by Sara Summers
My first class started at 10, and I was there a few minutes early, like always. The first three classes flew by, and at 1:35, I was sitting in the study room my friends and I always met up in for lunch. Cameron was already there eating, and Phoebe and Eric would be close behind me.
I sat down and pulled out the sandwich I’d brought. Even though I wasn’t hungry, I’d force myself to eat for the sake of avoiding dizziness. My anxiety and depression teamed up to make me hate food more often than not, and my relapse definitely didn’t help with that.
“So you’re back with Rhett?” Cameron asked.
He was a nice guy, but he didn’t have much of a filter so I typically didn’t want to answer some of the questions he asked me.
“No, I’m not back with him. He’s sleeping on my couch to look after me and because he wants me back.”
Almost as soon as I said it, I regretted opening my mouth. Cameron would definitely take that the wrong way.
“I can do that, you know. You’ve always been there for me when I need you, it’s my turn to be there for you. If you don’t want to be with Rhett, kick him out. I can do it for you if you want.”
Phoebe met my gaze with a sympathetic grimace. She knew I wasn’t interested Cameron, but he just couldn’t seem to take no for an answer.
“It’s not that simple.” I said, not sure how I’d explain me and Rhett.
“I’m sure Kennedy’s there too, right?” Phoebe put in, trying to help me out.
“Right.” I agreed, thought that was a lie.
“So get rid of Rhett.” Cameron scowled. Yeah, he was definitely jealous.
“He’s her soulmate, man. You can’t just get rid of your soulmate.” Eric stepped in to help too. He was a lion shifter, so he understood the soulmate thing better than either of the other two. “They get under your skin. You can’t love anyone the way you love your soulmate, even if you don’t like them.”
And with that comment, his help had made things worse.
“Love is a choice. It’s not a disease, like addiction or AIDS. You choose who you love.” Cameron glared at Eric.
“Yeah, and I chose Rhett. Which is why I can’t just kick him out. I think I still love him, and he’s made it clear that he still loves me. I’m not going to kick him out until I’ve decided whether or not I want to be with him again.”
I meant the words to make it clear that I wasn’t open to dating anyone else because of Rhett. The way Cameron’s eyes lit up told me I’d only given him hope that there was a chance I wouldn’t want Rhett.
“Are we having a meeting tonight?” Phoebe checked, changing the subject. Thank goodness for her.
“Yep. Eight o’clock at the church.”
“Sweet.” Eric agreed.
We made small talk for the rest of lunch, and I tried to ignore the way Cameron stared at me like I was a mountain to climb or something. When it was time to go to my next class, I was actually relieved to go.
RHETT
Kina got home as I was stepping out of the shower. She took one look at me with a towel wrapped around my waist and mumbled an excuse before rushing out to the living room, slamming the bedroom door shut behind her.
Her apartment was only one bedroom, and since you had to go through her bedroom to get to the small bathroom that left me alone in her room. I walked out a few minutes later and found her throwing some pretzels in a Ziploc bag.
“Are you leaving?” my eyebrows lifted. “You just got back.”
“Well, I work in the afternoon.” Her shoulders lifted. “Sorry. I have a meeting tonight, so I’ll be home late. See ya.”
And with that, she rushed out the door.
I knew she kept busy thanks to my Kina-finder, but I’d hoped she would at least have thirty minutes or an hour to eat together or play a video game or something. I guess I should’ve realized she would be avoiding me if she could, since she wasn’t exactly on board with us getting back together.
With a sigh, I grabbed my wallet and keys and headed over to Zane and Isla’s place, where we always met up to sing.
“Hey, Rhett! Where’s Kina? Didn’t woo her back yet?” Isla chirped. She was rushing around the kitchen, baking some thing or another.
“Not quite.” I sat on one of the barstools.
“Well you already look way better. There’s light in your eyes that wasn’t there before the wedding.” She remarked, though she hadn’t stopped moving since Zane let me inside the house. Isla had so much energy, all of the time. Being her soulmate would’ve been exhausting.
She was a good friend, but I was sure glad Kina was mine rather than Isla.
“She likes cookies, right? I’m making these for her.” Isla gestured to the stand mixer, which was currently turned on and spinning. “They’re chocolate chip.”
“Snickerdoodles are her favorite, but she likes chocolate chip.”
My brothers walked in without knocking, the house filling with their chatter.
“We have a doorbell for a reason, Stetson.” Zane called out, walking from his office to the kitchen. His arms wrapped around Isla’s waist, and he planted a kiss on her cheek.
“We’re bringing Kina cookies later. I want to meet her; we’re going to be best friends.” Isla informed her soulmate.
“Sounds like a plan.” Zane tilted her chin so he could kiss her lips.
“Because you couldn’t win over Teresa?” Beck teased Isla, plopping down beside me. Isla made a face while Zane grimaced.
“She’ll come around.” Isla said, though she didn’t look hopeful.
“Wait, you’re going to go by tonight? Bad idea. Kina’s pretty messed up right now.” Stetson warned, sitting down on the other side of Beck.
“She’s not messed up, she’s just struggling a little. It happens.” I narrowed my eyes at him. If he went and told Isla about everything that had happened, I’d punch him. That was Kina’s story to tell, not Stetson’s.
“Well that sounds like even more of a reason to go tonight. Everyone needs a good girlfriend to talk to.” Isla shrugged, popping a chunk of cookie dough in her mouth.
All three of my brothers reached for the bowl, grabbing their own cookie dough bites, and Isla ignored them.
“So what’s she like?” She checked, looking to Stetson rather than me. She’d never known me when I was the talkative brother, or the fun-loving one. My brothers used to be tame compared to me when Kina and I had been together the first time, but I’d obviously changed.
Stetson glanced at me, and when he saw the threat in my eyes he shrugged.
“It’s been years since I’ve really known her. You’d have to ask our mom; I guess they’ve been close the whole time.”
“Kina’s stubborn. She was a foster kid, so she knows how to fight like you wouldn’t believe. Rhett picked her up from jail the other day because she punched a drug dealer, and the same dealer showed up and injected her with heroin so she’d get addicted again.” Beck offered. “When she was in high school, she used to punch anyone who looked at her funny, and there were a lot since Rhett found her when they were both still sixteen. No one meets their soulmate that young.”
I glared at him. Beck had always been a loud-mouth.
“Dang. She could probably kick my butt.” Isla made a face.
“Definitely.” Stetson agreed.
“Get this, though—“ Beck leaned toward Isla, and her eyes lit up when she smiled mischievously, leaning toward him. “She’s watched our videos with you, and she calls you Perky McPerk.”
He grinned, and Isla laughed.
“Wow, we’re definitely going to be best friends. It’s official.” She declared. “Alright, go do your thing. Leave me with my cookies.”
She brushed her hands off on the apron tied around her waist before shooing us toward the room she had set up for her videos. After she’d moved in she’d declared the other half ours, and insisted that we come by at least three times a week. Isla needed more human contact than almost anyone I’d ever met, and Z
ane seemed cool with that.
“Come on, guys. You heard the lady.” Stetson dragged Beck away from the cookie dough, and we all disappeared into the studio.
KINA
When I walked into my apartment at 9:30, Rhett was asleep on the couch. The PS4 remote was on his chest and the TV was still on, like he’d accidentally drifted off while playing a game.
I shut the door softly, stepping inside and letting out a slow breath of air. That man was going to be the death of me. He was so attractive, and so broken. I was tempted to lift his hand to my cotie so I could feel his emotions again to see if he was still in pain, but resisted.
I didn’t need anything else propelling me to get back with Rhett. My own mind and body were plenty.
So I just walked past him, hanging my purse on the hook and dropping my keys in the basket before heading into my room to take a bath. Of course, the bathroom reminded me of the flash I’d gotten of Rhett wearing nothing but a towel. Whew, that memory made me feel things I hadn’t felt in years.
I danced to quieter-than-usual music in my bathrobe while the tub filled, jamming out like my ex-soulmate-who-wasn’t-actually-an-ex wasn’t asleep with his entire muscley, sexy body draped over my couch. Yeah, that was an image I wouldn’t be getting out of my mind for a good long while. Not that I wanted it out of my mind, because hot dang, that man was attractive.
The tub was almost full when someone knocked on the front door. A curse word slipped through my lips, and I considered not bothering to answer it.
But then I remembered the hot dude sleeping on my couch. He hadn’t been sleeping well, so if he was managing a nap or going to bed early, I couldn’t let the door wake him up.
So I threw on a pair of spandex shorts I pulled off the floor and a loose sweater from the laundry hamper, not bothering with a bra. My boobs were tiny anyway; no one would notice.
Rushing across the apartment, I grabbed the doorknob just as the person started to knock again. Rhett’s hand closed over mine before I pulled the door open, and I jumped.
“It’s Isla and Zane. Put a bra on.” His sleepy voice tickled my neck, and I cursed my body for breaking out in goosebumps.
“They won’t notice.” I mumbled, turning back.
Rhett’s hand ran slowly over the curve of my waist.
“They’ll notice.”
I let out a noise somewhere between a huff and a sigh before heading back to my room. Rhett greeted the couple while I threw on a bra, along with a pair of leggings just for the sake of not letting Rhett rub those sexy hands of his along my bare legs. Heaven knows it was already better than good just having his hand on my hip.
When I walked back out to the living room, Isla’s eyes lit up. She was gorgeous; copper hair and bright eyes, her lips pulled up in what looked like a permanent smile.
“Hi! I’m Isla.” She beamed, crossing the room to throw her arms around me. I froze for a second before awkwardly hugging her back. The only person I ever hugged was Kennedy, and I definitely didn’t hug strangers.
“Kina.” I didn’t bother trying to force a smile.
“I brought cookies.” She let go of me, and I stepped up beside Rhett, hoping he’d protect me from any future hugs. He was biting back a grin, so I shot him a dirty look.
“Um, thanks.” I bit my lip, not sure what I was supposed to say. “Hi Zane.”
I’d actually been friends with Zane Fulton during mine and Rhett’s senior year of high school, so I wasn’t as uncomfortable with his presence.
“How have you been?” Zane smiled. He’d always been nice—much nicer than Rhett. Though I’d always preferred Rhett’s flat-out honesty and sarcasm to any other guy’s kindness.
“I’ve been worse.” My shoulders lifted, and I winced at the response. It didn’t exactly sound friendly. Not that being friendly had ever been my focus, but still. I didn’t want to come off as a jerk.
“Well, I’m excited to meet you. Beck was telling me about you earlier, and you sound pretty darn kick-A. I’m the churchy choir girl who cried in the bathroom after some jerk tried to touch my butt my sophomore year in high school, so we’re kind of opposites, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be best friends. I live like three minutes away from you, and I’m going to keep showing up here with desserts until you like me. Perky McPerk at your service.” Isla declared, doing a fake little curtsy.
Her admission had my lips twisting up in a wry smile.
“Sorry about the nickname…” I scratched my head, and then was grateful Rhett had forced me to put on a bra.
“Don’t be. I like it.” She grinned, and then took my arm. “Let’s go for a walk. I need a break from my hottie of a soulmate.”
And then she was dragging me out of the apartment.
I shot Rhett a death glare over my shoulder, but he was too busy grinning to intervene. What a douche.
“So, I know you probably feel awkward. Sorry. I’m kind of lonely out here in Mount Edge. I’m friends with some of the other human soulmates of the guys Zane grew up with, but they’ve been best friends for like forever, so I’m always on the outside. Do you know Quinn Burgandeau and Beth Ellison?” She checked.
I could sympathize with always being on the outside. In fact, it was all I knew. I’d been a foster kid from six to sixteen, which is about the definition of outsider, and then I’d moved to be soulmates with a shifter in a town where I was one of only three humans-turned-shifter for the first few months I was there.
Not to mention the fact that I’d been abandoned by said shifter soulmate and become a drug addict who attempted suicide and started running a little NA group. Being alone, being an outsider, was just about the definition of my life. I’d gotten used to it though, maybe even liked it.
“Rhett’s mom told me about Quinn.” I rubbed the back of my neck all stressy, not sure what I was supposed to say to Perky McPerk or what she’d find weird. “She’s fixing up and flipping houses in Mount Edge, right? I think Kennedy is going to hire her.”
“Yeah, she renovates houses. The Rorans work for her, putting in the physical labor and what not. Zane does too, but only part time since he’s drowning in schoolwork. Quinn is married to Cody Burgandeau, and Beth is with Callum Ellison. Did you go to school with them, since you were here when you were sixteen?”
“They were older than me and Rhett by a few years so they graduated before I got there, but I saw them around town. The Rorans are fairly close to the Ellisons and Burgandeaus, as you probably know. Kennedy has been friends with Cody and Callum’s moms since they were teenagers.”
“Really? That’s cool. I didn’t know that.”
“Zane’s mom, Marley, isn’t all that friendly so I’m not surprised she didn’t tell you.” I shrugged.
Isla seemed to slump a little.
“Are you okay?”
I didn’t know her, but I felt bad that she was sad or whatever.
“Oh, I’m fine. But yeah, Marley isn’t that friendly. Teresa, Zane’s sister, hates me. She thinks I’m annoying. I like being perky and positive, but I didn’t expect his mom and sister to be bothered by my happiness, you know?” She sighed. “It’s pretty lonely.”
My heart swelled. I definitely knew what she meant, though my problem had never been being annoying for my happiness.
“Hey, they could come around. When Rhett first found me, his brothers avoided me—all seven of them. Because I was a girl, and they didn’t really know what to do with a girl. Now I’m part of the family, even after three years away. It just takes time. You’ve only known Zane for what, two months?”
Isla nodded, seeming a little perkier with my words.
“I guess that’s true. Thanks, Kina.”
I shrugged, back to awkward. What do you say when someone thanks you for empathizing with them?
On second thought, thank you would have sufficed, but I didn’t think of that in the moment.
“Would you want to go to lunch with me and Quinn and Beth tomorrow?” Isla checked. “I always
feel like a third wheel with them. At least if you’re there, we’ll have four wheels.”
I bit back a grin, even though accepting was the last thing I wanted to do.
“Sure.” I nodded. Why was I agreeing? I had no idea. But Isla was more real than she’d seemed in her videos. She was plenty perky, but there was more to her than that. “I have a class at one tomorrow though, so we’d have to be done by then.”
“No problem.” Isla brushed that off, her grip tightening on my arm. “What are you studying, in school?”
“I want to be a social worker.” I admitted. “I was a foster kid, as Rhett’s brothers probably told you. Mine were alright, but maybe if they’d asked the right questions I wouldn’t have had to go through a lot of the crap I experienced. It doesn’t pay much, but I can make a difference that way. I want to make sure the foster homes are safe.”
“Dang, girl. All I do is sing. You’re awesome.” Isla complained, making me laugh.
“Music is important. There have been times in my life when music was all I had, and it made me feel less alone. Music makes lives better too.”
“You’re sure good for my ego, Kina.” Isla teased, her eyes light and happy.
“Sure. I’m like the Droopy McDroop to your Perky McPerk.” I rolled my eyes, though my lips were tilted up in a smile.
“You’re more like the Realy McReal to my Perky McPerk.” She countered. “I’m all dramatic and you’re just like, realistic and full of experience. You and Rhett are perfect for each other, since he’s all dark and twisty and you’re all wise and calling things how you see them.”
My smile morphed to a grimace.
“Sorry, guess it’s too soon to bring him up.” Isla rushed to apologize, and the guilt was practically coming off her in waves.
“It’s fine. I just… I’ve been going to therapy twice a week almost since Rhett left me, and I never thought he might be hurting so much. Kennedy said he was fine, and to me that meant he was happy and fine with everything, like it hadn’t happened at all. I never imagined he’d go all dark and twisty. He didn’t used to be like that, not even a little. It kind of scares me.”