He hoped he was wrong, it would be a rockyroad for Vicky if she became entangled with a hunter, or worse, ifhe was her mate, but he couldn’t deny he sensed something betweenthe two of them.
CHAPTER 42
“So what do you think, Blue?” Maggieinquired as she sprinkled a couple of flakes into the bowl forhim.
Blue’s only response was a flick of his tailas he gulped his flakes. She took that as a sign he liked her plan.It was an acceptable plan; she only hoped Aiden would see it thatway too.
Over the past four days, she’d come torealize how lonely her life was and how much she missed having himin it. Like a plant without the sun, she felt like she wasshriveling inside without him, and if she kept scratching at herarms, she’d have no skin left.
Her arms looked like she’d brawled with abriar patch and lost, badly. She’d started wrapping her skin inwhite bandages to curb her itching, but it didn’t help during thoserare times she slept. The bandages had originally only encompassedher forearms, but they’d spread up to her biceps yesterday. If thiskept up, she’d have to mummify herself.
The last time she’d slept for more than anhour at a time was in Aiden’s arms. She’d almost called him a fewdozen times a day, but each time she picked up the phone, she putit down before she dialed. She had to use this time away from himto sort through things.
She couldn’t up and quit her job. Sherefused to leave them shorthanded, it could risk someone’s life,and her coworkers had become a family to her, especially Roger.Besides, if for some reason things didn’t work out with Aiden, shecouldn’t burn her bridges. She would need her career to fall backon, and if she couldn’t get her old position back, she would atleast get good references for her next job.
She also wouldn’t leave Roger that way; shedidn’t plan to leave him at all as he’d always be a part of herlife, no matter what. But she wasn’t about to leave him high anddry with an unprepared partner.
A two-week notice would give her more timeto get to know Aiden better while she was still human too. Perhaps,in that time, they’d discover they were better apart than together.With the way she’d felt these past four days, she doubted thatwould happen, but she wasn’t willing to take the chance itwould.
She’d considered continuing to work as aparamedic after turning, but decided it would be better to takesome time away. She couldn’t stand the idea of accidentally hurtingsomeone if their blood proved too strong a temptation for her.
Besides, it would probably be best if sheand Aiden spent some time together, adjusting to their new livesafter she became a vampire. She wouldn’t let him support her, she’dfigure out some way to contribute to their relationship, but shewas sure there would be plenty for her to learn about controllingherself and vampirism.
So, when she met Aiden today, she’d tell himshe would give her notice at work. He’d have to be willing to giveher those two weeks, if he wasn’t, then it was a good sign theirrelationship wouldn’t work, and she’d walk away. He might even haveto give her longer than two weeks. They’d hired one new person, butthey were still one staff member down after Walt and Glenn’sdeaths.
She resisted scratching her skin at thepossibility Aiden wouldn’t give her those two weeks. She wouldn’task him to keep his distance during that time. No, she hoped he’dcome stay with her. She would love to crawl into his arms andinhale his scent again. Just imagining it made the constriction inher chest ease and her skin stopped itching. Yes, he wouldunderstand. He had to.
Maggie glanced at the clock. It was onlytwelve, but she couldn’t stay in this apartment anymore. Itshouldn’t take her more than half an hour to get to the hotel.She’d wait there for Aiden, and hopefully, he would come early too.Thankfully, it was her day off as she meant to spend most of it inbed with him.
Smiling at the pleasant notion, Maggieturned away from Blue. She picked her coat up from her bed as herphone rang. When she’d returned to work, she’d discovered thatwhile her wallet and keys had survived the attack, her phonehadn’t. She still had the phone she’d purchased from theconvenience store. She’d planned to keep it anyway, in case Aidencalled her, but now she used it for everyone else as she hadn’t hadtime to replace her old one. It was on her ever-growing list ofthings to do over the next two weeks as she prepared for her newlife.
She lifted the phone from her nightstand.When she saw the caller was her boss Pablo, she almost ignored it.She couldn’t be called into work today of all days, but herconscience tugged at her. How many had covered for her while she’dbeen with Aiden?
Maggie answered the phone. “Hello.”
“Maggie, it’s Pablo.”
She almost replied with… Yes, I know, callerID is this nifty new invention… but something about his tonestopped her. A ball of dread formed in her stomach. “What isit?”
“It’s…” He exhaled loudly. “It’s Roger.”
The break in his voice had her sinking ontoher bed. “What happened?”
“It looks like he had a stroke. They’verushed him to Mass General. I’m heading over now.”
“I’ll meet you there.”
Maggie didn’t wait to hear his reply. Sheleapt off her bed, slipped her phone into her pocket, and slid onher coat. She didn’t remember leaving her apartment, but shesuddenly found herself taking the steps two at a time toward thefirst floor. Her feet barely hit the ground as she raced down thelast flight and out the doors.
Plunging onto the sidewalk, she ran towardthe closest T station. She fumbled to remove the phone from herpocket as she dodged the people on the sidewalk. She succeeded inpulling her phone free to call Aiden as she hit the steps to the Tstation and plunged down.
She was about to hit send when a woman,rushing up the stairs, bashed her purse into Maggie’s ribs. Maggiestumbled to the side, her ankle twisted on the stairs and gave out.The phone toppled from her fingers; the cool metal railing slidagainst her palm when she grabbed it to keep from plummeting downthe concrete stairs to the bottom.
“Are you okay?” a man inquired as he grippedher elbow to help steady her.
“Yes, yes, I’m fine. Thank you,” Maggie saidas she tested her ankle. It was sore but unbroken. “I… I dropped myphone.”
“Here,” the man bent and scooped it up. “Itwasn’t as lucky as you.”
