Chapter 255

Judy’s POV

I sat motionless as I stared at Gavin and Rachel in the archway of the parlor. Matt also tensed from beside me, though his eyes were fixed on his books in front of him, and not on the pair of them. My eyes never left Gavin’s, and his eyes seemed to be glued to mine as well, though I couldn’t decipher the emotion lingering in them.

Without taking his eyes off me, Gavin asked, “Why were you looking for me?”

Rachel held herself closer to him, clinging to his arm like it was her lifeline.

“I wanted to ask your opinion on a few outfit choices for the charity banquet on Sunday,” practically purred. “I want to dress to impress after all. It’s not often you get asked to be the date of Gavin Landry to an important event like that.”

My heart clenched in my chest as I stared at him. His face was indifferent, and his body was tense as he listened to what she said.

As if just noticing me in the room, Rachel’s eyes flickered to mine, and she smiled.

“Oh, hi Judy. I didn’t see you there,” she said. “You seem hard at work. Don’t let us disturb you.”

Rachel tugged on Gavin’s arm; he stood firm for a moment, his eyes still on me, and I wasn’t sure why he was staring at me like that. But then, almost reluctantly, Gavin turned and left with her.

I stared at the open archway that Gavin once stood in, my heart feeling almost empty and my hands trembling uncontrollably.

“Is my dad going to marry Miss Rachel?” Matt suddenly asked, finally lifting his gaze from the book to meet mine.

I felt my face pale at his question, and I met his eyes.

“Why do you ask?” I asked him, my voice coming out strained.

“Because Rachel told me she was going to be my new mom,” Matt said, a grimace on his face. “But I don’t want her to be my mom… I don’t really like her. She’s different…”

“Different how?” I asked, raising my brows.

“I can’t explain it,” he murmured. “I just have a weird feeling about her. I really don’t want her to be my mom.”

My chest tightened from his admittance, and I found myself pulling him into my arms.

“Your dad will do what’s best for you and Irene,” I told him softly. “He won’t make her into your mother without speaking to you about it first. He’s a fair man.”

As I spoke those words, I knew they were the truth. Gavin was a fair man and would always include his children in his decision-making, especially when it affected them to this extreme.

“Speaking of Irene, how is she?” Matt asked. “I haven’t seen her for almost a month.”

Matt’s wolf had finally calmed down at the mention of Irene, but Gavin still thought it would be best if they stayed separate for right now.

During our training sessions, I had also been training with Matt’s wolf. Matt mentioned that Gavin had also been training with him, so things were definitely better for him, considering he’s the youngest person in history to shift.

“She’s doing good,” I tell him. “She misses you.”

“Do you think she’ll ever be allowed home again?” He asked. “The more I think about it, the more I don’t think she’s a bad person. What she did was pretty bad… but I think in her head it was justified. I don’t think she really meant to hurt me.”

“That’s really big of you, Matthew. I’m so proud of you for coming up with that conclusion on your own,” I told him, giving him a gentle squeeze. “I think a little bit more space will do you both some good for right now. Plus, your father is actively trying to find a couple to adopt Emalyn, and until then, Irene has a responsibility. It’s better if she stays there for right now.”

He nodded like he understood, though he still looked a bit conflicted.

“I wish you could just marry my dad,” he finally said, his voice almost vulnerable. “You’d be a much better mom…”

I pressed my lips together, trying hard not to cry. I wanted to tell him, “Me too,” but the words died on my lips. Instead, I gave him another squeeze and then a pat on the back.

“Let’s get back to work,” I tell him.

He reluctantly agreed.

We spent the next few hours studying and then going over combat and defense techniques. I hadn’t seen or heard from Gavin the rest of the time, but just as I approached Beta Taylor’s waiting car, a hand stopped the car door from opening. I quickly turned to see Gavin standing only inches from me, his gaze penetrating through me.

“We need to talk.”

I hadn’t realized I stopped breathing until his hand was wrapping around my wrist and he was pulling me away from the car. My legs felt like complete Jello as I followed after him, my heart racing at lightning speed in my chest.

I wasn’t sure where he was taking me, but it wasn’t inside. We wandered around the villa exterior and then suddenly he stopped, turning to look at me, his eyes dark and soul searching, leaving me paralyzed as I looked back at him.

“Tell me what happened the other night,” he said, his eyes narrowed as he studied me.

My face paled.

“What?” I asked him.

He stepped closer to me, his body only inches from mine, and made my heart beat even faster.

“Don’t play stupid with me, Judy. The Grand Casino Hotel… tell me what happened there.”

I studied him for a moment; he was so out of it that night that there was no way he would remember anything happening. Even so, it wasn’t me he wanted there with him… it was Rachel. It was Rachel he thought he was kissing.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I told him, my voice coming out almost hollow.

He scowled at me, walked towards me and I took a step back, trying to gain some distance between us, until my back was pressed against the building and there was literally nowhere for me to go. He put his hands on either side of me, resting them on them on the building.

“Then why the fuck did I taste you on my lips?” He asked me. “Why do I remember the way you moaned my name? Why do I remember your warm breath on my skin?” His tone deepened with each question he asked, his lips growing nearer to my skin, making me tremble from his scrutiny.

My breathing was harsh as I tried hard not to look at him, but he made it impossible by how close he was.

“I don’t know…” I whisper. “Maybe you were dreaming…”

“Bullshit,” he said through his teeth.

“You don’t think I know when I’ve had a taste of you,” he whispered, his tone almost vulnerable, pulling me towards him.

I finally met his eyes, my heart breaking as I did.

Would he choose me if I told him that I was there that night?

Or would he reject me and go back to her?

I couldn’t bear the thought of him rejecting me and going back to her… I couldn’t look him in the eyes while he told me he didn’t want me. I bit my lower lip, trying hard not to shed any tears.

“It was Rachel,” I told him. “The bartender called me, so I was there that night. I helped you to your room, but Rachel intercepted and brought you the rest of the way. We said our goodbyes, and then I went home. That’s all there was to it.”

I hated lying to him, but I couldn’t face the disappointment that would be evident in his eyes if I told him it was me and not Rachel. I knew where his heart was, and it wasn’t with me.

He stared at me for a long time, trying to gauge my expression to find out if I was telling the truth. He stepped away from me, finally gaining some distance. I finally felt like I could breathe again.

I watched him as he ran his fingers through his hair, the confusion and conflict clear on his face as he processed this new information.

After a moment of heated silence, he turned away and walked around the corner, leaving me alone with my thoughts and rapid beating heart.

It took a while for me to move from my spot. Instead of going home, I had Taylor drop me off at the mansion. It’s been a while since I saw Irene and the baby, and I could use a distraction.

Irene was in the living room, feeding the baby, when I arrived. She looked pleased to see me.

“Oh, good. I was going to call you today,” she told me as I sat down on one of the couches.

“Why?” I asked in return.

“Because there’s a charity event happening on Sunday and I’m expected to go,” she told me. “Since I don’t have a plus one… and I really don’t want to go alone… I was kind of hoping that maybe you’d come with me??”