Chapter 52 Chapter 52

Chapter 52 Chapter 52
Misty

Yesterday the cameras showed up at Carter’s house late in the day. They would put them up tonight.

Adelaide had texted me.

Adelaide: He kissed me in front of the guys at work

I smiled reading the text. I had wanted this for my friend for a long time. It was sad she had gone through so much in order to find someone that gave her butterflies and giddiness. She was battling a nasty case of PTSD, and not trusting things fully, but I was so proud of her for opening herself up like this, despite everything. I suppose the mate bond had something to do with it. In this case I was thankful for it, she seemed to be on the right road to healing. Beck nudged me with his knee as he sat beside me on the couch that morning as we both sipped coffee.

“What’s she saying that's got you all smiling and shit?” he asked

“I think she’s most definitely in love,” I let him know.

He leaned back and made a contented sound as he stared off for a long moment, as if he were reliving a memory. By now I could tell when his mind was processing the past. The man had been alone for years and not come to terms with his wounds I had come to realize. I took a sip of my coffee letting him have his moment.

“It’s a good sign, Carter is giving her enough space to deal with things while still nurturing the bond without overstepping. Eventually he is going to have to break it all to her though. That’s going to be a hard conversation,” he admitted.

I just nodded in agreement as Cricket bounded out of her room ready for the bus. 

The three of us made our way downstairs and crossed the street to the bus stop, adults with coffee still in hand, my free one holding onto Cricket’s. Beck took his spot leaning against a flowering tree whose roots buckled the concrete in spots.

“So, I think we are going to call your Auntie tonight, I have to walk her through some things, but I think she is well enough to talk to you now.”

“Really!” Cricket practically yelled. Her excitement was infectious, but at the same time the underlining situation cut that joy for her off before it could swell the way it normally did. Cricket didn’t know what her favorite person had been through and I think Adelaide wanted it to remain that way.

“Yeah, she is staying with Mr. Carter, so mind your manners though,” I told her. Cricket’s mouth often refused a filter.

“I bet he's handsome and he's going to marry her, Auntie Ads is definitely wife material,” Cricket mushed as a bus pulled up.

I chuckled as she gave me a quick goodbye hug and rushed off to get on the bus. However, a dull sting hit me in a way I couldn’t explain. Jealousy. I’d never find that. The emotion was fleeting across my mind, rationalized that Adelaide deserved it. I really wanted it for her, it was just hard to know I'd never have that for myself. The green monster wasn’t bitter or conniving, just sad. Knowing that my circumstances would never afford me what my friend had miraculously found, despite her circumstances. I was happy for her, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t mourn all the things I would never have.

I went to walk away but Beck's large hand caught my shoulder and I looked back over it at him. Empathy was the only thing staring back at him, he knew this feeling all too well. He read it all over my fucking face.