Page 2 of Her Former Bear Mate

The doorbell went again which meant Poppy dashed off, leaving Lena to fend for herself.Not that she minded.She sipped her apple juice, watched some drunk people dance, and made short but polite conversation with the few friends she knew.It was actually a perfectly pleasant afternoon until she saw a flash of long dark hair.

Her stomach screwed itself tight right away and only lessened when she got a better look at the dark-haired woman.

Not Aditi.

Lena relaxed only slightly because despite her relief and her pounding heart, she was secretly also disappointed.She shouldn't be, they broke up for very good reasons, but it seemed like Lena wasn't quite ready to accept that it was over.There was still quiet yearning for what used to be, for the familiar comfort that was Aditi.

Desperate for some fresh air, she went out through the kitchen into the very, very small backyard.It was so small, there was just enough space for two chairs, a little table, and a handful of smokers.

Lena really wanted a cigarette herself but unlike the rubbish in her car, this wasn't a bad habit she wanted to pick back up.It had been hard enough to quit, she didn't want to go through it again.

"As I live and breathe, if it isn't Lena!"an excited voice called."She's alive!"

Lena didn't have to turn around to know who that voice belonged to, there was only one of her friends who rivalled Poppy in dramatics.

"Alix.It's been a while," Lena said, a bit embarrassed when she thought of all the invitations to hang out she'd declined.It wasn't that she didn't want to see Alix but Alix had always been Aditi's friend first, Lena hadn't been sure if their friendship would survive the break-up.

From the warm hug that Alix gave her, it seemed so.

"You are a hard woman to get a hold of," Alix said affectionately."Let me have a good look at you."

"What are you, my mother?"Lena joked.

"If I were, you’d have some explaining to do, young lady!I've not seen you in months."

Lena grimaced."Sorry."

"You better not be skipping out on my birthday party.I know you saw my message about it."

"Umm..."Lena wanted to ask if Aditi was going to be there but it was a useless question.Of course, Aditi was going to be there.Those two were practically sisters.

"You won't have to talk to Aditi.There'll be enough people."Alix gave her her biggest begging eyes."Please, please, please, please, please?—"

"All right, all right.I'll be there," Lena conceded.Even if she wasn't a social butterfly, she did value the few friends she had.It had been a bit frustrating that most of them were mutual friends but maybe it was time to get over that.So what if her ex was also going to be there?They were grown-ups, they could spend an evening socialising in each other's vicinity without it turning into a big drama or meltdown.

Alix' face lit up."Great!I'll hold you to that."

"When is it?"

"Don't know yet!I'm still deciding on the venue."

"Venue?You're being fancy."

"I only turn twenty-four once.This is my last year being in my early-twenties.Next year, I'll be a quarter of a century.I'm not ready to be that old!"

Lena couldn't help but chuckle.She didn't really understand her friend's fascination with her birthdays or turning older but she wasn't going to rain on her parade.Different things were important for different people, something that had become very apparent towards the end of her relationship.

The tightness in her stomach only got worse.

“So, how’ve you been?”Lena asked, a desperate attempt at conversation.

“Not too bad.Busy with all of Trixie’s homework and school stuff.She has so many hobbies and of course, I have to drive her.”Alix rubbed her forehead.“You?”

“Busy, too,” Lena said.It wasn’t even a lie, shehadbeen busy with work.Not so busy that she couldn’t have made time for friends but it was what it was.

Alix nodded.“And how are you, you know, regarding the breakup?”

“Fine,” Lena said.Even she could hear the lie in her own voice.“I’m totally fine.”

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