Page 46

“Why does everyone blame me?” Logan cried.
“Because you’re an idiot,” we all said at the same time, clearly used to saying this to him.
“You guys are all mean,” Logan said, crossing his arms over his chest like a five year old.
“Anyway, Tasha’s making food since Aunt Mabel’s on a trip around the world,” Elias said. “I’ll take you to see Mum.”
My heart was in my mouth the whole way to her room. I jumped when I heard a cough that sounded like it was coming from somewhere deep inside. Elias put an arm around my shoulder, trying to make me feel better.
I burst into tears when Elias opened the door, which made my heart break. My mum was lying in bed, looking at us a bit tiredly. Every blink felt like it took forever. Her skin was see-through and sweaty, even though the room was cold. Her dry lips turned up in a smile as she looked at us.
“Talia, my darling,” she said, her voice cracking. “Why are you crying? Come here and give me a hug.”
I went over to her and gave her a hug. Her arms were shaking as she lifted them slowly to go around her neck. “Mom, I’m so happy to see you.”
Luckily, she didn’t have any wounds on her face, because that would have upset me even more. I didn’t dare remove the blanket around her. If I had, I would have seen the gauze wrapped around the area she was shot.
“I missed you, my baby,” my mum said, smiling.
“Hey Auntie,” Logan said happily, coming over to give my mum a quick peck on the cheek.
“Oh, Logan, you’re so handsome,” my mum said, patting his cheek. “Thanks for looking after Talia.”
I rolled my eyes as Logan gave me a knowing look. “You’re welcome. Anything for my family.”
“Hey, did you manage to find a partner yet?” My mum asked, knowing about Logan’s quest to find his perfect partner.
“No,” Logan said darkly, before joking around. “I don’t think anyone could handle this much strength and hotness.”
“Better watch it, boy,” my mum laughed, tiredly. “Even if I’m weak, I could still take you down.”
“Why don’t we give Talia and my mum some time together?” Elias said, smiling at the two of us.
“So, how are you?” I asked when it was just my mum and I.
“I’m good, Talia.”
“Mom,” I said, as tears welled up in my eyes. “I’m sorry it wasn’t there. I feel like it’s my fault that you guys got attacked. I’m really sorry. You almost died because of me. I’m the one who’s caused all this.
“Nonsense, Talia,” my mum told me. “Stop blaming yourself for things you didn’t even do.”
“It’s true.”
“Give me proof that it is then.” When I didn’t say anything, my mum just kept talking. “Talia, you always blame yourself. You always end up tiring yourself out. It’s not your fault. Stop it. I got shot because I was protecting my kids, and I’d rather die than let them die.”
“I love you, Mum,” I said, as I lay next to her in her king-size bed.
“Stop crying,” my mum said. “How about you? Are you OK?
“I’m fine,” I said, not having a clue. Why would she ask that question when I was clearly healthy and unwounded?
“I heard about Kieran, honey,” my mum whispered.
My heart constricted and I started crying even more. It was hard to act like it was okay with me and my mum there. She would read the lie.
“I don’t even know,” I said before I could stop myself. “I was the one who broke up with him, but it wasn’t because I didn’t love him anymore! I broke up with him because I didn’t want him getting tangled up with my own problems for being a healer. It really hurts to know he loves someone else. It really hurts to know that he’s happy without me. It really hurts to know he’s kissing and hugging somebody else. I’m doing my best to act like everything’s fine, but it’s not easy.”
There was a bit of a pause, and then my mum said, “Oh, honey, I’m so sorry. Just remember one thing.”
“What is it?”
“Love is always going to find ways to kill people. That’s the test. It’s the test to see that two people will still love each other despite their challenges.”
While everyone else was busy doing something productive and fun, I was sat outside on the porch steps. I don’t usually indulge in self-pity, but I guess I was feeling a bit down on my luck. I was pretty annoyed with myself for being so weak and vulnerable, doubting everything in life and being such a pessimist.
I didn’t want to talk about Kieran, but it actually turned out to be a good thing. It made me realise that I wasn’t totally to blame for my heartbreak. It took my mum realising what everyone had been telling me for her to get that he didn’t have to get into a relationship just because I wanted a little break. We were like two peas in a pod!
I really missed him.
I really missed his warm hugs. I really missed our passionate kisses. I really missed his teasing and joking. I really missed snuggling up next to him. I missed the sparks that flew whenever we touched. I really missed his laugh. I missed his smirk, too. I didn’t know anything about him.
What happened to us?
That’s right.
I’ve ended it.
I couldn’t stop thinking about running my fingers through his hair, which he still had short. I wanted to stare into his blue eyes forever, knowing that nobody else in the entire universe would feel the way I did when I stared into them. I wanted to kiss his soft lips, thinking about how good it would feel to feel tingly all over my body in the next few milliseconds. He was an addiction, like my own drug – like my own coffee flavour and you all know how much I love coffee.
Oh well, I’m just a hopeless romantic at heart!
‘You just love him,’ my wolf teased me.
‘You have got to be kidding me. You really need to use that now? Seriously? Thanks for taking me back to the good old days,’ I said, remembering the first time Kieran told me he loved me. I should have felt bad, but I couldn’t help smiling.
‘He still loves you too,’ she whispered. My heart was beating really fast before I laughed at her. ‘You don’t believe me?’
‘He’s got a girlfriend and to think I was the hopeless romantic. You’re even worse.’
‘GROWL!’
‘You’re so girly. I mean, you could always just growl instead of saying it out loud, right? It’s like saying “OMG” instead of “oh my gosh”.
‘I’m telling you, he still loves you.’
‘OK, so that’s the day Paula Dean stops clogging her arteries with butter.’
‘You’re such a pessimist.’
‘And you’re a nosy gossip girl.’
‘Bitch.’
‘You’re the one that’s a female dog… literally.’
‘Can you just make up with him? I miss my big dog.’
‘Ew, that’s what you call Kieran’s wolf?’ I crinkled my nose and let out a sigh. ‘I miss him too. I swear, it’s like I could smell him right now.’
His manly scent wafted up my nose, causing my wolf to purr with delight. I took a big breath and took it all in. My eyes rolled back in contentment and I let out a soft moan.
“That’s my favourite sound of all time,” someone joked.
I jumped a foot in the air, and met amused clear ones with my eyes. He ran his hand through his dark hair and smiled at me. He was sitting next to me, looking at the dark forest in front of us.
I would have been angry that he approached me, but there was just something about the way he came on that made it clear he wasn’t looking for a fight. For the first time in fourteen months, I agreed with him. I was fed up with all this fuss.
Yeah, I just used Hullabaloo.
“You’re as cocky as ever,” I said, smiling slightly at the memories.