Page 64 of Mated To My Boss

I enter the house, leaving the door open. No one’s in the living room, but Graham quickly resurfaces with his laptop.

The husky man sets the laptop on the table. “Thankfully, this isn't about hunters or anything; it's actual work. We need to—whoa, you look nice. Did you go out on a date or something?”

I shoot Graham a guilty face and see his narrowed eyes grow. “I just went out with Madeline.”

“Oh shit,” Graham says. “Now I know something bad must've happened for you to end up on my doorstep after a date.” He pats the seat next to him, waiting for me to take it. “What's wrong?”

Graham closes the laptop, a gesture I appreciate because it means he's ready to listen. The problem here is I'm not sure I'm ready to talk. Graham doesn't rush me though, allowing me to take my time.

“I shouldn't have done it. I shouldn't have taken her on that date and I shouldn't have tried to be nice to her, even though I knew where it would lead.”

Graham lets out a short breath while I sink back, miserable. His living room feels like the sort of place a therapist would tell you to relax in and talk.

Usually, it's the other way around with Graham coming to me with his problems. This time, I'm the one asking for advice and I don't like how it feels at all.

“I'm guessing she's pretty upset with you right now.”

“Yes,” I groan. “I don't think that's going to change any time soon. Man, this is rough.”

That’s why I ran away from my old pack. That was easier, though. I wasn't as deep into knowing people and her back then. It feels like I've built the perfect community, and I can't even imagine leaving my home and job again because of this.

“What were you saying about Grant?” I ask.

Graham frowns deeply. “Don't try to change the subject. We're going to talk about you and what's going on in your life. Whatever Grant sent can be addressed at the office.”

“Fine,” I sigh.

“So, what happens now?”

“I don't know,” I respond as honestly as I can. “My feelings about this haven't changed. I think fate didn’t pair us as well as it should have, and if I keep going this way, I'm afraid I'll end up hurting her. I might stay neutral and not talk to her much until she leaves. It's only one summer, so she'll be gone eventually.”

“Is that really what you want?” Graham questions.

“No,” I quickly confess. “I don't want her to leave. She's my mate; of course I don't want her to leave.”

“Sadly, you can't have your cake and eat it too. I'm sorry, but short of you two deciding to be together, there may be no amicable way of solving this.”

I look up at the ceiling, wondering why it doesn't just fall down on me. That would help relieve my misery. “This is exactly what it was from the start. Yet, it came back to find me.”

Graham sighs. “I may be biased here, but you know how much I always want love to pull through. I want that for you, too. Behonest with me, is there any chance that both of you can find a way to be together?”

The question floats through the air aimlessly. I turn to Graham, staring him right in the eye. “I'm going home.”

Graham is disappointed that I'm not answering, but he does nothing to stop me.

“I hope you actually find a way to fall asleep. I doubt it though.”

Chapter 24

MADELINE

When my alarm rings it's the worst sound I've ever heard. I almost throw the phone across the room to silence it. That's not a good sign for a day when I've chosen to do nothing but relax.

I curl up in bed, unable to sleep or get up. My body refuses to obey, leaving me to wallow in my thoughts. I assumed I'd feel better after a week or two, but nothing has changed.

Seeing Nate every day feels like a dagger plunged into my chest. The sad thing is I don't die from it, so the pain just keeps coming."Fuck this, I'm going to do something fun."

I know enough about myself to recognize that isolation will only make things worse.

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