“We love you, little girl.”
I was in floods of tears leaving Eira, but Scottie had been with us for a week, and he was great with our daughter. But I didn’t want to leave her.
“What if she needs me? I could drop out and start back next semester.” I was sobbing on Phelan’s chest. “She might think I’ve deserted her.”
My mate held me close. “I doubt she’ll forget you considering you’ve covered the walls with photos of us.”
I blew Eira one last kiss before Phelan dragged me out the door. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to go back to my studies. I did. And I’d enjoy being with my friends again and using my brain, but Eira was part of me, and she was so tiny. Jack had pointed out that most parents didn’t get to visit their kids at lunch time or if they had a spare period, though that didn’t make me feel better.
And Phelan wasn’t in my first class, English lit, as he had it this afternoon. Okay, I could get my brain into gear and remember similes, metaphors, and alliteration.
We kissed outside his classroom, but I hated letting him go. He was my soulmate and the link to Eira. But he pulled away, telling me I’d be fine and to get to class.
I’d already missed so much and had assignments pending. Ahhh, I didn’t want to think about those.
“Hey.”
Shit, I knew that voice. I’d last heard it in Professor Shaw’s office.
“Holden.” I forced myself to smile.
“Congratulations on the baby.”
I nibbled my bottom lip and clutched the laptop, but Holden looked as awkward as I felt. He wouldn’t meet my eyes and stared at a place on the wall above my head. Thinking our conversation, such as it was, was over, I nodded and swerved around him.
“I need to talk to you.”
Damn. Just what you didn’t want to hear from an ex.
“Holden, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“It’s nothing to do with us.” He waggled his hand between us. “It’s other stuff.” Now he was looking directly at me and any awkwardness had vanished. “It’s important.”
“Ummm, yeah, well, I’m here now, and I have two minutes to spare before I give my opinion on a piece of great literature.”
“Library at one, please. It’s important. I wouldn’t ask otherwise.”
I put a hand on my chest. The last weeks and months had been turbulent, but since Atticus’s parents were no longer in our lives, things had calmed sort of. I still had questions about my past and future and my place in the world, but considering the ups and downs I’d endured and we had as a couple, Phelan and I were content and happy, though lacking in sleep.
But now Holden was maybe going to upend my life again.
“Okay.” I’d been planning on spending my lunch break with Eira, but I’d have time to feed her before heading to the library.
“Okay, I’m here.”
Phelan had asked where I was off to when I left the infirmary, as he was aware of my schedule. I’d told him about going to the library but let him assume I’d be working. I was wracked with guilt at omitting any mention of Holden. Even though Holden and I never slept together, my mate wasn’t his biggest fan.
Holden had chosen a study table in the corner, and he glanced around as I sat, but the library was almost deserted. He leaned in close, and a memory flashed before me of when we were together. But I told that image to get lost.
“Do you remember last semester when I told you I wanted to look into hunters?”
Fuck. Just when I thought I’d untangled myself from that issue, this guy had to yank me back in. I had to play it cool so this topic would go nowhere.
“Vaguely.” I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant.
“I’ve been doing research on them.”
Great. Just what I needed.
