Page 49 of His Arranged Plus-Size Mate

I nearly choked on my coffee, and she had a vixen smile spread across her face. She knew fully well she did that on purpose.

“No, but I also have never opened my home up to a woman like you, so maybe we are a different type of friend. A better type.”

She chuckled. “Maybe.” She looked down at her glass. “I’ve always wanted to go to France.”

“And I’m guessing Paris?”

She laughed. “I mean, doesn’t everyone want to go to Paris? Yes, but France. I want to take in the culture and the food.”

“I can take you to France.”

“Really?” Her eyes sparkled at the offer.

“Yeah, I can take you for my next trip. We can plan it out and explore some spots that I’ve been to before.”

She softly smiled. “Do you think we can be friends when this is all said and done? Do you really think it’s possible for us?”

I nodded, suddenly wanting to ask her why it had to end. Why couldn’t we stay this way? A part of me knew that I liked her more than just being friends. That was a part of me that belonged to her and always would.

But I doubted she felt the same. Hazel might have been calm and friendly, but that didn’t mean she was opening her heart up to me.

“I don’t see why we couldn’t be.”

She pulled herself up. “Well, I need to go and get dressed for my training. Fingers crossed I actually accomplish something today.”

“You’ve accomplished a lot.”

She scrunched up her nose as she turned, hurrying up the stairs. I watched her walk, feeling a longing for her. I knew what this feeling was, what I wanted. But I knew better.

I headed out to survey around town. I checked in with Brandon to ask how their last hunt went. It seemed they were coming up empty-handed every time they went there.

It was strange because we knew they were out there. We didn’t know where.

“How has training been going for Hazel? Has she come up with anything new?”

I shook my head. “No, nothing new. It’s the same location every time. Same spot.”

Brandon rubbed at his eyes. “We need to find this location. There has to be a reason she’s seeing it. Have they looked into it?”

“They are trying to. But in her dreams, she’s moving.” She’s told me her nightmares. She explains she’s in an open plain and it’s calm. But it changes. One time, it started raining. Another time it was snowing. It’s never the same in that second part of her dream.

I’m thinking it is, but different times? I didn’t know. I didn’t read into dreams.

I arrived back at home and found the living room light on. I unlocked the front door and found her sitting cross-legged on the living room floor. Her eyes were closed as she sat there. I raised an eyebrow at her. “What are you doing?”

“Training,” she said, her shoulders stiff and her fingers tight at her knees. Her eyebrows scrunched together, andwrinkles formed on her face. “I’m trying to connect to the dark energy.”

I frowned. “Didn’t you have training with Nora or Jade today?”

She nodded. “I had an hour training with Nora, but I wasn’t getting anywhere, so I decided to try doing it here. I figured the change of scenery might help, but it hasn’t. I feel nothing.”

I frowned, knowing she was pushing herself too hard. I knew that the pressure and trying to train in a short time could be a lot to handle. “Maybe you just need to take a break. Eat some food, relax a little.”

“I’m fine.” Her voice came out clipped, and her lips formed a thin line. “I just need silence.”

I took that moment to turn and head into the kitchen. I pulled out some leftovers and nuked them in the microwave. I sat at the island and ate. I could hear her sighing heavily behind me, a few curse words every few moments.

I finished my plate and set it into the sink. She was still sitting on the ground, unmoved. But I could feel the tension as I stepped into the living room.