“You’re thinking too much. Even if whatever happened in the past is trying to affect your present, don’t let it, because that doesn’t help at all,” Maya advised.
Jackson snapped back from his trance and nodded his head. “That’s not changing anything. She doesn’t want me too, and I don’t feel any love or affection towards her.”
“Nobody is forcing you or her to feel anything, but maybe you both should try to get along. You’re both old now; it’s quite useless to behave like this,” Maya said, her expression conveying how she found the situation absurd yet sensible at the same time.
She could totally understand Jackson, and maybe somehow Lima too, as it’s hard to accept mates when you’re not on the same page.
But it was dumb to be like this, especially after wasting 18 years.
She regretted her own actions, and now, seeing others doing worse, she couldn’t hold herself back.
It was like the things one wants, others easily relinquish. She was here, dying to be with her mate, and yet these two had rejected each other. Second chance or not, it wasn’t settling well in her mindset.
Perhaps her thoughts were much older than her age.
“What about you and Elk?”
Maya took a deep breath as soon as she heard the name. “It’s certainly not bad, but we haven’t talked after that day on the training grounds. If something important comes up, then only we talk, and that too in front of everyone. He’s not even giving me an opportunity to talk alone.”
Sometimes she felt she had had enough and that he hadn’t forgiven her, but then again, she wanted to cling to the delusion that they had cleared things up and he had decided to stay and was trying to help too.
So it was quite concerning what she should believe.
“You mean he’s running away from communication?” Jackson questioned.
“Maybe. I’m not sure if he’s running away, but somehow it’s not looking like he’s putting in any effort.”
“Well, you can’t really blame him, can you?” Jackson said with a sigh. “After what happened between you two, a little distance is understandable. Give him time, Maya. I’m sure he’ll come around eventually.”
Maya shook her head. “I don’t know, Jackson. It’s been a week and there’s been no progress. I’m starting to think I made an irreparable mistake.”
Jackson placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Don’t lose hope yet. How can anything be fine, if he won’t communicate with me?”
A thoughtful look crossed Jackson’s face. “Well, now that you mention it…” He trailed off, seeming to consider something.
“What is it?” Maya pressed. “If you have an idea, I’m all ears.”
Jackson leaned back, stroking his chin. “This whole situation with Lima, we four can go on little talk date?”
Maya’s eyes widened as she processed his words. “You mean… you’d be willing to try with Lima? For my sake?”
He gave a noncommittal shrug. “I’m not making any promises. But if there’s a chance it could help you and Elk… well, I’d be a fool not to consider it, wouldn’t I?”
A tentative smile played on Maya’s lips. “Jackson, that’s… I don’t know what to say. Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” he warned. “Like I said, no promises. But I’ll sleep on it, see if I can’t find it in me to give Lima a fair chance.” He fixed her with a pointed look. “Just don’t get your hopes up too high, alright?”
Maya nodded fervently. “Of course, of course. I understand completely.”
“That’s better because I never wanted to give false hopes or break them. It makes me feel bad, but yeah, we can go on a date or something like that. It seems like a good option; you’ll get a chance to talk to him,” Jackson declared.
“Yes, and the environment will change too. You’re right, this is the best option. Things are so shitty, so of course, we all need a chance to breathe because everything is already weighing heavily on our necks.”
Jackson nodded, agreeing with Maya completely. The tension was so much, with the key, the curse, and a lot more things going on. Thinking about other matters in this environment was overwhelming, so it was better to have a change of scenery.
“A date could be a good way to break the ice and create a more relaxed atmosphere for you two to reconnect,” he said thoughtfully. “No pressure, just a chance to enjoy each other’s company away from all the stresses we’ve been dealing with.”
Maya felt a glimmer of hope at his words. “You’re right. Getting out of this tense situation, even for a little while, might be exactly what we need to start mending things between us.”
With a supportive smile, Jackson gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t overthink it, Maya. Just take it one step at a time and see where it leads. I’ll do my part with Lima, and you focus on Elk. Who knows? Things may get better.”
He didn’t know if things would go smoothly with him and Lima, because unlike Elk and Maya, their situation was different.
Elk and Maya were once in love and were mates. Yes, the distance had caused issues between them, but it wasn’t bigger than what they had shared.
He and Lima were not in love, and they had rejected each other, so they couldn’t be considered mates. Putting things on common grounds was clearly not as simple as he was trying to make it sound.
But if anyone could be helped by this situation, it wasn’t a bad bargain. Elk and Maya had it in them, so leading it the right way would only help.
And maybe he certainly hated Lima a bit less, thinking he tried and she complied. Only if she agreed to even come on this date thingy – that seemed like the hardest part of all. She was a tough nut to crack, and she might crack him instead of agreeing.
“You just have to make Elk agree. I have no energy to talk with him; I’m already scared.”
“Sure, I’ll make him agree, then you have the job of making Lima agree. She’ll crack my head open if I ask her.”