Chapter 90
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It does not help that Rose is being oddly quiet, not expressing her opinion. Does that mean that she is
confused too?
James must see the wheels turning in my brain, because as we continue the drive, he reaches over and grabs my hand. “Lily, are you okay? You are suddenly being really quiet.”
I force myself to smile at him. The sparks in our joined hands help calm my raging emotions. Is it my imagination or are they getting just a little bit stronger? It is almost like the mate bond is trying to re–build itself. Is that even possible after a rejection?
“I am fine. Sorry I am being quiet. I am just thinking through a lot of things.”
“Like… us?” James asks hesitantly.
“Yeah. Like us.” Given everything, I figure that there is no sense in hiding it.
“Look, I know that we still have a lot to talk about. The night is still young. Would you be willing to go on a walk on the beach with me when we get back?”
I offer James a sincere smile. “Yes, I would like that. But would you mind stopping by my hotel room first? I would like to grab a sweater before we head out there.”
“No problem.” He squeezes my hand.
Maybe I am just overthinking things. I have been tortured for so long that maybe my problem is that I do not know how to be happy. Maybe things really will be okay if I let them be.
“I agree,” Rose offers.
“Now you speak up?” I link her back, feeling somewhat annoyed.
“You were worrying enough for both of us. You needed to work it through,” she explains.
Sigh.
As we are pulling Into the resort parking lot, James‘ phone rings. He glances at the caller ID and asks me
If it is okay if he takes the call. Of course, I nod my head.
“Sir?” says a familiar voice. Walt… whose voice is that? Why do I recognize It?
“Joey. What’s up?”
+15 BONUS
Joey, Joey, one of my bullies Joey? Why is he calling James?
1 have kept Sheila distracted, Sir. But she is getting restless. Have things been… relaxing… on your end?”
Sheila? Why is Joey calling James about Sheila? And why does she need to be distracted?
lla? Why is too calli
“Things have been great. Better than expected.” James pauses and smiles at me, squeezing my hand. again. “I will be heading back to Honolulu tomorrow. I can take over from there. I assume you can make
excuses to Sheila until then?”
“Yes, no problem, Sir. See you tomorrow.”
I let go of James‘ hand as he disconnects the call. The import of what I have just heard is sinking in, and it triggers a new wave of questions, fears, and doubts.
Was James with Sheila in Honolulu before coming here? It sounds like it. He clearly plans to go “back to Honolulu and Sheila tomorrow. Why? Did they… did they already… marry? He did hint at making her his luna during Stephanie’s memorial. Were they on their honeymoon before he came to see me?
I quickly glance at his neck. There is no mark. So if they are married, they did not mark each other yet. I look at his ring finger. There is no wedding ring, and no tell–tale signs of one normally being wom. But why else would they be in Honolulu together? And why is Joey having to keep Sheila distracted?
My mind continues to run through possibilities a million miles a second.
Before the rejection, James promised to get revenge on me. Has this whole day been about tricking me. into going back to West Mountain Pack with him so that he can get that revenge?
My heart now feels like it is going to fall out of my chest. Sheila is the same she–wolf who triggered me on the day of the rejection, and I am feeling almost the same as I did then. Only worse. So much worse.
Back then, I had no hope for James and I being together. But now… now my heart has started to crave. him. I’ve made myself vulnerable. If all of this is about revenge, James has successfully achieved his goal, because him being with Shella would absolutely crush me.
I think I am going to be sick.
I
James stops the car. Without saying anything to James, I get out and run as quickly as I can away from
him.
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