until we leave.

"Okay, closet boxes are all tucked away in the garage and the food is on its way. What’s next?"

I take another cursory look over the furniture and feeling confident that there’s enough time left to empty my bedside tables and bookshelf, I sit down on the bed.

"I think we’re good for tonight. Not much left to do really." Mainly because I didn’t have a lot to begin with. Memories from my childhood are safely stored away at my parents and I have absolutely nothing from the time I was married—except for of course anything that was Jack's.

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