I stopped, but I didn’t turn around right away. I kept my hands in my pockets, eyes fixed ahead so I wouldn’t have to look at her.
“I’m not avoiding talking to you, Aurora.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Right,” I heard the heels clicking closer. “So why haven’t I heard from you in three days.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“With?”
“It’s nothing to worry about,” I said. “Now if you’ll excuse me.”
She stepped in front of me anyway, forcing me to look at her.
“You can’t even look me in the eyes anymore,” she said.
I sighed. “I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine,” she pushed. “You been weird for days, and now you snapping in meetings?”
“I didn’t even snap!”
She raised a brow.
I exhaled slowly, dragging a hand over my face then adjusted my glasses again. “I’m just tired, Aurora.”
She studied me.
“Tired,” she repeated.
“Yes.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
Her lips pressed together like she didn’t believe me. I held her gaze like she wanted but gave her nothing else to work with. After a second, her shoulders dropped just a little.
“Okay,” she said, even though it didn’t sound like just okay. “Then get your rest.”
“I will.”
She nodded once, then stepped around me, heading back toward the conference room. Right before she pushed the door open, she paused and glanced back at me like she wanted to say something else but didn’t.
Then she disappeared inside.
I closed my eyes.
“I love you, lone wolf.”
I can’t do this shit again. I can’t go back.
When I got to my office, I walked straight past my desk and out the side door that led toward the stables. Spades lifted his head the second I stepped in, ears flicking forward because he knew it was me.
“Yeah,” I muttered, walking over and resting a hand against his neck. “I know.”
