Chapter 217
HANNAH
There was a lump in my throat that just wouldn't go away. It had been there since last night as I lay in my mate's arms after what Jace had jokingly referred to as the 'goodbye sex.'
Now I stood outside watching the guards load my mate's suitcases into the cars they would be leaving in while they stood around supervising them.
Finally, the sound I was dreading, the sound of the car trunks slamming, came.
"That's the last of them," Chase said and walked over to me. He looked at me, then at Willa. She had been standing silently beside me all this time, not saying anything as though she knew that nothing she could say at this point when my mates were leaving could make me feel any better. "You'll be good girls while we're gone, won't you."
Willa said, "I'm always good."
"I beg to differ," Chase teased.
I said nothing. I was afraid that if I did, I would cry. The tears were so damn close to the surface now.
Chase hugged Willa and then kissed me long and hard. I clung to him, savouring the taste of his lips not wanting to ever let him go. He kissed me back with the same fervour.
Then his kisses slowed and stopped. He pulled away. I leaned forward again, wanting to touch my lips to his once more.
"Easy there, sweetheart," he said, chuckling.
Cade cleared his throat loudly. He was with Jace whose arm was casually slung around Willa's shoulders.
"I thought you guys would never stop," Jace said with an eye roll. "I must have hugged Willa like a thousand times already while I waited for my turn."
He opened his arms wide. I dived into them, knocking him back on his heels a little. We stood like that for a bit, my head on his chest, over his heart. I inhaled his scent, and logged it in my brain for the nights I would get to spend alone.
"A kiss?" he murmured in my ear.
Jace's lips were warm and soft. I traced its texture with the tip of my tongue and then I kissed Cade. I could feel the tears now stinging my eyes.
But no matter how long I drew out the goodbye hugs and kisses, it was finally time to go. They got into the waiting cars. The guards driving the cars started them up. They came to life with muted purrs.
Tears trickled down my cheeks.
Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw something white. Willa holding out a handkerchief to me.
"Thanks," I murmured, taking it.
I wiped my eyes just as the cars, traveling in a straight line, began to move. One of the passenger windows opened. Cade stuck his head out. The car slowly picked up speed.
Cade waved. Willa waved back.
"We'll be back before you know it," Cade called. "I promise!"
Out of the other window, Chase blew me a kiss. I thought I heard Jace call out something, but the car was already cruising around the curve of the tree-lined avenue.
A few seconds more, and I couldn't see the cars anymore. I could hear the low, fading rumbles of their engines. Soon I couldn't even hear that anymore.
A hollow feeling settled in the centre of my chest. So they were gone. Really gone.
Not forever. I told myself. Just for a week.
I knew that but it still didn't make it easier to take in.
"Cheer up," Willa said, taking my arm. "You heard them. They'll be back before you even know they're gone."
I shook my head. "I doubt it. It feels like they've taken a part of me with them."
"It's perfectly normal, I guess. You're mates after all but hey- you have to cheer up or I'll seriously start getting offended."
"Why?" I said absently.
I wasn't really listening to her. I kept craning my neck, checking if I could maybe spot one of the cars returning like it usually happened in the movies where one lover returned for a final, unexpected goodbye kiss.
I knew it wasn't happening though. My mates would be at the gates of the estate by now. Still, I hoped.
"Why?" Willa said, repeating my question. "Well, it's because I'm right here. With you. We get to have a girl's night out all day every day for a whole week! Isn't that exciting?"
"I guess," I said listlessly.
Willa huffed. "Seriously Hannah. You need to take your own advice."
That finally got my attention. I turned to her, frowning.
"What advice?" I asked.
"The Devine episode? Remember? You practically talked me into cheering up, and I did. Now it's time for you to do the same."
"Touche'," I said, smiling a little.
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