Recover: Book 2 of the Magic Mutations Series | ✓

47: Playing the 'Friend'

The night before our trip to Ireland was painful, but necessary for me to hear. As much as I wanted to put my headphones in and run away the pain again, I forced myself to sit there, listening to Olivia finally tell Ben he loves her. And then when their moment heated up, I forced myself to listen to them pleasure each other—until Ollie apparently freaked out when things got a little too close to actual sex.

I hated listening in on them for many reasons—the bond invitation burned harshly into my heart with its raging jealousy; it was a private moment of theirs that no one should overhear; and Ollie kept telling him it wasn't quite right what he was doing as Ben's noviceness to pleasing a woman affected her enjoyment. If I had to get hurt over her being intimate with someone else, she should at least enjoy herself.

Nonetheless, it was the harsh reminder I needed about the fact that she had moved on.

And soon, I would have to as well.

When I walked into the kitchen the next morning—the day of our trip—to take my morning dose of blood pills, my step faltered slightly to see her. The searing pain echoed in loud throbs through my heart knowing she had gotten even closer to Ben. Knowing she had whispered those three words to him. The very phrase that was supposed to belong to me when we promised forever.

But I resorted to old tactics, masking my pain in humour as I said, "Fun night, Ollie?"

Her spoon of cereal that was midway to her mouth bumped into her cheek in surprise of my comment. "Excuse me?" she squeaked.

I wiggled my eyebrows in response, causing her face to turn crimson. And I did my best to stifle my amusement.

But then Ollie leaned over, whacking me on the arm.

"Ow! Zappy!" I complained, gingerly rubbing at the spot still spasming from the shocks. "Watch what you do with that."

"Don't make embarrassing comments," she countered, the adorable crease furrowing between her brows.

Gosh, Lukas... you have to stop thinking of her as adorable. Think of her instead as... an angry leprechaun.

But she's a fairy... I thought back.

Yeah, I know... but we're trying to—

Leprechauns are also pretty small. They can be quite adorable.

Cutting off my internal debate, I said to Ollie, "Then keep your moans down in future."

"Lukas!" she shouted, causing me to laugh again. But then her face softened. "What's wrong?"

I furrowed my brows, wondering where that comment had come from. Normally she didn't see past the facade. Normally she believed my smiles were genuine and couldn't see the clouds that hung over my heart, dulling any joy I tried to pretend I was having.

You have to try harder then... my mind whispered.

"Glad to see you're happy is all," I said, placing a hand on her shoulder, reminding myself of the pain that comes with loving Ollie, reminding myself that I had to let her go. I quickly grabbed my pills in response, knowing I had to get out of here as soon as possible before she created more cracks in my wall. After chasing the pills down with water, I said, "And glad to hear you'll be moving in with us, Ollie."

Her face turned impossibly redder. "You heard everything..." she whispered in horror.

Tapping a finger to my ear, I replied, "Vampire hearing, remember?"

"Oh my gosh!" she exclaimed before hiding her face in her hands.

I laughed as I walked away, but even then, I knew it was still for show. The moment I closed the door to my room, the smile dropped and my heart throbbed once more.