Page 169 of Ruined

“Have fun with Julie and Ben,” Athelia says before Haven steps outside onto our front porch.

“I will. Tell your parents I said hi.”

When Athelia closes the door, she takes a deep breath. Haven has spent a lot of time here over the past month. The two of them are so close that sometimes I forget they didn’t grow up together.

“It’s only for a week,” Athelia says when she sees Cal’s pout. “I’ll be back for New Year’s.”

“I just wish you didn’t have to go at all,” Cal says on a sad sigh. “Having you for Christmas would be so much more fun.”

I jab him in the ribs. “You saying my parents aren’t fun?”

“Hey! Watch it with that arm. You still need to be careful.” Cal glares at me. “And your parents are fine. They’re just not Athelia.”

With a smile, she kisses Cal. “I’ll meet them some other time.”

“We’re spending next Christmas together,” Wes says firmly. “I don’t like you being gone for so long.”

Wes has it the worst out of all of us—he has to spend this Christmas with his mourning mother. If he didn’t dislike her so much, it wouldn’t be a problem, but he resents her a lot. Rightfully so.

“I think that sounds nice,” Athelia says. She kisses Wes next, running her hands through his hair. “I want to go home for a bit, but I’ll miss you guys, too.”

“Not as much as we’ll miss you,ma belle.”I draw her into my arms and press my lips to hers. Before she pulls away, I breathe in her honeysuckle perfume one last time.

We all walk her out to her car. It’s packed to the brim. She seems to be taking a lot home for winter break, but she said she’s planning on getting rid of most of it, and there’s a nice charity shop back home she wants to drop it off at.

“I’ll text you guys updates, too,” Athelia says as she opens her car door. “And we can do a group call tonight.”

“Every night,” Cal says.

She smiles. “Every night.”

Athelia seems reluctant to go. Something is burning in her eyes, and it looks suspiciously like regret. I was wondering if this would happen. She loves her parents, but I can tell she doesn’t want to leave. A quiet Christmas here at the house sounds like exactly what we need, but it’s too late to change her plans.

“I’ll talk to you later, then,” Athelia says quietly. She gives us all one more glance before sliding into her car.

We all watch her drive off until she turns and her car is no longer in sight.

“Did she seem off to you?” Wes asks. “She didn’t want to get out of bed this morning.”

Cal shrugs. “She always likes morning cuddles with me.”

“That’s not what this was,” Wes says. “I practically had to drag her to her feet, and then she clung to me like a koala or something.”

With a shrug, I start moving back toward the house. “I think she’s regretting her decision. She doesn’t want to leave, even if she does, you know?”

“Maybe so,” Wes muses. “I’m just worried, I guess.”

“Should we go to her parents’ and surprise her?” Cal asks hopefully.

“No,” I say gently, opening the front door. “I don’t think we should crowd her.”

“Right,” Cal mutters.

I know he’s disappointed, but I also know he agrees with me. Athelia could’ve invited us to spend Christmas with her family, but she didn’t. She needs her space, and that’s okay. It gives us a chance to show her that we’ll respect her boundaries.

We can wait a week. She’ll come back to us.

And when she does, we’re never letting her go anywhere without us again.

---