Page 31 (2/2)

New York, New York Ho, Tie, and the best place on Earth My apartment

I hadn’t spoken much since we left Louisiana Callu for us to fly out of Baton Rouge, so not only did we not need to drive two hours back to New Orleans, we also didn’t need to go anywhere near Maurepas

Good riddance

Faood, but if the McQueens ever wanted to see ain, they’d have to haul their Southern asses north, because with God as reat state of Louisiana

Dominick dropped me off atwith Ki to discuss the final details of our cereracious when I said, "Fuck Kimberly and whatever white horse she’s hired for you to ride in on"

Lucas, having already spent the last several hours with my silver-poisoned surliness, just s and storizzly bear with a stubbed toe

Rio aiting foron the floor, and she skittered under the loveseat

Desable in a soft gray cardigan over a Led Zeppelin T-shirt and his paper-thin at-ho up shop out here But nope, no elephants Just irl"

I wish that had been the first tilad you’re here," I sighed

"Where else would I be?" He smiled "I live here"

I crossed the room in two steps and threw myself into his arain "Are you wearing perfume?"

"No" I never wore perfume It would be scent overload

He licked his lips, and a devastated look ca along ain he sneezed, harder this ti?" I was kidding, but the look on his face was too serious to ignore

"Can you taste ht with fear

"Of course I--" But I had to stop when I realized I hadn’t really thought about it I touched ue to my lips Sucked the inside ofNothing to rearitas, or key lih his eyes, and he pushed me away

"You and Lucas…you co the full ht have ether before I had to

"Yes"

"We were supposed to have time, Secret"

"I didn’t know We hadn’t planned for it to happen there I didn’t even knohat it was" I reached for him, but he sidestepped my touch

"All I can smell is him I can’t taste you any at the fireplace "He told me he’d wait He toldto himself, but the words cut me like tiny little knives

"Desh when he said he’d sendbut naked anguish written on his features "How could you let him do this?"

"We had to"

"Is that what he told you?" Deshed, and it wasn’t a pleasant sound "Because he’s been so fucking honest with you in the past?"

I ca on the carpet between his legs I took his hands, and this tiertips and held them over my heart "He didn’t tell me this would impact you and me I swear to you"

"Of course he didn’t"

"But believe me when I say we had no choice"

"There’s always a choice"

I shook my head "When has free will ever come before the needs of the pack?"

He opened his mouth then closed it His brow furrowed "When did the needs of the pack ever outweigh what you wanted?" Those words hurtall of this for the pack? Did he honestly think I wanted this? "Did you stop to think about what this would do?"

"Yes" My throat felt thick, and it was hard to form words

"Did you think of ht There was a wetness to his long black lashes that hadn’t been there before