She pursed her lips. “That sucks.”
“A few months before my fourteenth birthday, things changed between us.” I had seen him in a new light. “He was handsome, kind, and understood me more than anyone else ever had.”
She stayed quiet, which surprised me.
“The night before my fourteenth birthday, he told me he felt the same way. He’d handmade me a necklace.” It was kind of embarrassing. I had the damn necklace here with me in my jewelry box. “We kissed that night.” I rubbed my finger along my lips, pretending they were his lips. “Everything was perfect until he put my necklace on me. Then, he rushed away. We were supposed to meet the next night, but he never showed up at our spot again.”
“Wait… what?” Her mouth opened. “He just disappeared after giving you a present and that kiss?”
“Yeah, I don’t know what I did.” It had haunted me since. I’d tried to find out what had caused him to leave me behind, and it always came back to the necklace, which didn’t make any damn sense.
“So, that guy is him?” She glanced out the window as if expecting to see him there.
“I don’t know.” I plopped down on my bed and frowned. “He looks like him, and the piney scent is exactly the same.”
“Scent doesn’t lie.” She lay on her side, keeping her eyes on me. “So… I’m thinking it’s him.”
“Then maybe I should go back home.” I blew out a breath. “I’m here with Jacob, and I don’t need Aidan complicating things again.”
“What?” She rolled over, stood from the bed, and joined me on mine. “No. First off, you have a boyfriend. That shows you’ve moved on even if it’s not true. And two, this is an opportunity to find out why he left you and get closure.”
“And get my heart broken again?” I couldn’t allow that to happen.
“Oh, hell no.” She took my hand in hers. “That won’t happen.”
“Because I have Jacob now.” He was everything a wolf shifter could want in her mate… except me.
“Besides, we both know you only love him as a friend, and let’s be real; he’s a little off. I haven’t quite put my finger on it yet.” She looked at me from the top of her eyes. “And don’t lie to me. You’re still hung up on that guy. This may be the tipping point that will make you feel the same way about Jacob as you do him.”
“It was four years ago. I was a young girl.” Sometimes, I still felt that way, but the experience had made me stronger. “But you’re right.”
“It’s the lack of closure that’s your problem.” She bumped her shoulder into mine. “We’ve got this.”
“No, no.” I pointed my finger at her. “I have to move on.” Maybe this was a test to see if I had really left the pain all behind.
“Fine, we’ll try it your way.” She shrugged a shoulder and sighed. “At least, at first.”
I grabbed my phone to look at the time. “Oh, shit. I told Jacob and Scott I’d go grab some tables before their class got out. You want to join me?”
“Uh, yeah. Football players and food.” Beth stood and winked. “I’m all for the combination, and that allows me to put off studying for a little longer.”
“Okay, let’s go.”
We reached the Student Center within minutes. It was around eleven-thirty, and the place was filling up with the lunch crowd.
We snagged a corner section and pulled three tables up to make room for twelve. I’d learned that more football players often appeared than anticipated.
“There she is,” Jacob said as he headed straight to me. He pulled me into his arms and kissed my forehead. “I see you planned for extras.”
“She knows how we roll.” Scott chuckled and threw his bag into one of the chairs. “Why don’t you three go grab some food, and I’ll hold down the fort until another one shows up.”
My stomach growled, which made Jacob smile. “Sounds like Emma agrees.”
“Oh, shut it.” I smacked him on the chest, trying to prevent the grin from spreading across my face.
“Let’s go before you get more violent.” He grabbed my hand and tugged me behind him.
These times got me through and provided a glimmer of happiness even if it was short-lived. Jacob did have a way of making me smile. I only wished my heart felt more for him. “You turd.”
“Oh, I love the way you talk dirty to me.” He laughed and wrapped his arm around my waist.
It didn’t take us long before we had our lunch and joined the others at the table. However, I had a hard time paying attention to the conversation around me as I picked at my burger.
A piney scent hit my nose, and I stupidly glanced behind me.
There he was yet again today. His eyes were locked on the arm around my waist, and his jaw was clenched.
Looking forward, I forced myself not to look behind me again at Aidan or not-Aidan; that’s where I needed to leave my past.
Chapter Five
The next morning, I stood in line with Jacob for breakfast.
“I’m so glad we have Chemistry together even if I hate science.” Jacob paid for our food at the Student Center, his eyes bright. “We’ve never had one together.”
“You do realize, for a business degree, you could’ve taken Biology or something else.” I wanted to be a registered nurse so this was one class I had to take. It helped that I enjoyed all sciences in general.
“True, but I needed a science course, and you were taking one.” He shrugged as we headed over to the group of football players who had saved us a seat. “Gave me an incentive to get that on my schedule.”
“Even with the lab right after on Thursdays?” He hated science, so Biology might have been a better choice for him.
“Yup. I have a feeling I’ll get the best lab partner the school can provide.” He set the tray on the table. “But I’ll need tutoring.”
“Oh, I’m sure you will.” I took my coffee and egg-bacon biscuit off the tray. I unwrapped the biscuit and took a huge bite. Last night, I hadn’t eaten much, so my stomach was upset and yelling at me… well, in all fairness, it was more gurgling. I needed the calories since my nine a.m. class was Dance.
I’d closed my eyes, enjoying the salty taste of bacon, when that damn scent hit me again, and I choked on my bite. I hadn’t smelled it in years, and now I couldn’t go anywhere without it popping up.
“Emma.” Jacob turned toward me and started hitting my back.
“No, I’m fine.” What he was doing was making it worse. I grabbed my coffee and took a large sip. The liquid burned my throat as it went down. I coughed more, but luckily, the food had dislodged. “Give me a second.”
“You might need to give her mouth to mouth.” Scott shook his head as he sat across from Jacob.
“He…” I coughed again. “… probably doesn’t want to do that.” My last word was cut off again, and I took another swig of coffee.
“Why don’t you drink some of my water instead of scalding your throat?” Jacob handed me the bottle, and I gladly drank out of it.