Chapter 21
When Eric woke up on the first day of his boss-imposed leave of absence, he didn’t know what to do with himself. He had been so used to the same routine of waking up and getting ready for work five days a week, and then hanging out with his folks and cousins on weekends. Now here he was on a weekday morning with nowhere to go to and no clue of what to do. Damn! Why did Gary have to be so nosy, by the way? He wasn’t complaining, was he? Besides, he wasn’t slacking on his job either, so why this sudden speed bump?
He shuffled to the window seat in his living room and sat there for a while, watching the traffic on the road below, and people going about their daily businesses. He thought about going out for a stroll, but he wasn’t sure if that might be a good idea. The community they lived in in Fairbanks was relatively small, so there was no way at least one person wouldn’t ask him why he wasn’t at work today, if he attempted to take a stroll around his block. Eric quenched the idea immediately, knowing that he didn’t have the energy to explain to every Tom, Dick and Harry that he was on a leave of absence from work.
But I can’t just sit here all day, he thought in frustration. He was beginning to feel restless, and he didn’t like it. He picked up his phone and began to scroll through his contact list. Maybe he could call Ryan and ask if it was ok for him to swing by his place in Chicago to spend a few days. Or he could go visit his old friend in Miami, who was always telling him to come visit whenever he could. Or…
A crazy thought occurred to him, but he dismissed it almost immediately. He’d have to be insane to think that he could just drop by at Aubrey’s store to see her and tender his long overdue apology. Madness!
Still…Ever since that night they made love at the Full Moon Feast, he’d had this unexplainable pull towards her. The erotic dream he had about her not too long ago didn’t help matters either. He wanted a chance to mend fences with her and explore this strange feeling he was having about her. No doubt, he was attracted to her, but this pull he was feeling was beyond physical attraction.
She’s your mate, remember? His mind reminded him. Being each other’s mate meant they were linked in every way possible. His mother called it a soul tie, and that description used to scare the shit out of him.
Eric sighed heavily. Why must his love life always be so complicated? The last time he fell in love, he was left with a shattered heart and now this! Fate just had to pick the most complex creature of all to be his mate. Why?
He dropped his phone on the window seat and padded back to his kitchen to make his second cup of coffee. He was going to sit down and brood while he drank it. Maybe the aromatic brew might give him some inspiration on what next to do with his chaotic life.