“It’s time to talk.”
I know it is, I just don’t know how to tell her.
Chapter 27
Sofia
“Talk to me,” Mum says gently as she walks around the kitchen, putting the kettle on and getting out a plate of cookies. The same ones Elijah and I baked. My lip trembles as I reach out and take one.
My eyes well with tears, but I hug Danger to me a little closer, unable to look at her. The house is quiet.
“They are perfect. Too perfect.”
Mum laughs and leans on the island opposite me. “Is that a crime?”
“I don’t want to hurt them.”
She frowns. “Sofia, if you’re in any trouble, we can help you; you just need to talk to us.”
I shake my head. “It’s not that. I just, when I’m around them, I have such huge feelings. Like they are the only thing that matters.”
“Scent matches,” my mum murmurs.
I don’t think I’m supposed to hear it, but it makes everything worse. I would destroy them if I left. We’re already too close, and that feeling this morning of waking up in Mack’s arms and picturing it for the rest of my life, it was as close to perfect as anything ever was.
“How can they be my scent matches?” I say hysterically.
“You got lucky. They are miracles.”
“I don’t have to choose them, though,” I protest.
My mum’s mouth falls open; she looks horrified. “You’d never be truly happy with anyone else. You’d be damning all four of you to miserable lives.”
I close my eyes. “Okay, so I need to fix everything and then join them, but what if it takes me a while to fix everything? Would they wait? Is that fair?”
Mum circles the bench. “What is going on with you?”
I stand up and step back from her. Danger barks at us. “Nothing. It’s nothing. I’ve got it under control.”
Pops flies into the kitchen and yanks open the drawer.
“Excuse me, Franco, what are you doing?” Mum snaps. “We were talking.”
“My whisk is gone. I can’t create with sub-par cooking utensils,” he shouts and yanks the drawer out and turns it over, spilling everything onto the ground. “Where is it?”
“Franco!” Mum snaps, “This is crazy. It’s a whisk. You have all the talent in your fingertips, not a damn cooking utensil. Pick this up.”
“The damn thief struck again! I hate thieves!” Pops shouts.
I back out of the kitchen but pause when I see my mum’s phone. I snatch it up and put in Pops’ birthday, unlocking it. As I head outside, I grab Danger’s leash and quickly head down to the beach. The wind is blowing the sand up, and it’s roaring across the beach, making it look like it’s alive.
I ring the number that my mum doesn’t have saved.
“Hello?”
“Giselle?”
“Who is this?”
