“No, thank you,” Carter said, not even bothering to hide his shudder. He hadn’t been fussed over by little old ladies since his grandma when he was a very young kid, and even then she wasn’t really the fussing type.
His distaste only amused Ellie more.
“Oh, c’mon, they’re really sweet. They’d love you. They’d fawn all over you.”
“And again I say, no, thank you. I’d rather face all of Nosizwe’s shifters alone than a bunch of clucking old hens.”
“Well, at least I found your weakness,” Ellie laughed “Scared of sweet little old ladies. Imagine that. You’d have to be a monster to be afraid of them”
“There wasn’t ever any secret about that.”
He stood, holding out a hand. Ellie studied it before slowly reaching out her own to accept it. Gently, Carter pulled her to her feet.
That was a mistake. It put them too close together. She was small—still too skinny, in his opinion. She sure wasn’t the magazine or Instagram definition of beauty. That wasn’t Ellie. Carter didn’t care. Or maybe it was his alter, the Talos. Either way, none of that mattered with her standing so close, looking up at him like that. Suddenly, he was transported back to that moment in Sean and Ciara Costas’s living room where they’d stood opposite each other in front of the justice of the peace, getting fake married. That moment when he’d been invited to kiss her and had leaned in to do so.
For Pete’s sake, why was he thinking about kissing her now? It was one kiss, one time. That was as far as it’d gone. They’d never even slept together. Yet somehow that one kiss singed his memory more than any memories of the women he’d actually slept with.
Maybe Ellie was remembering the same thing, or maybe she simply still didn’t like being in such close physical proximity, knowing he had the ability to shapeshift into another creature. She didn’t say anything, but she did creep a step backwards. The weak winter sunlight caught in her pale blonde hair, almost making it glow.
“I guess I should ask how much longer your lawyer thinks it’ll be until we can get divor—until our marriage can be officially dissolved,” she said quietly, skipping the word divorce like it was a swear word.
“Oh, right. Well, we could do it within the next few weeks, or we could maybe wait a couple of months to be sure nothing else comes up. Are you okay with that?”
“I guess so. I’ve waited this long. What’s a couple more months? Does he really think we’ll be safe then?”
“He thinks we’re probably fine now, but just to be on the safe side…”
“It’s fine. I get it. How will I know? Will you fly out here again with the papers?”
“I don’t think that’s necessary. I can call you to let you know. Mail you the papers. From my understanding, you can sign them and mail them back. We’ll figure it out.”
“Sounds easy enough.”
“Almost too easy?”
“Almost,” she chuckled. “I don’t want to sound pessimistic, but I can’t say anything’s been easy since I met you. I keep expecting this to go wrong also.”
“It shouldn’t,” he reassured her. “Everything should be fine. I told you Miguel would handle it.”
“Okay. Not exactly how I’d hoped, but…okay. Then I guess we’re done here?”
“I guess so.”
By unspoken consent, they left the shelter of the picnic area, stepping out into the park. Ellie glanced across the street. So did Carter. A few more cars filled the church parking lot, and several people were hurrying inside.
“Maybe it’s better if we’re not seen together,” Ellie suggested. “Probably best if people don’t ask a bunch of questions about you. Believe me, if folks see you and me together, some of them will be asking questions. It’s a small church family, and they’re every bit as nosy as a real family.”
She was right. Neither of them needed that.
“Who leaves first then?”
“You? If you can get out of here before anyone else shows up, it’ll be easier to avoid the inquisition.”
Carter hid a smile at her description of the questions coming her way. He didn’t doubt, though, whether or not she avoided inquiries from church friends that she was due for some tough questions from her father.
“So, this is goodbye, then,” he observed.
“I suppose it is. Maybe for the last time.”
“Probably. I’m spending one night here. I have a meeting with Blake to discuss some things, then I’ll fly home in the morning.”
“Oh? Where are you staying?”
“I have a room over at the Douglas Inn on 39th and Lewis.”
She nodded. “I’ve seen it.”
The exchange faltered, largely because, even if Carter would never admit it to her, much less himself, he felt a true pang knowing this was it, that he’d never see Ellie again. Ever. She was human, distrusted shifters, and supposed to be the antithesis of everything he was and fought for. Nevertheless, she’d wormed a place down deep in his consciousness, and he wasn’t sure how to get her out. The past three months hadn’t accomplished it. Perhaps that was because he’d been laid up for so long with way too much time to think. Once he returned home, he’d be returning to a world where he was now mostly fit and capable of doing his job. He’d be stepping back into battles between two of the most powerful shifter leaders in the world. He’d be dealing with Sean’s relentless quest to get his hands on the remaining Stones of Fire. He’d be too busy to think about Ellie, and that was for the best.
However, telling her goodbye… That sent an undeniable twinge though him. Maybe it should be like ripping off a Band-Aid—just get it over with.
It was an awkward moment, even worse than back at his employer’s private hanger three months ago when Ellie had left Texas. Carter didn’t know if he was supposed to shake her hand, give her a hug, or what. Ellie didn’t seem to know, either. For a heartbeat, he stood staring down at her, feelings he’d rather not acknowledge jamming his throat, crowding his brain. He wasn’t a big talker, but neither did he get easily tongue-tied. Still, how was one supposed to say a permanent farewell to a woman for whom he’d killed, who had killed for him, and whom he’d married, no matter how briefly?
Ellie turned the tide, offering him a sad little smile.
“I’m not sure how I’m supposed to be feeling right now,” she admitted. “We went through a lot together.”
“We did.”
“I just want you to know that, even if I disagree with some of what your people do, I’m not holding anything against you personally. I wish you only the best, and I’ll always appreciate the effort you put into saving my life and helping my family.” Her voice, her hazel eyes behind her glasses were soft. “I’ll never forget that.”
Her impromptu speech finally provided the spur he needed to rip off the Band-Aid.
Catching her upper arm gently, Carter bent, angling his head. She read his intentions and tilted her face, accepting the kiss he brushed against her cheek.
“Take care, Ellie,” he said. His voice came out rougher than he intended. “Before you save any more kids, you might want to make sure their parents aren’t shifters.”