It surprised me that aside from some texts the night I left them, there was only one other.
Maybe they’re moving on quicker than you expected, the wild thing taunted.
It annoyed me how the thought hurt. That’s what I wanted, wasn’t it?
Mason’s message wasn’t very long. It was from yesterday evening.
“Make sure to check your email tomorrow.”
He had to be referring to the interview. He’d wanted me to see it. A smile tugged at my lips. I typed out a response.“Loved the interview. You did good. I’m proud of you.”
After I sent it, I pulled up Kaz’s contact. I wanted to say something, but what was there to say?
With a sigh, I tucked my phone in the back pocket of my jeans and went to rejoin the others. Cole ordered his favorite, Thai food, and we filled our plates before making our way to the couch for aLord of The Ringsmarathon.
But my thoughts kept coming back to Mase and Kaz. I tried and failed to not be irrationally disappointed that they weren’t still trying to get in touch.
When the first movie ended, Silas carefully carried my sleeping sister to their bedroom, and I trudged back to my own room, alone for the first time.
I lay in bed and tracked the shadows moving across the ceiling. Eventually, even ruminating on my misery wasn’t enough to keep me awake.
* * *
The next morning, there was a text from Kaz.
I scrambled up the bed, rubbing sleep out of my eyes so I could make out the message. Excitement thrummed beneath my skin. I was too groggy to analyze how wrong that was.
“Can we meet?”
The wild thing was up and shouting at me to say yes, but rational thought was slowly returning to my brain.
“Why?”I typed back.
“Want to talk about the contract. There’s one last thing to hash out before we can sign.”
I ran my nails up and down my arm. “And you need me? Not Trinity?”
“Yes. She told us to message you.”
Well, then. If I wanted to have a chance at getting that sabbatical, I definitely couldn’t risk unintentionally blowing up Trinity’s big deal.
And maybe, just maybe, it wouldn’t be so bad to see their faces one more time.
“Okay. I’ll come over.”
“See you.”
I threw back the covers and climbed out of bed. There weren’t many choices for me in the wardrobe department, given I was still mostly wearing clothes I’d borrowed from Piper and a few pieces from Ade. Going over to the guys’ house would allow me to take my stuff back.
Good. This was good.
At least that’s what I insisted to myself, even as I felt my stomach churning by the time I got into my car.
Could I do this? Meet with them only to say goodbye one more time?
It wouldn’t be the final goodbye. After all, they were still managed by Trinity, so I was bound to see them at the office every now and then. I imagined giving them an impersonal greeting, maybe a wave through the glass of the conference room. They wouldn’t look at me the way they had just a few days ago—with need and care and love in their eyes.
This wasn’t a good time to cry. God, what was wrong with me? There was an awful pain in my chest that spread with every mile closer to the house I drove. I got to my destination just in time for it to become unbearable.
