Page 27 of Emerald Moon (Pitch Mountain Pack #2)

Cass could be intense. It came with her sincerity.

These were things Jo liked, but maybe it was too much.

Or maybe Jo was being stupid. Maybe they were supposed to hear Cass say “I love you” and then kiss her again.

If this were a manga or a fanfic, that’s what would have happened.

They could have been making out against a wall right now.

Jo sighed and walked back into the venue.

June was right inside when they opened the door. Jo tried to slink away, but she excused herself from the conversation she was having and caught hold of them.

”Where’s your hot date?”

”She’s getting some air,” Jo replied, looking for their conversational exit so they could sit and mope somewhere.

”Well, I like her and I’m glad you brought her.” June smiled. “I just hope you’re happy and she treats you well.”

”She does.” It was easy to say because it was the truth. “She’s great.”

“And if mom’s saying some ugly stuff, don’t worry about it. Grandma said your date is a ‘handsome woman,’ so anything nasty mom has to say has been overruled.”

Despite themself, Jo puffed out a laugh. “Thanks. Grandma really said that?”

June nodded. “Cross my heart. She totally said it. Glad to know our entire family isn’t close-minded.”

”Sometimes people surprise you in good ways.”

”I’m just happy to see you happy.” June’s new husband waved to her from across the room, beckoning her over. “Come and find me again before you two leave for the night, okay?”

”Will do. Promise.”

As June walked away, Jo searched the room for a place to sit where they wouldn’t have to small talk with anyone. They ended up pulling a chair away from a table and dragging it to a nearby corner, feeling like a child facing punishment.

When Cass came back inside, she played the role of a doting girlfriend again just like before, but Jo’s stomach was in knots.

This was different. Cass meant it. She’d always meant it, but now they knew.

It changed how Jo saw the entire weekend.

The comfort and warmth evaporated and they were left confused, guilty, and angry at themselves.

Cass didn’t try to hold their hand again. Jo tried not to think about that too much.

“Are you happy stealing the attention from your sister with this little stunt?”

When they were feeling their worst was, of course, when their mother finally cornered them. They were alone, standing outside the bathroom and wondering what to say to Cass.

“I don’t know what you’re going on about.” Jo looked for the exit. Not only were they already not feeling their best today, but now they had everything with Cass, and this was the last thing they wanted to deal with.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about. People are whispering about you, Jolene. Your family.”

“Not everyone is bothered by it.”

“Well, they should be. You keep acting like you think you know what you want, but you have no idea. You never have. You just wander from one thing to the next without thinking about your future or the consequences of what you’ve done.”

Jo’s senses began to sharpen. The music became louder, voices clearer. They could smell everyone’s perfume at once. The hairs on the arm stood on end. Jo didn’t need this either. “I like my choices.”

“That makes one of us, then.”

Their wolf was crawling towards the surface.

Jo steadied their breathing and, through sheer spite and determination, managed to smother the feeling until it was a dull ache.

It took the last bit of energy Jo had. Their mother opened her mouth to speak, but Jo didn’t let her.

“If you never have anything nice to say, maybe stop talking to me at all.”

Jo stood up straight and squared their shoulders. Adrenaline pumped through their body. “I don’t like talking to you. Can you even remember the last time you weren’t criticizing me or pushing me to do something I don’t want to do, or accusing me of something stupid?”

“You know that’s not what I’m doing.”

“Yes it is! Every time. Don’t you remember how you used to be?

It wasn’t like this when dad was still alive!

” Jo had done it. They’d said aloud what all three of them thought but never voiced.

Their words hung in the air, echoing as they bounced around in Jo’s mind.

It hurt to say it. It was so much easier to just be angry at their mother than admit they were still hurting, too.

She stood there, lips parted, saying nothing.

Jo filled the tense silence. “You know I’m right.

Everything is different now. You’re different now.

Hell, I’m different than I was then, too, but at least I’m not trying to antagonize everyone every chance I get.

Just — you know what? I’m done. Don’t call me unless you want to have a real conversation. A nice one.”

”I say what I say because I care!”

”That’s not a great way to show it, mom.” Jo closed their eyes and heaved out a sigh. “I said I’m done and I meant it. Don’t call me until you’ve thought about who you want us to be to each other.”

Jo turned and walked away, heart pounding. They scanned the room for Cass, finding her just in time. They could feel tears stinging the back of their eyes. They weren’t sad. Just overwhelmed — and shocked that they could even say those things.

Weaving through the thinning crowd towards Cass, Jo could feel their resolve crumbling. They had to get out of here without melting down after what just happened.

They locked eyes and Jo stopped in front of her. “We need to go.” Hearing how harsh that sounded, Jo tried again. “I think now might be a good time to leave.”

“Is everything alright?”

“Yes and no. I just want to find my sister and get out of here.”

With Cass behind her, Jo found June saying good night and thank you to some extended family members Jo only vaguely recognized. They didn’t want to interrupt, but they kept looking around to make sure their mother wasn’t anywhere close.

It was hard to ignore how far Cass stayed behind them, too. It was a far cry from how they were at the start of the night. Jo wished, not for the first time, that they could just react to things like a normal person.

They made eye contact with their sister and she nodded her final good nights and made her way over.

Despite all the other emotions welling up inside of them, Jo felt love blooming in their chest, too.

They rushed forward and enveloped her in a tight hug, the lace of her bodice pressing against Jo’s arms.

She laughed and returned the gesture, wrapping her arms around Jo’s back. “Feeling sentimental?”

“Something like that,” Jo replied. “I’m just glad we’re both here, that you just got married, that some things are really, really good right now.”

“I’m glad you’re here, too.”

Jo kept their head tucked over her shoulder because it made everything easier to say when they weren’t looking her in the eyes. “I’m going to do a better job of keeping in touch. A text isn’t hard. I can text.”

“It’s a two-way street. I haven’t done great, either. A text is easy, though. You’re right.”

“I miss being close like we were. I know things aren’t ideal but —“

“I know. I miss it, too. Life marched on and we all did our best. We’re both doing our best. I know why you got away from all this and I don’t blame you, but I do miss you.”

Jo held her tighter before pulling away, wiping at their eyes. “I really enjoyed your wedding. You throw a good fancy party.”

She grinned. “Thanks. You clean up nice.”

“Even goblins can make it to the fancy party once in a while.”

“If you’re a goblin, then I’m a gremlin in a fancy dress.”

”You said it, not me, but I do agree.”

They both laughed and Jo felt years of a very specific kind of loneliness slipping away. “I promise I’ll text more.”

“Me, too. Promise.”

June glanced over towards Cass. “Don’t you be a stranger either!” She walked over and threw her arms around Cass’ shoulders. “Thank you for coming with Jo. Thanks for being there for them.”

“Of course. I’d do anything for them.”

Jo felt heavy at the words, the weight of their guilt pressing down on their shoulders. They knew it was true. Cass would do anything for them. And all Jo could do was hurt her.

She stepped back to give Cass some space. “That’s what I like to hear! Seriously, though, if they’re ever talking to me and you want to say hi, I’d be happy to talk more than we could tonight. I was busy with all the getting married and everything.”

The three of them said their good nights and Jo and June shared one final hug before the two of them were outside the ballroom in the quiet hallway.

“Thank you for everything — for coming with me, for being here, just thank you. And I’m sorry for making things weird. It’s an awful way to be grateful.” Jo dragged their feet as they walked back to their rooms.

”It’s fine. I made things weird, too.”

Jo wrung their hands together as they rocked on the balls of their feet.

This was their chance to talk about everything, but how could they when they weren’t even sure how they felt?

Still, they thought they owed Cass something.

“About what you said earlier? I’m sorry for how I reacted.

It was a really lovely thing to say.“ Jo inwardly cringed at their own words, but they couldn’t think of anything better.

“And I’m sorry I can’t say it back. It’s not a never. It’s a not right now.”

”I understand. You have nothing to apologize for. I can be a little intense. I know this about myself.”

”You’re sincere! That’s a good thing. You feel something and you go for it. Meanwhile I kiss you as some sort of test? I don’t know. Now I feel awful that I led you on.”

Cass didn’t say anything right away. Her lips were a thin, straight line across her face.

“I’m sorry. You deserve better than that.” Their voice cracked. The backs of their eyes stung with the threat of tears.

”I hope I’m not overstepping, but you look like you could use another hug.”