“That’s still too far. You can’t go that far. Tell him can’t go that far, Louis,” my mom said, turning to my dad.
Dad's expression was one of confusion mixed with a hint of pride. “Son, it's a big step—moving. If you want to move, we support you—"
“Louis!” my mom cried as my dad continued. “We support you, but why so far away? It all seems sudden.”
“You know we’d respect your privacy and wouldn’t show up unannounced. You don’t have to go that far,” my mom said.
I met their gazes and steadied myself for the explanation I owed them. “I know it seems sudden, but I've thought this through. Crystal Cove offers me a fresh start and new opportunities. And it's not like I'm moving to another country. I can come to visit. It has nothing to do with worrying about you coming over unannounced. I wouldn’t mind if you did that while in Crystal Cove. I want something new.”
“But why there, Lucas? It’s three hours! Why are you running away?” my mom asked.
“Ma, I’m not running away,” I replied, though her words echoed the doubts swirling in my own mind.
“Are you sure,Schatje? You're not fleeing from something or someone?” Nana probed. Her intuition was uncanny, and it always made me uneasy.
My heart raced at her words. Who told her? How could she know? What does she know? I shook my head. Deny, deny, deny. “No, I’m notrunningfrom anyone.”Liar. There was someone, a very important someone. Someone who rejected me and someone I needed to stay away from.
My rabbit bristled at the thought of leaving, more so than my family. He wanted his mate—full stop.“How many times do I have to tell you he doesn’t want us?”I mentally scolded my rabbit. The silent argument with him was becoming all too familiar.“Fuck Talon,”I commanded myself, a mantra to drown out the persistent longing and confusion of my beast.
“Crystal Cove is just a place I felt connected to when I visited. And my job allows me to work remotely, so location isn't an issue,” I replied, opting not to dive into the deeper, more personal reasons revolving around Talon.
Noah stepped in, placing a supportive hand on my shoulder. “He's got a good head on his shoulders. Let's give him some credit for making a decision that's right for him. And the place is really nice; it’s a two-bedroom bungalow a mile from the beach.”
Nana sighed, her expression a complex tapestry of emotions–disappointment, resignation, perhaps even understanding. “Okay,” she said, turning to my parents. “If Lucas believes this is what he needs, then we should support him.”
“Mom’s right,” my dad agreed. “Son, you always have a home here, no matter where you go.”
The room quieted down, their initial shock giving way to a more reflective mood. I could see them grappling with the reality of my decision, their love and concern for me, battling with their respect for my independence.
Olivia, however, still looked skeptical. "Just promise us you'll be careful and visit often," she said, her protective older sister instincts never far from the surface.
"I promise," I assured them, feeling a surge of gratitude for my family's eventual understanding. “I'm not leaving forever. Just branching out a bit, and Noah did mention I was a mile from the beach. I wouldn’t mind if you visited for a weekend.”
She smiled back at me and bumped my shoulder before walking off. The conversation shifted to more mundane topics, and I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. Their support, albeit hesitant, meant the world to me. I was ready for this new journey, buoyed by the love of my family.
I’ve got this—it’s time to move on and forget Talon.
Blast from the Past
Dominic
Thesmellofcoffeereached me even before I entered the busy shop. Java Joe’s had always been super busy, but it was insane today. It was as if everyone in Tampa decided now would be the perfect time to get some brew. Sadly, my soul was equally inclined. “It’s crazy being up this early,” I muttered. “I’m doing this for my duša.”
It had been three weeks since first laying eyes on Talon. That was his name, Talon. I’d learned his name from one of our numerous encounters. I orchestrated those encounters. Some may call it stalking, but I was a demon, and he was my duša. I had to get to know him, even if every encounter had been a dance of avoidance and intrigue. He was like a puzzle I was determined to solve, a challenge I couldn't resist.
I scanned the crowd until my eyes landed on my prey. He sat with his back towards me, deep in conversation with two other men. They were the young lions who had accompanied him to my club. Leon, the towering one, had an air of quiet strength about him, contrasting sharply with Jeremy’s more boisterous and unabashed demeanor.
“Time for another ‘chance’ meeting,” I thought, making my way through the throng of customers. I sidestepped a barista who balanced a tray laden with steaming beverages. They smelled amazing. I definitely needed coffee before engaging with my soul.
As I reached the counter, a barista's bright voice cut through the ambient noise. “Welcome to Java Joe’s. What can I get for you?”
My attention momentarily shifted to the cheerful girl, but my senses remained acutely aware of Talon’s presence. It was a game of cat and mouse, and I relished every moment of the chase.
“A large coffee, black, please,” I ordered, my gaze drifting towards Talon.
“Do you mean venti?” she asked with a smile.
I suppressed a sigh, not in the mood for the usual size terminology debate. “Yes, the largest, strongest black coffee you have.”
