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Reaching the community hall, Rowan was just wrapping up pack business with Kai when I reached the door. They said their words of parting, and my best friend turned to me.
“I’m starving. We’re getting lunch right?” he asked, looking rundown from not getting the chance to eat yet.
“Of course. I was eyeing up that food truck just outside of the park on the way here.”
Rowan gave me a look of relief and started along with me. “You’re speaking my language.”
Together, we went back the way I came, and we found the aforementioned truck. Rowan briefed me on some rather tame pack-related information, and while I was listening, I couldn’t help but think back to what my mom had said.
There’s still time.
While she was right, and I didn’t want to rush it, those surprisingly urgent thoughts pressed against me. I couldn’t wrap my mind around it.
Once we had our food in hand, Rowan glanced over at me suspiciously. “You’ve hardly said more than ten words since we left the hall, and I know that means something’s bothering you. What’s going on?”
With a sigh, I knew he’d sniff out my moping eventually.
“It’s my parents. More specifically, my mom,” I began, to which I received an immediate look of understanding. “They’ve been on my ass about finding me a mate recently, even though I’m not interested. Mom is working to queue up date number twelve, and I don’t know how much more I can take of it.”
Rowan’s brows went up. “Twelve, huh? I didn’t realize your mom was playing matchmaker.”
I nodded and chewed through a bite of my burger. “It’s getting out of hand. If she had found me a decent woman by now, I’d be grateful. But she’s getting farther and farther out of the ballpark each time.”
“I can certainly see why that would be annoying,” Rowan began as he looked out at the lush park around us and considered his words. “But maybe they’re right, and you should be looking.”
I threw him a questioning look and scoffed. “I’m fine, and I won’t find a partner by forcing it. If it’s going to happen, then I want it to be natural.”
Rowan shrugged. “You should tell your parents that.”
“I have. More than once. They just don’t want to listen,” I returned, feeling defeated at the thought.
The two of us sat in silence while we ate, and after a thoughtful moment, Rowan crumpled up the paper that was once wrapped around his burger. “If it’s any consolation, I also think you shouldn’t force it. Since I know what your parents can be like, I don’t have much to offer you on that front. You might just have to grit and bear it for the time being, until you find someone worth settling down with.”
“That doesn’t sound entirely appealing,” I grumbled, aware of how that was my reality anyway.
“You know how moms are. They want to help you achieve what’s best for you, even if it’s not all that helpful. I’m sure she’ll get bored eventually and move on to something else,” Rowan tried to remind me.
“We’re talking about a retired woman who has nothing better to do than go to appointments and actively search for women to set me up with.”
He couldn’t help but chuckle at that. “Sounds about right. Maybe you should encourage her to join some hobby groups?”
I had to admit, it was tempting.
When I didn’t have much more to say, Rowan scratched the back of his neck and sighed. “I know it seems like the worst thing now, but I’m sure everything will work out soon. You’ll have someone practically fall in your lap, and your mom will get off your case.”
While I wanted to be hopeful just like Rowan sounded, I still had my doubts. And beyond that, I wasn’t so sure I even wanted to be with anyone. The thought of giving up my peace for a relationship that would inevitably take work and effort sounded exhausting.
“I guess we’ll see what happens.”
Chapter 5 - Sara
The creek babbled enthusiastically while the sun streamed through the tree canopy overhead. The water was chilly yet pleasant against my feet while I carefully balanced on rocks that stuck out from the streambed and looked closely at the goods below.
“I don’t know how you’re standing in there right now—it’s so cold!”
Glancing over my shoulder at my best friend Cora, I chuckled at how she looked exactly like a cat with its back arched and hissing. She was always more sensitive to the cold.
“It’s not that bad once you get used to it.”
