Pick Me Up At Five
**March 2004**
Ian
I’vebeenbackinBlue Moon territory for five days now. Kate has been here for three days. I haven’t run into her yet. I’m sure she’s avoiding me. Avoiding someone in our territory isn’t hard since the lands are vast. I heard her dad announce to patrols that she was going for a run yesterday and Kelsey said he snuck up and tackled her to the ground. I wish I had the nerve to go out and run with her.I can’t believe how nervous I am around her.Maybe if our wolves could connect, she’d forgive me.
During our lifting session in the gym, I explained to Zane and Kelsey what happened back in New York. And how she cried after frat boy when he caught us and ran off. That’s the part that baffles me. She doesn’t seem like she’s in love with him. Why cry for him?
“Bro,” Zane laughs, “always lock the fucking door. Basics of not getting caught.”
“Yeah, who are you trying not to get caught by these days?” Kelsey laughs and points at Zane.
“Twin girls who know how to turn a doorknob.” Zane laughs and throws us each a bottle of water.
“I think it was the fact that she got caught, period. In an instant, she became what she hated in you the most… the cheater.” Kelsey explains.
“You think?” I look away with a confused expression.
“Yeah, I do. She still feels the bond, and she is still in love with you. Everyone can see that. Bro, she just doesn’t want to get hurt again.” Kelsey takes a huge gulp of water.
Could he be right? She’s more upset that she became the cheater, making someone else feel as bad as she did? As far as hurting her, it’s the last thing I want to do.
“When the hell did you get so insightful?” I grin.
“Bro, I’ve been a mated man for a year now. That shit matures you fast. Well, it matures some of us.” He tosses his empty water bottle at me.
Coming out of the weight room headed to the outdoor sparing ring, I catch a familiar sweet floral scent.Kate.I look around and finally spot her on a treadmill, unfortunately she sees me too. I’m sure she picked up my scent when I entered the room. She stops the machine, quickly jumping off and heads for the door. Trying to catch up with her, I pick up my pace. A couple of warriors attempt to stop me for a chat, causing me to lose sight of her for a moment. I maneuver around the warriors and through the crowd before catching a glimpse of her outside. She’s already fifty yards from the gym, walking fast and with a purpose.To lose me, I’m sure.I run to catch up, jumping in front of her with my hands out.
“Please, Kate. Please stop and talk to me.” I beg.
“Ian… I don’t…” I interrupt her.
“Wait, let me go first. Things went down in New York and I’m sorry. I never meant for frat… Darren to get hurt. I wasn’t thinking about anyone else’s feelings, just hell bent on making you feel the bond that we somehow still share. Kate, I’ve had a thing for you since I was sixteen, and loved you since I was eighteen. Truth is, I’m still madly in love with you. I can’t imagine the pain and trauma I put you through. I know it must have been unbearable. Three months ago, I started having heartburn occasionally. It would come and go. I knew it was because of you getting close and kissing someone else. Ifyoukissing someone else after I had fractured our bond caused me discomfort, I can only imagine the genuine pain you felt with a fully intact bond.” I slip my hands at the base of her head, “I’m sorry for hurting you with my lying and cheating ways. I’m begging you for another chance… please, just one more chance to prove to you I’m changed and worthy of your love. Let me show you I can be the mate that you deserve.” I press my lips into hers. Tears fill her eyes, but she doesn’t speak. “Go on a picnic this evening with me, please.”
“You don’t deserve another chance.” Kate speaks through tears that roll down her face.
“I know I don’t, but I’m asking, anyway. Please.” I pull her hands to my chest. She stands still and quiet, contemplating her choices. If she doesn’t agree, she’ll leave me no choice but to resort to more barbaric tactics. Which is something I don’t want. I want her to give me a chance of her own free will.
“Ok,” she whispers, with her head bowed down.
“Ok, you’ll give me another chance or ok you’ll go on a picnic with me?” I smile, bending down to look into her eyes.
“Yes,” she snaps her head up and looks me in the eyes, “pick me up at five.” Without warning, she walks away.
Watching her walk away; I play it cool, in case she looks back. But on the inside, my wolf and I are jumping around. Finally, after all this time, I will have a chance at winning back my Kate. Let’s just hope I don’t royally fuck it up… again. After she’s about thirty yards from me, I can’t contain my excitement any longer. I jump up and shout YES!
Kate
I’m not too sure why I agreed to go on a picnic with him, much less give him another chance.Yet again.What number chance is this? Who knows, I lost track of them. I meant what I said about him not deserving another chance… he doesn’t. I walk back to my parents’ house in a zombie like daze.What just happened?I knew that there was a high possibility I could run into him at the gym. It’s right next to the training grounds. By looking at his broad chest and rock-hard abs, I’d say he pretty much lives at the gym and training grounds. I needed the workout today to quiet my mind, and I know avoiding him forever is impossible.
I replay our conversation over and over in my mind, analyzing every word he said, looking for the lie. There didn’t seem to be one. It was weird, because the man who was speaking to me today was not the same man that I rejected all those years ago. There was something in his voice, something sincere. Even Sasha thought so. He did something I thought he’d never do… he apologized for cheating on me, he never apologized in the past… not once. He simply did the same shit he did in New York and relied on the mate bond to pull me back to him.Did he really change?I walk into the backdoor of my parents’ house; the sweet smell of freshly baked cake fills the air. I follow the delicious smell straight to the kitchen. My mom is mixing something and has her back to me, and on the kitchen island there are at least five dozen cupcakes. I lean down and take a huge whiff of them, and my stomach lets out a roar.
“Hey sweetheart, help yourself. There’s plenty there.” Mom says with her back still to me. I grab two cupcakes and sit at the table, ready to dive in.
“They’re individual pineapple upside down cakes,” mom says over her shoulder. “Nancy requested I make my famous pineapple upside down cake for bunco night, and I thought it’d be fun to have individual sized ones.” Mom continues with her mixing.
“Why so many?” I say through a mouthful of cupcake.