Page 55 of Sweet Tooth

“Maybe, but if I do, it’d be for accounting.I already have the creative side of baking figured out, but when it comes to numbers and finances, I could always do better.”

“So you are thinking of baking.”

“I am, but we’ll see how confident I am once I get home. I don’t have much time to sign up. There’s a good chance I’ve missed the window completely. But regardless of what happens, I plan to put myself first this winter.”

“Good,” I said as we continued through the woods. “Because I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

 

* * *

 

Seeing Kate off was bittersweet. Even though she’d promised to call once she got in, a part of me feared she wouldn’t. People make empty promises all the time, so until I heard from her, there was nothing I could do but wait.

Hanging around town made me restless. Trying to hide in the woods by Nora’s house annoyed my wolf. The only thing left to do was to go home, but at what cost?

My father’s words played in the back of my mind, reminding me I wasn’t welcome. I’d upset him, and with good reason, but did he actually mean what he’d said? Was I really supposed to do all of this on my own?

My paranoia worsened as soon as I turned down our street. My father’s truck was in the driveway, as was my mother’s car.

I probably should’ve called, but seeing as I was already here, I walked up the sidewalk and knocked on the door. Any other time, I would’ve walked in and gone up to my room. But not now. Not with how things were.

Someone moved on the other side of the living room window, their silhouette barely visible behind the blinds.This was a bad idea,I thought, ready to leave.

On the eve of the full moon, the entire house was on edge. If I upset my father now–

Heavy footfalls came from the other side of the door. Seconds later, it opened.

“Liv?” my mother’s voice was softer than I remembered. “Oh honey, you’re shaking. Get in here.”

I shuddered, then hugged my arms around myself and searched the front yard. “Is Dad around?” My voice was tight, my throat raw with unshed tears.

“Here,” my mother urged while holding the door open for me. “Come inside. It’s okay. We aren’t upset.”

We?

My father had told the others.

“I…” My voice broke as tears bit at the backs of my eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean–”

My mother threw her arms around me, but it wasn’t enough to muffle the sobs coming from my lips. “What? You think you’re the first wolf to go against her parents?”

“You mean you aren’t mad with me?” I choked back another sob, then blinked up at her.

“Not me, no. Your father might be rough around the edges, but he’ll come around.” Which could’ve meant any number of things.

“Do you know where he is?”

“Upstairs getting ready. He’s a little cranky, so be careful.”

With a nod, I hugged my mom, then headed up toward my room. However, instead of hiding away like I usually did, I walked to my parents’ room at the end of the hall and knocked on the door which was ajar.

“Dad?” my voice sounded way too small for my liking. “Can we talk?”

“Later.” He turned his back toward me, his eyes fixed on the shrubs beneath their bedroom window. “I need to get ready.”

“The moon isn’t going anywhere.”

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