I sigh, trying to look suitably depressed. “Yeah, we did.” I do feel guilty about Kara. Of course I’m sorry that I hurt her. But I can’t be sad that I’ve found my true mate.
“I really thought you two were perfect together.” She fiddles with the pens in the pencil holder on my desk. “I mean, if you guys can’t make it work, is there any hope for the rest of us?”
“Relationships are complex.” I shrug. “You can’t always tell what’s going on from the outside.”
“Apparently not.” She frowns. “I’d have sworn you two would tie the knot.”
“It wasn’t meant to be,” I murmur.
“How are you holding up?” She studies me. “You look like you didn’t get a lot of sleep.”
“I didn’t.” That wasn’t because of Kara though. I didn’t get much sleep because of Jude. We stayed up most of the night, talking and enjoying each other’s bodies. Not something I can share with Sally.
Jude returns and he sits across from me. He says hello to Sally, but then starts writing up a report. His face is tense and I wonder if that’s because of Ben or because Judy is hovering like a vulture.
“Did you hear about Kara and Liam, Jude?” Sally asks.
“Uh, yeah.” He glances up. “It’s a… terrible shame. They were good together.”
I almost laugh because he’s laying it on kind of thick. That might come back to bite him in the ass once everyone finds out we’re together.
Sally turns back to me and she brightens. “Maybe you and Kara will get back together. Sometimes that happens. Peoplebreak up and then realize they can’t live without each other. Kara said you’re the love of her life.”
Jude grunts and he gets up, heading toward the break room.
I grimace, watching him go. “I don’t see that happening with me and Kara.”
“No?” Sally deflates. “Were the issues just too great?”
“We want different things in life.” I smile at her because I know she means well. “Kara is better off without me, Sally. Trust me when I say that. I’m not the right man for her.”
“Oh.” She stands. “You sound pretty sure.”
“I am. Kara is a wonderful woman. We just aren’t compatible enough to spend the rest of our lives together.”
“I see.” She gives me a sad smile and returns to her desk.
A few minutes later, Jude comes back. “We should head to roll call,” he says gruffly.
Our shift consists of the same kinds of calls we’ve been dealing with lately. Lots of drunk and disorderly incidents and fender benders. The shift feels almost poignant because I know soon Jude won’t be my partner anymore. I’ll miss him and how well we work together.
Once we’re done with work for the day, we get to The Fox and The Kettle early. I want to spend some time with Jude before Ben arrives. I won’t lie, I feel insecure, which isn’t like me. I actually hate it. But I know that Jude really liked Ben. The thought he could see a future with Ben irks me. It’s illogical, seeing as I rejected him during that time, but it’s how I feel. Just the thought of any other shifter thinking Jude could be theirs is aggravating.
Jim is behind the bar as usual. He gives me a sad smile, and I realize he too already knows about Kara and me. Maybe thanks to Kara and Sally, I won’t need to tell anyone we split up. They’re doing the work for me.
Jude and I sit at a table in the corner. That way, we can touch each other more easily without drawing attention. Our legs rest against each other, and our arms brush. I feel content having my mate beside me as I sip my cold beer.
I meet Jude’s eyes. “I called Caleb earlier on our lunch break, but he didn’t pick up.”
Jude’s gaze sharpens. “Oh, okay.”
I smile. “Don’t look so stressed. I promise the pack will accept you. The mate bond is serious business to them. Nobody will question your right to be by my side.”
He drops his gaze, takes a big swig of his beer, and sets his mug down. “I have to tell you something, Liam.”
He looks so grim, my heart stutters. “What’s wrong? Have you changed your mind?”
He appears, confused. “What? You mean about us? Hell no.”
