The rest of the drive passed quickly as he shared more about them and I told him all about my Pack and the friends I’d grown up with, too.
Before we knew it, I was passing through the iron gate of Archibald Reynolds campus.
Home . . . at least for a few more months.
We hadn’t ventured into next stage plans or anything. I knew Monte was waiting for me to make some decisions before he hit me with that sort of stuff. And I wanted to tell him I was all in too, but it scared the shit out of me. Every time I opened my mouth to say the words, nothing came out. I just froze. I suspected he knew it too.
When I pulled up into the parking lot and turned left to park as close to my room as possible, I assumed he’d follow. Instead, he stayed straight and then turned right so he would becloser to Delta Omega Gamma. It made sense, so why did it leave an empty feeling in my chest.
“Welcome home, Zoey,” he said.
“You too. I wonder how many people recognized you in that teaser video?”
“Maybe. It’s hard to say. I’m sure the doghouse noticed. But then they maxed out my voicemail box days ago, and I purposefully have not looked at texts.”
“For the first time in forever, I’ve barely even glanced at my phone. I think it was dead most of the week and I haven’t checked it today because I’ve been talking to you the whole drive.”
My mind was already whirling through the massive to-do list I needed to make after taking a week off. Ugh! I dreaded it. That terrified me. I always loved work, but the thought of it now almost sickened me.
“It’s weird. I somehow know you’re freaking out right now. It’s like I can feel it,” Monte said.
“But you’re on the other side of the parking lot, nowhere near me.”
How could that be possible?
“I know, but am I right?”
“Yeah, but—shit! Monte, this isn’t good. Is our bond really getting that strong?”
“Afraid so, doll. Is that what’s freaking you out?”
I could feel him too. He was nervous as he awaited my response.
“No, but it might be now.”
He chuckled. “Do you want me to come and walk you home?”
“I’m okay.”
“Okay. Let me know if you need anything. Doesn’t matter the time. I won’t be sleeping anyway.”
“Why not? After that drive I’m going to sleep like a baby.”
“Good. Get some sleep for the both of us.”
“But why aren’t you going to sleep?”
“I’m sure I’ll manage,” he lied. And I knew he was lying.
What was going on?
I parked, got my stuff out and walked to the house. A part of me wanted to sneak in through my bedroom window and not deal with anyone, but I knew that was only going to prolong the inevitable.
Instead, I decided to face it like a woman. I walked right through the front door . . . and no one was there.
“Huh.”
I wandered around the house, but no one was home. There was never a time when no one was home. Deciding there must be a big party somewhere or something, I went to my room, unpacked, took a shower, and crawled into bed. Expecting to fall fast asleep, I instead just laid there staring at the ceiling.
