Page 43 of Same One
He was hesitating though, as if he didn’t want to go inside yet.
Bay was still holding his hurt arm and just staring at the glove box by his knees.
Bay’s eyes met hers, and he said it quickly. “I don’t want you to get hurt again.” His heart was in his eyes. In a rush, he shoved the door open and got out, then strode right for the front door.
And with Bay, that was the closest she would ever get to seeing his heart. It wasn’t ‘I love you too’, but for him, it was close enough.
That boy.
She watched him disappear inside of the house, and the light in the living room illuminated the front window.
He was a pill most of the time, but then in some moments he would let her past the walls he’d built up. And those were the moments that made it doable to stay in this for him.
Tears blurring her eyes, Tru pulled her phone from the cupholder and opened the text thread to Tabian.I’m home safe. Thank you for all the kindness you have shown me. I’ve reallyappreciated it more than you know. This isn’t working, but you have been so fun to talk to and get to know. I think it’s best if we let this go.
The dots showed up immediately, signifying that he was typing, but they stopped. Started back up again…stopped. Started. Stopped.
They didn’t start back up again.
Tru nodded. It was understandable.
If a guy showed up with a volatile teenager spitting hate at her, and unable to date like a normal person, unable to kiss without interruption, unable to speak freely…she would probably be out with no argument too.
The goodbye via text would have to be enough.
Tru wiped her damp cheeks and shoved open her door.
Chin up, girl. There was a kid inside watching her every move, and she didn’t want this to be another traumatic story for him. God, she just wanted steady. She had no idea what she was doing as a stepmom, but she just had this instinct that the steadier she made this foundation, the better it would be for Bayen.
This entire foundation was up to her.
Her eyes burned more at the thought, but she blinked back tears. Stupid loneliness. She’d gotten herself here, and she was going to have to sit in this for a while until she could figure out how to get her and Bay to a better place.
Simple as that.
But…God…for a minute?
For a minute, she’d wanted someone to sit with her while she figured it all out.
Chapter Eleven
I’m home safe. Thank you for all the kindness you have shown me. I’ve really appreciated it more than you know. This isn’t working, but you have been so fun to talk to and get to know. I think it’s best if we let this go.
Tabian winced as his skin tingled and he twitched his head to the side. He just needed a minute to think, but the wolf was growing louder by the second, demanding his turn.
Everything is going to be okay, he typed out. Fuck, that wasn’t enough. It was too generic a response. He deleted it.
A long snarl released from his chest, and his vision blurred.
It’s not too much, he typed, then paused.I’m still in it with you. Just need a minute to—pain ripped through him, and the phone fell from his hands. Crap.
He tried to fight the wolf, but like every other time he’d tried, it was useless. The wolf always won. It’s what he was designed to do.
The problem was most of the Pack was still Changed and running in the woods. Liam was calling him to them. He was trying to reset their bond after the confusion of that fight.
He understood it, but the timing was terrible.
Tabian pitched forward on his hands and knees, then hit the porch hard. He was barely able to struggle out of his jeans before the wolf was shredding out of his skin.
