Having him close, his hand a constant, warm weight on my back, and his soft words a steady hum against my ear, was a breath of fresh air. It was a comfort I hadn't realized I was craving, a calm in the storm of my own thoughts. But the calm was short-lived. It didn't change the fact that today was Friday, and Friday meant dinner at the Pack House. And with his parents back, there was no way we could skip it. We had no choice. I had to soldier on, just like I always did. I was used to it.
"Thank you," I said, pulling away from him gently. He didn't get a free pass just because he’d offered me a moment of peace. All of this, the chaos, the pressure, was happening because of him.
"I'll go and freshen up and then I'll head to the Pack House," I told him, looking him in the eye. He nodded.
"
