Fox
Ihaven’t seen them since yesterday.
“I don’t even know why I reacted that way. Yes, I do. It’s all my past, my family. Imagining them seeing me in photos, seeing me tagged on social media. Having to hear my father’s derision and listen to him pick my life apart. Even if I chose not to answer the call, I can hear what he’d say in my head.” I mutter the words to myself, rehearsing my apology to them for the millionth time.
I can’t lose them because my dad got in my head. I can’t.
Katsu had to stop me several times from trying to track them down. He told me I needed to give them space and center myself.
I cried.
I’m not ashamed to admit it. I’m embarrassed, and I’m hurt, and I shouldn’t have lashed out at them. They have nothing to do with this Lynn Marino. Seb is just an employee. Not a confidant. My accusations came from a place of deep hurt and pain that had nothing to do with them or Lynn and everything to do with my family.
Coming to that conclusion just made everything worse and the thought of seeing them harder but more urgent.
My hands sweat as I wait for them to appear. There’s a hesitation and a thick pressure tonight. Something in the crowd makes my skin crawl. It’s like everyone is watching us. The sky is full of thick clouds, and it’s not as cold, but it feels like a storm is coming.
“Welcome to Light Knot Night and the third date. The last date will be the day before the Winter Solstice, and at sunset on the day, you will make your choices on the path of light. I hope everyone is taking this seriously and thinking about their futures? But tonight isn’t about what comes next; it’s how you feel now.”
“I feel constipated.”
“Clint! I am going to call your mother.”
The crowd bursts into laughter, and then I see her. She’s staring at me; Sebastian is, too. They are too far away; we can’t get to them, but I want to go to her. So badly. To him. I need to apologise. I need to make this right.
“Tonight’s date is all about trust. You have submitted your worst fears, and now you are going to have to rely on your match to help you with it. Tonight is about growing as a couple, learning to communicate and rely on each other.”
Asher glowers at Zaire, who doesn’t even look at her, but I’m impressed he’s shown up. They were talking that he wouldn’t return.
Felix is alone, though.
I reach into my pocket, where I keep the cute little painted stone. I need to feel it tonight because even though this wasn’t meant to be something, it’s turned into everything, and it’s worth fighting for.
“Each one of you will get an electronic map with the places you have to go tonight. There will be safety personnel at each marker, making sure nothing happens. You will all be safe. Letme underscore that three times. Now, have fun, and trust your matches. Oh, and Clint, you won the prize last week.”
“YEEHAW!”
Lorelei drops her head into her hand and sighs in aggravation.
“I want food.”
“Give him his gift basket before I murder him and end up doing a matchmaking Time Knot Time event from a prison cell!” Lorelei snaps.
“Holly, if we’re doing a trust fall and you drop me, that’s it. We’re over.”
Holly cackles. “Guess we’re breaking up, big boy. I’m not breaking my nails.”
“You heathen!” Clint exclaims. “Oh, that gift basket looks fancy, Mrs S. Cheers, me and ma belly thank you most kindly.”
They disappear, and I move towards Sebastian and Cordie, fighting my way through the crowd, ignoring everyone but them.
I hug her first, and the relief I feel at having her in my arms tells me everything about myself that I was pretending not to know.
“I’m sorry, so sorry.”
I need to fix this. I need to sort it, and I need to get over my past. First thing I’ll do when we get home is ask Katsu to find a therapist to help me as soon as possible.
She pulls back and goes to Katsu, while I approach Seb.
