It is one thing for Thaddeus and Orion to know exactly what had happened down to the last detail, and quite another to know that it is now public knowledge.
“Don’t be ashamed; you did nothing wrong. Evelyn, you were a child,” Imogen tells me.
“So, do you hate me?” Amara asks,
I shake my head. “Please don’t do that again; some things I like to keep to myself,” I tell her, and she nods.
“It was never your responsibility, and like I said to Thaddeus, chances are I would have ended up in foster care anyway. Thaddeus said my parents didn’t exactly have the best lifestyle.” Tobias looks relieved, letting out a breath. “You really thought I would blame you and Bianca?”
“Yes. Can I ask you something else?” he asks, but Amara stops him, waving her arms and shaking her head.
“What’s wrong?” I ask her.
“Nothing, but I know that conversation is best between you and your mates,” she answers, and I look at them. They both shrug, not understanding what she is talking about.
“Believe me, when Thaddeus comes back, you will have that discussion.”
“Thaddeus will come back?” I ask; even Ryland and Orion look up at her.
“Yes, my idiot brother will come back soon; he won’t stay away, but I am not sure when.”
“You can’t dig into the future?” I ask, wanting to know.
“No, I can’t. I let things come to me. Me, peeking can change things and manipulate the future, which is never a good idea, so I try not to pry. The past has already been, so I can snoop as much as I want into people’s past, but the future, if I slip up and tell you the wrong thing, could alter it,” she explains.
Kind of makes sense, although I really want to see him.
The rest of the day is spent with Imogen. She shows me where she works, which is Kane and Madden enterprises. She is Tobias and Theo’s secretary, and I go with her today to kill the boredom. She shows me around the building and explains the different departments. It all goes over my head. She also introduces me to one of her best friends, Merida. Orion and Ryland stay at home and figure I am safe enough with Imogen. It feels good being out of the house without their lingering, concerned eyes all the time.
I am never alone; one of them is always by my side because my heat has been more frequent. Amara says it is because Thaddeus is gone, that my soul is calling out to him in a way, the body’s natural reaction to missing their mate. I don’t understand and gave up trying. To be honest, their world, which is my world now, is strange, and I just can’t wrap my head around some things.
After a few hours of helping Imogen with the new file system, Theo walks out, telling us it is time for lunch. I lost track of time, engrossed in the headache task Imogen and I were trying to complete.
“I have a few more to do still. Evelyn can go down for us, can’t you, Evelyn?”
Theo gives her a worried look, glancing at me.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea? Thaddeus will have our heads if something happens to her,” Theo questions.
“Well, if he wants her watched 24/7, he should be watching her. She is quite capable of going to the cafe, Theo. She isn’t a child, and I am sure she is sick of being babysat,” Imogen tells him, leaving no room for argument.
Theo sighs but nods as he hands me his card. Imogen gives me their coffee and lunch orders, and I take the elevator down to the ground floor before walking to the cafe at the end of the street.
After putting in the order and paying, I wait outside. I suddenly feel eyes on me. Looking across the street, I see nothing out of place, no one is anywhere near me, yet I have this strange sensation like I am being watched, and can feel their gaze.
Feeling creeped out, I am about to walk back into the cafe when I notice him. Thaddeus is leaning against the wall near the alleyway. I stare at him, shocked, thinking I have lost my mind and started imagining him. Yet , when he moves off the wall towards me, I have no doubt it is actually him.
Just the sight of him makes my heart beat faster and I suddenly get nervous. Thaddeus walks over and stops in front of me.
“Hello, little one,” he says as he reaches his hand out and cups my face with his warm hand, his thumb rubbing along my cheekbone. I lean into his touch, sparks moving against my skin.
“I missed you,” I tell him. Thaddeus drops his hand, stepping back, and I reach out for him, but he steps away from me. My heart clenches at his rejection.
“Why are you alone?” he asks, looking up the street.
Instead of answering his question, I ask my own. “Are you coming back with me?” I ask, hoping he is going to say yes. Thaddeus says nothing.
“I will walk you back,” he says when the woman behind the counter calls my name.
“I don’t need a sitter. Are you coming home or not?” I ask, as she places the order on the counter for me.
“You’re better off without me. I won’t be coming back, Evelyn.”
“Then why are you here? Don’t bother if you plan to disappear for months and then pop up out of the blue. Just choose to be with us,” I tell him.
“I just needed to see you; I didn’t want to disturb you.”
“You thinking you can just pop in and out is disturbing. Either come home or don’t come back, Thaddeus,” I tell him, turning to grab the coffee and bag off of the counter.
When I turn back around, he is gone. I look up the street in both directions but can’t see him anywhere. I guess he has made his choice, then. I felt his leave deeply; he didn’t say anything, just poof and he is gone, like a figment of my imagination. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I walk back to the office.
Imogen looks up as I enter and darts over to me. “What happened?” she asks.
“Nothing.” I smile, but I feel it falter as my eyes burn with unshed tears.
“You look on the verge of tears, dear. You smell like…” she shakes her head.
“Thaddeus,” I answer, and she nods.
Tobias rushes out the door. “Thaddeus, did you see him?” he asks. I press my lips in a line, trying to fight the overwhelming feelings seeing him has conjured up.
“Where is he?” Tobias asks, looking around the foyer just as Theo rushes out of his office.
I shake my head. “He’s not coming back,” I tell him. His eyes move to Imogen, and I can see the hurt on her face. She longs for her son, just as much as I long for my mate.