“Lexi.” He takes my shoulders. “You didn’t ruin anything. Now stop overthinking.” He kisses my forehead before grabbing the bundle of blankets. I watch him toss something back into the nest before he heads down the hall.
That little shit! He’s stealing my hoodie again.
A warm and fuzzy feeling hits me knowing he’s been stealing my hoodies. Has he been using them for his nest? Oh my god. This man!
How did it take me this long to snatch him up? He doesn't care about the age gap, he’s perfect.
I’m floating on air for the rest of the day. I’m home now, but my mind is still back at the cabin.
It’s been a few days since my heat ended, but it wasn’t until this morning that Emmett and I parted ways. He had to go help an elderly couple fix their driveway. Neither of us wanted him to leave, but it was something he had put off because of my heat, so he went.
Now I feel restless and don’t want to be by myself at home, so I’ve decided to go next door and bug my sister.
“Silva,” I whine, flopping backward onto her bed. “I feel like a needy, clingy, crazy girlfriend.”
“You sure you’re not?” she chuckles, joining me on the bed.
“Maybe.” I sit up. “He’s been gone for a few hours, and I feel like I’m dying without him.”
“Who are you, and what did you do with my sister?”
“I’m being serious,” I scold her.
“So am I,” she laughs. “Lexi, you’ve never, not once, shown any kind of romantic interest in anyone before. So seeing you like this, a lovesick fool, is entertaining as hell.”
“You suck.” I glare at her.
“I think it’s adorable, really. And I’m happy for you.”
“He’s going to get so sick of me,” I sigh. “We’re not even scent matches, but I have this overwhelming need to keep him close.”
“You’re still overly sensitive from your heat, your hormones are still out of whack. Give it a few days, maybe a week, and you’ll be back to normal.”
“I hope so. I both hate and love these new feelings. I honestly thought I was broken for so long, then Emmett came along andmade me feel so many new things, and it’s exciting and terrifying at the same time.”
“You were never broken, Lex.” Her tone turns softer. “Trauma affects everyone in different ways. Your body shut itself off out of self-preservation. When you got to the point where your mind and body knew you were safe with Emmett, that he’d never hurt you or put you in any danger, you allowed yourself to let him in without even knowing.”
“You are too smart for your own good. It’s scary sometimes. Are you sure you’re not a witch?”
She rolls her eyes. “I just know you, Lexi.”
“I feel stupid.” I look down at the bed, absent-mindedly picking at her blanket.
“Why?”
“Because I’m thirty-one but I feel like a teenager obsessed with the hot guy at school.”
“So what? You deserve to feel however you feel, Lexi. That choice was ripped from you at a young age. You didn’t get the chance to experience first love when you were a teenager. It doesn’t matterwhenyou get to experience those good things in your life. Just enjoy them because you deserve it.”
“Thanks.” I smile. “I still can’t believe we’re more than friends, you know? Will this affect our friendship? Will things be weird?"
“Have they felt weird yet?”
“No.” I shake my head. “Everything just feels... right. Like it was meant to be. I’ve read a lot about scent matches, and I know it’s not that, but it sure feels a hell of a lot like it.”
“Doesn’t surprise me. You two were already acting like a married couple. No one in this town will be shocked to find out you’re together.”
“Good. Now Amy can stop looking at Emmett like she wants to take him for a ride.”
