Her Mate

Chapter twenty-four

The sun was just coming up over the horizon when we left for Linnea's. I was afraid that Jake might of done something to my car but didn't see anything that was obvious to me. Truthfully that wasn't saying much since anything past a flat tire stumped me when it came to automobiles.

"I'm sick to death of these things! I have no feeling left in my armpits because of them. Plus, if Jake is still around I want my hands free."

She said simply as she looked around cautiously for any sign of him before crutched out into the crisp air.

"Joann..."

"Don't, Joann me! I fuckin told you a hundred times that fuckin asshole was a psychopath and all I got was was told to mind my own business. Now I find out he's not only a fuckin' psychopath, but a damn werewolf psychopath at that, who's likely going to kill us both. That alone is bad enough but does this shit ever sink into that damn head of yours? Fuuuuck no! You turn right around and start start fuckin his wife. Did you run out of human husbands? She is just as much as a fuckin-"

I grabbed her arm before she could finish the sentence pulling her back towards me. Talking shit about Jake was fine but I'll be damned if I was going to let her talk like that about Nancy. She didn't know her. And she as shit didn't know what she's been through.

"Ouch, that hurts!"

"Good! Don't be talking about Nancy like that. You don't know what the fuck you're even talking about!"

I let her go taking several deep breaths to calm myself down as I made my way to the car. I was going to help her but if she was going to start that shit she can get to the car on her own.

"I don't know what I'm talking about? I don't know what I'm- Are you hearing yourself right now? I think you better check your hormone levels, sister, Nobody with predominantly estrogen hormones would say something that god awfully stupid! Have you already forgotten what just happened?! I sure as hell haven't!"

Great! Now she was on one of her high and mighty trips again. That was all I needed because I really didn't have enough to deal with already.

The early morning hour was kind to me at least. The drive down East Fork heading into Langhurst was practically deserted. Not that there was ever many on the old road but considering that I was driving around forty in a twenty-five mile zone, it didn't hurt. 

Joann couldn't seem to make up her mind about anything. One minute she was acting like we should declare war and the next, wanting to know everything about them including if fairies were real. Well... besides me anyways. That helped ease some tension somewhat but I still wasn't sure how she was really handling it.

Joann tossed her phone in her purse just as we got on the highway in langhurst with a scrunched up face.

"I still can't get ahold of mom and dad. Typical of them. She calls me ten times a day and expects me to jump every time yet the one time I try to call, I get ignored."

"You can't say anything to them, Joann. I mean it! The less they know, the better."

She crossed her arms displaying her displeasure but I was sure she knew I was right. Still, they should be told to stay away from Jake.

"Was it Jake who hurt you before?" I glanced over to see her shift uncomfortably in her seat. She still didn't want to talk about it but really, if not now, when?

"I- I don't think so..." she said almost to herself as if thinking back. I let out a breath of relief, ignoring the throbbing pain that came with it, that she was finally starting to open up. The last thing I wanted was for her to close up again.