We sit and talk for a bit and I know I have to get back before Ezra notices me gone. I shift and she follows me to the treeline out the back of the house, watching to make sure I get home alright. I climb the stairs on the back verandah.
I wave to her, telling her she can go. She ducks her head before darting off into the trees while I sneak back inside the house. Creeping up the stairs, I am relieved, they’re both still asleep and no one noticed me sneak out.
“We reek of her scent,” Kora warns me, and I sniff my shirt. I go to the bathroom on the bottom level before stripping off and showering, tossing my shirt in the basket for Marge to wash. I shower quickly before wrapping myself in a towel and heading back to bed.
The next week passed quickly, I studied at home while Ezra worked. Mateo has become quite distant, and we hardly saw him. He leaves early in the morning and has taken on the training of the pack warriors and doesn’t come home till late at night, always smelling of different women.
My father still hasn’t returned home and said it is my choice if I keep in touch with her, but he wants nothing to do with her. Mom told me their chats about sorting things out just turned into arguments before my father packed his things and moved in with a friend.
So each night I sneak out to see her and it is honestly starting to catch up with me. I am always tired. but know it is my only chance to see her. I try to reason with Ezra but his answer is always the same, even though she told my father. He got angry when I told him I was mind-linking her, but didn’t say I couldn’t. He just didn’t want me near her.
Ezra closes his laptop looking over at me on the couch. I pack my stuff up before placing it on his desk and walk over to him.
“You’re always so tired,” he mutters, as I yawn, pulling me onto his lap. I lean against him, he wraps his arms around me and kisses my shoulder.
Hearing a knock on the door, I look at it and go to get off his lap when he pulls me back down against him, holding me in place.
“You don’t have to knock, Mateo,” Ezra scolds, and the door opens.
Mateo comes in and flops on the couch, resting his head on the back of it. His eyes flicker over us. “Jackson’s men were at the border again today,” he sighs.
“Yeah, Alex mind linked me,” Ezra replies, and I look at him, entire body tensing.
“They didn’t cross, they were just watching,” Ezra assures me with a pat.
“Have you heard from Jasmine?” Mateo asks, lifting his head to spare me a glance. I shake my head and he sags against the couch again.
“No, she has been with Angie a lot. But other than that, just busy helping her dad at the clinic, Why? Haven’t you heard from her?”
“Not for the last three days,” he replies with a shrug. He studies the two of us for a moment, a faint smile almost tugging at his lips before it falls away. He gets to his feet and stretches. “I’ll leave you to it.”
“Are you going out again?” Ezra asks and I can hear the concern in his voice as he stares at his friend.
“Nothing else to do,” Mateo responds, heading for the door.
Ezra scowls. “You can watch movies and play cards with us?”
Mateo stops, turning to look at us, his eyes settling on me. “No horror flicks?” he demands, clearly not trusting us.
“One is, the other is Mateo appropriate,” I chuckle, and he thinks for a second before finally nodding. “I’ll shower first, then go grab dinner then. We have to get the stupid horror one over with first, no torturing me like last time.” He shudders. “Pizza for dinner?”
“Fine,” I agree, and he smiles before rushing out and up the stairs.
“I’m worried about him,” Ezra observes and I nod. He has been acting strange and isn’t his usual bubbly self. More closed off and distant.
“Want me to see if Jasmine wants to come over?” I ask, and Ezra nods against my shoulder. I feel for my link to Jasmine. I push on it before feeling it connect.
“Hey, Jaz.”
“What are you doing, Kit Kat?'”
“Nothing, I wanted to see if you wanted to watch movies and play some cards.”
“Will Mateo be there?” She asks, her voice sounds unsure.
“Yes, why? I know you two had a fight, but he is a good guy, Jaz.”
“I know, but that’s not it Kat, I found him.”
“Huh?”
“My mate Kat, it is Angie’s oldest brother, he came back three days ago, I finally found him,” she squeals excitedly, but my heart sinks for Mateo. I am happy for her, but now where does that leave Mateo and her? They can’t avoid each other forever.
“Does Mateo know?”
“I should go, Kat,” she says, before cutting the link. I focus back on the room.
“What did she say?”
“Uh she is busy.” It isn’t our place to tell him, but Jasmine should. If she has no intention of being with him, she should at least tell him upfront and not leave him hanging just because it was uncomfortable. It disappoints me. I thought she would be straight up with him instead of just ignoring him.
Getting up, I go on the hunt for snacks, before setting them up in the living room and finding the cards.
“Be back soon,” Mateo calls, leaving once more.
Ezra comes in holding a beer, and I steal it from him, taking a sip while he tries to take it from me. “You’re not drinking, Kat,” he growls.
“I’m of age,” I retort, taking another sip and scrunching my face at the taste. It is disgusting, how anyone drinks and likes beer is beyond me.
“Fine, but only a few. I don’t want you getting drunk,” he huffs, walking off and grabbing another before returning. He flicks through the movies, finding the Haunting of Hill House on Netflix.
“Kat it’s a series, not a movie,” Ezra points out.
“Fine, pick something else.”
“We can watch it, but you’re doing the toilet runs with Mateo,” he chuckles.
“Only man I know that watches PG and nothing else,” I grumble, finding myself sipping the nasty ass beer. “Ugh on second thought you can have it, tastes nasty,” I complain and he laughs taking it from me.