Stop this, Sophie. You will be fine. We’ve been through this before, we’ll get through it again.

Deciding I need to loosen up, I get up to walk around the room. One whole wall is windows. It must face the back of his property because I see a large pond with a wooden raft dock planted in the middle, a small silver ladder leading up to the top. The multicolored trees of the forest far beyond the edge of the pond makes a beautiful backdrop. It’s just about perfect, I muse sadly.

Turning to look at the rest of the room, I see a massive stone fireplace that I could probably walk into with a gigantic chair pulled close. There’s a small round table with a beautiful crystal lamp next to it, creating a cozy nook. Is that Roxanne’s chair? Does she sit by the fire and read while he works or watches TV? “Stop it,” I grate. The room is large and holds three sofas all matching the one I woke on. It’s masculine with dark woods and deep colors, the only touch of softness is the squishy looking behemoth of a chair and the reading lamp.

I notice a bar running along the opposite wall of windows. There are stools in front and liquor lined up behind it. Getting closer, I see a small fridge with a clear door filled with bottled water, juice, and small gray tubs. Glasses line the underside behind the bar. There is even an ice chest and sink. “Why did he leave to get water?”

I walk closer to the door and hear raised voices. I can’t make out what’s being said, but they sound angry. I round the door slowly looking left and right trying to decide where the shouting is coming from. Once out of the room, the voices are clearer, and I easily hear it’s coming from the left. Tiptoeing, I make my way slowly toward the noise.

Soon, it becomes clear that it’s three people arguing. One is definitely Sniffer. One is... I’m not sure what his name is, I can’t recall what his friend called him outside the pub. The last voice is a woman’s, and I’m sure it’s her, Roxanne.

“Why are you still here? I told you to leave half an hour ago when I found you standing at the door trying to listen to us. Now, I find you sulking around the kitchen. Just waiting for a chance to pounce,” Sniffer yells.

“What is it I’ve done to you, Casper?” she simpers.

“What have you done? You use any...” Sniffer starts.

“Cass, stop.” His smooth voice falls over both of theirs. He sounds exhausted. In the silence, I can now hear her sniffles. I imagine he’s holding her, consoling her. Whispering that I’ll be gone soon, and everything will go back to how it was.

My chest aches. God, I thought I was over this, this rejection. It still hurts. I think it’s worse now that I’ve shifted and feel the full pull of him. I want to walk in there and rip her arms off. Yes, good, growls my wolf. I shake my head to clear it. I won’t make a fool of myself any more than I already have. If he doesn’t want me, I’ll deal with it. I won’t, however, stick around here and watch or hear him make her feel better.