Page 133 of Howlin’ For You

His gaze is skeptical as he finishes putting my table arrangement and bouquet in a large box for an easy transfer. “Sure.”

I shrug off Dane’s doubt and ease my way backward out the door, holding the box. “Lock up early tonight. Get some rest. Do something fun.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He waves his hand at me as the door shuts. Worrying about Dane will have to wait for another day. My only concern tonight is Izzy.

Beautiful, enchanting, intelligent Izzy.

There must be hearts in my eyes by the time I drop off the flowers in my car and make my way to Tea Leaves. At least, I would assume so by the way Georgie snorts when she sees me.

“You look ridiculous,” she says before heading behind the curtain that sections off the kitchen from the rest of the shop.

I follow her, mentally preparing myself for the brutal assessment I’m about to receive. “I look just fine.”

She huffs. “Sure.”

Why is everyone saying that to me in that exact tone today? First Dane, now Georgie. They don’t even spend that much time together, but they’re too similar.

We stand in silence as she retrieves the cupcakes from the fridge, and I take a second to appreciate all Georgie has built here against all odds. She inherited the shop from her grandmother only a few years after she graduated high school and has taken it above and beyond.

“How’s your dad?” I finally ask.

Georgie’s shoulders stiffen like I predicted they would. She keeps her back turned, but answers in a flat voice, “He’s fine. I’ll tell you if anything changes.”

He was diagnosed with cancer three years ago, and despite the advanced healing of werewolves, it’s been aggressive. So aggressive that he requires a full-time nurse.

If she isn’t here, Georgie’s at home with him. Or at the bar, drinking until she calls me because she can’t drive home.

She’s too young to have this much on her shoulders. It’s why I don’t hound her as much as I should about the drinking. Who am I to tell her she shouldn’t let loose every once in a while? Even if I feel like it’s too much.

“Okay,” I reply. I learned long ago that trying to force Georgie to accept help only leads to her shutting me out. No one holds a grudge—or takes a vow of silence—like Georgie.

“Here.” She shoves the cupcake box into my hands with jarring force, but I see the pain in her eyes. “Don’t fuck it up with Isabella. I like her.”

“Trust me, I won’t.”

I’ve pushed people away before, just like Georgie does. I know what it is to lose people. I know what it is to isolate.

But I won’t ruin this. I won’t lose Izzy.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

ISABELLA

Istand in front of Nick’s front door as if my feet have sunk into the concrete and I can’t move.

I’ve spent all day at the little desk in my room at home making phone calls, sending emails, and coordinating. I was able to dig my thoughts into something that forced me to devote all my focus to it.

But now? Now I stand here, and something heavy settles in my belly like a stone. Something feels very permanent about knocking on his door and going inside.

I barely slept last night after our date. I just kept going over and over all that we talked about, all the differences between us.

And all of it makes me want him even more.

It doesn’t help that every single time I think about his knot, I blush from head to toe, flushed with heat. I still can’t really wrap my head around why I want to feel him stretch me so full I can barely breathe, but I do.

I want it.

I want him.