“Sweetheart, that’s—”
She shrugged out of my hold, leaving me cold. “I’m really busy, and I know you are, too,” she said in a clear dismissal.
My sleep-deprived brain sluggishly tried to piece together what had just happened. “Time-out. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I just have a lot to get done.” She sniffed and wiped at her face.
Fuck, that sound was enough to destroy me. I closed the gap between us, my chest pressing against her back. “Tell me what I did wrong so I can fix it.”
“I’m just tired of everyone treating me like I can’t do anything. Just because I’m an omega and like girly things doesn’t mean I’m dumb.”
I spun her around to face me. “Who said you’re dumb?”
She shrugged.
I cupped her jaw with one hand. “Give me names. I’ll take care of them.” I suspected it was her exes. The little she’d told us about them the other day had fucking killed me.
“I don’t know. Everyone, I guess. You don’t even think I can stand on a ladder.”
I let out a slow breath, trying to find the right words to say. Expressing myself had never been my strong suit, but Lucy made me want to try. “Just because I want to do things for you doesn’t mean I don’t think you’re capable. How could I think that when you run this shop and are good at everything you do?”
“I’m not good at camping.” She arched a haughty eyebrow.
My lips twitched. “What are you talking about? You’re a total pro on the mountain.”
Surprised laughter burst from her chest, and it was the best fucking sound I’d ever heard. She wrapped her arms around me, and I returned her embrace, holding her tight. Her fingers twisted in my shirt, but I stayed silent, waiting. This was what I was good at. I could stand and hold her all day until she was ready to share what was bothering her.
“I got an email from Fran Soto,” she said in an almost whisper. “She invited me for an interview the day after tomorrow.”
Ahh. There it was.
“That’s amazing, sweetheart,” I said gently, even as dread and pride rocked through me in equal measure. I would never admit it, would never doanythingto hold Lucy back from her dreams, but I didn’t want her to go. There was no way I could handle beinghundreds of miles away from her, but the sensory overload of big cities made it hard for me to function. Even Starlight Grove could be a lot for me. “Are you nervous?”
She nodded. “Nervous to get it. Nervous to not get it.”
What did I say to that? I wished Leo was here. He was so much better at this stuff than me. The only thing I knew how to do was hold her tighter, as if my body could shield her from the world.
“You only submitted your application last night, right? They must really want you.”
“Yeah, maybe.” She pulled away enough to wipe her cheeks with her shirtsleeve. “I’m sorry for snapping. I panicked when I got the email so I decided to spackle the ceiling. Using those healthy coping skills.”
“You get to be grumpy sometimes. I just want you to be happy.”
“I’ve missed you.” Her whispered confession destroyed me. I grabbed her hand and she entwined our fingers with a squeeze.
“I’ve missed you, too, sweetheart.”
“Do you think I should take the internship if they offer it to me?” Her bright blue eyes stared up at me, beautiful and vulnerable.
No.
“It sounds like an amazing opportunity to advance your career,” I hedged.
“Yeah, you’re right.” She smiled, but there was a strained edge to it that I hated. Was it nerves around the interview or something else?
“Are you still on shift? Or can we get lunch?” she asked.
I grimaced. “Still on shift, unfortunately. I have a few minutes before I have to head back, though, so you better finish your spackling.”
