Chapter 88

Chapter 88

She had just closed from work when Max texted her to remind her they were at his Mom’s place together with her parents. She had almost forgotten they were having dinner at Shannon’s place tonight.
 
Sarah offered to drop her off at the house and she couldn’t be any less happier about it. She has never used a cab before and she doesn’t even know how to. It scares her to just jump into a stranger’s car and trust them to take actually take you where you want to go.
 
“So how did things go with Aaron earlier? I didn’t see him after he asked me to cover up for you.” They were in her car, already on the way to Shannon’s house.
 
Aaron’s subject was the last thing she wanted to speak of but she knew what she was getting herself into when she accepted Sarah’s aid. “Just set things straight and told him we don’t fit together…”
 
“We don’t fit together? Seriously? You told him that?”
 
No one would convince Elise that Sarah wasn’t working for him on this. If not that, why was she raising her voice over nothing?
 
“You’re overreacting on this, don’t you think?” Elise spoke, glancing at her. Sarah took a glimpse at her and shook her head.
 
“It’s your choice honestly. But I wanted you guys to work because you’d make such a cute couple.” She ends her sentence with a dreamy sigh and it made Elise to feign a gag. Sarah smacked her lips and chuckled. “You are something else, Elise.”
 
“Speaking of cute couple. How come I never hear you speak of your own lover?” She asked, changing the matter to Sarah.
 
Sarah shoulder-shrugs as she pressed her lips together. They were in a traffic so, it gave Sarah the chance to breathe a little. “I have a boyfriend,” she claimed, avoiding Elise’s penetrating look.
 
“Really? What’s his name and how come you’ve never spoken about him? How come I’ve never seen him call you or visit you at the coffee shop?”
 
Sarah waves it off as though it was nothing. “He’s… military… he’s a navy officer…”
 
“Sarah,” Elise called out sternly, raising an eyebrow up. There was something devious about her speech and Elise was about to find out.
 
“Okay, fine… I don’t have a boyfriend. I haven’t had one since I was seventeen.” They were now on a free road, just five minutes until they reach Shannon’s place. It meant Elise has to ask everything in under five minutes.
 
“What happened?” She asked. Sarah was three years older than her. So, she hasn’t been in a relationship in four years.
 
“I trusted him and he cheated on me… with my favourite cousin. He was my first and only boyfriend. I haven’t been able to trust man since then.”
 
Elise stares at her in incredulity and sympathy. She couldn’t imagine the kind of pain and misery Sarah went through just to find out her lover was fooling around with her cousin whom she may have trusts.
 
“I’m over him anyways. I actually forget he exists, you know? I’m stronger and better now. Just waiting for the right guy to lift me off my feet.” Her grin makes Elise to heave a sigh of relieve. It meant Sarah really meant it when she said she had moved on. She falls back in her seat just as they arrive at the address she had given her.
 
“Enjoy your dinner. I have to head home right now and deal with some… stuff.” She smiled at her and squeezed her shoulder lightly. Elise thanked her before climbing out of the car and heading toward the entrance.
 
She was already drained up but she managed to pull up another smile as she walked into the house. They were already seated at the dining hall, waiting for her.
 
“Hey,” she said, waving at them. “Hope, I didn’t miss anything.” She settled down beside Max. She looks at him and noticed how drained and uneasy he looks. She knew it wasn’t from work—it has to do with what she had missed.
 
“You actually missed a lot,” Xava answered her, chuckling nervously.
 
“We just made a big announcement,” Max’s mother, Shannon spoke enthusiastically as she clasps her hands together.
 
She looks at Max again but he wasn’t looking at her. His head was ducked as he massaged his the back of his neck. His jaw seemed tensed because he was crushing his teeth together to avoid making a scene.
 
“Max, would you like to do the honours?” Shannon asked and he slowly raised his head to look at his mother. The look on his face scares her but she clears her throat and avert her gaze to Elise.
 
“We’ve decided to have our wedding back home—Halibut Cove, Alaska. In Scuris Pack.” She was holding Jim’s hand when she broke the news to Elise.
 
Elise jerked her head back as she blinked severally. “Wed… wedding? You’re getting married?”
 
“Isn’t that the point of the ring he gave me? Anyways. The wedding is in three months.”
 
“Three months?” She repeated immediately, turning her head towards Max. No wonder he appears pissed tonight. She was sure he wouldn’t be able to eat his dinner.
 
“Isn’t it just lovely? Congratulations to you two.” Xava cooed, holding Shannon’s hand.
 
Elise cleared her throat and nodded. “Yeah… congratulations.”
 
Elise had one thing bothering her but she can’t just open her mouth and blurt it out.
 
Does Jim know Shannon is a werewolf? Does he even know he’s sitting on a table filled with werewolves?