“That may be true, but I can’t sit and watch you avoid them anymore. That’s weak and you told me you aren’t that weak little girl any more, isn’t that right?” He knows he’s got me there. I so wanna stamp my foot like a child right now.
I take another bite instead.
The bartender asks me if I want a drink, but Nixon turns him down and orders a soda for me. I roll my eyes. When I hear Talon’s deep chuckle from across the floor I order a vodka…and soda. The bartender quickly brings it to me then winks; smiling, I wink back. When I hear two low growls from behind me, my mood instantly lightens.
Nixon chuckles and shakes his head. I try my hardest to ignore the boys and have a good time chatting to Nixon, but after a while the giggling and deep laughter gets louder. I turn to see Talon holding Lucy close as he whispers in her ear. Tyler is having a full on make out session with Kate, as if he can sense me, he pulls away from her then looks at me, grins then winks. I let out a breath, shake my head to get the sad thoughts out. I look down at my hands then back up to Tyler, his smile is gone and his face full of regret.
I turn back to look at Nixon who looks at me sadly. “They’re dicks, babe. I’m sorry for bringing you here. It was stupid of me, I can’t imagine what you’re going through.”
“No, Nix, it’s cool. You were trying to help, but if we don’t leave right now I’ve got a feeling that Faith is going to rip this place to shit. I can feel her huffing and puffing within me, she’s jealous and hurt.”
Nixon tells me to wait by my car while he pays. I head out and take in the fresh air. There’s a physical pain in my chest from watching the boys with Kate and Lucy. I’m starting to wonder if maybe I should end all of this; I’m not quite sure it’s worth all this pain, especially If I’m going to be rejected in the end anyway. I take a seat on a bus bench and rest my elbows on my knees. My wild hair covers my face as the wind blows, I don’t even care about how I look to the people passing. I close my eyes, listening to the cars go by and trying to get my wolf to calm down.
I jump when I feel a hand grab my shoulder. I immediately know who it is by the little goosebumps going up my arm and the butterflies in my tummy; his sweet scent gives it away too.
“I’m sorry Angel, you don’t have to leave. I’ll stop,” Tyler says in a soft caring tone.
I shake my head and move away from his touch. He balls his fist as if he’s about to reach out for me again, but he doesn’t.
“I can’t sit there and watch you two together. Isn’t this distance between us hurting your wolf? Or is it only mine that’s dying inside?” I ask him genuinely, I swear I can hear his wolf whimpering.
“It’s hard for me too, Angel. I feel like I’m losing my mind. I can’t stop lashing out at you. Half the harsh things I’ve said I don’t mean; I’m just so angry and confused,” he says, looking down and noticing the cuts and plasters that adorn my knees.
“Is th..that from me? Did I do that last night?” He bends down in front of me and reaches out for one of the plasters, but I slide toward the other side of the bench and move away from him.
“I… I need to apologise for last night. I barely got any sleep, it’s all I could think about. You tried to talk to us, but we completely dismissed you without allowing you a chance to talk. It’s our fault, we shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions, Angel. I’m so sorry… Talon is too. I don’t know what to do, Angel. I’m caught in between and don’t know who to choose-”
“Angel, you ready?” I see Nixon standing by my car calling me. I look over to where Tyler is still kneeling and stand up. I force my eyes to look back at Tyler as I walk past.
“Maybe you won’t need to make a choice,” I say, ever so softly. I watch as the blood drains from his face.
“What does that mean?” he asks loudly, but I continue walking away.
“Angel!” He yells out, making a few of the people walking down the street stop and stare.
“What is that supposed to mean?” He calls out once again. Nixon opens my car door for me and I climb in. I don’t look behind us as we drive away.
We spend the rest of the day running around the woods in our wolf form. I need to let Faith diffuse her anger and cool down, and I know how much she loves exploring the woods. Nixon decides to head home when the sun starts to set, but I’m not ready to head back to a home surrounded by people I hardly know, so I stay out in the forest.
****
Sitting by the lake, I think about the friends I left back home… My old home in Point Bright.