Page 186 of Howlin’ For You

She stops walking, taking the dish with something like awe in her eyes. As if it’s entirely ludicrous that I would want to do something kind for her. A little sniffle escapes her before she rushes behind a wall that I assume houses the kitchen.

The house itself must be hard to manage for someone in a wheelchair. There’s a large reclining hospital bed in the living room in front of the television, and the hallways are a little small.

“George has a guest!?” I hear from one of the back rooms.

I snicker to myself as the sound of wheels picks up. An older man with a hunched spine comes into view, with Dolores pushing the wheelchair.

“George?” I ask with a smile.

“Mhmm,” the man confirms. “Named her myself after my favorite member of the Fab Four.”

“Dad, I’ve told you to stop calling me that!” Georgie says from the kitchen.

“And I’ve told you that while I respect your boundaries, you can get over it!” Her father replies, a jaunty laugh on his lips despite how frail he looks.

Age spots dot his hands, and an IV drip hangs from a holder behind him.

“It’s nice to meet you, sir. I’m Isabella, George’s friend.” I approach and stick my hand out toward him.

Georgie groans. “Fuck, not you, too!”

Her dad chuckles, shaking my hand with a weak tremble. “Duncan Mann. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Well.” Georgie emerges from the kitchen. “Now that we’ve got those pleasantries over with, Isabella and I have something we need to discuss.”

“You come over anytime, Isabella, you hear me?” her dad says as I’m shuffled out the door.

“Thank you!”

Georgie closes the door behind us with an amused huff and directs me toward a pair of rocking chairs set up on the front porch. It gives the perfect view of the water.

“He’s adorable,” I say as we sit down.

“Yeah, a real sweetheart. Now, ask me your questions.” She leans in, and I think she’s maybe happy for the distraction. Her father obviously needs a lot of care. I’m not even sure if Nick is aware how far-gone things have gotten.

I’m happy to help distract her if that’s what she needs.

“Well, I guess I really only have one question.” I pick at the bottom of my flowing top. “Does Nick actually care about me as a person, or is it just the mate bond? Is that why he didn’t tell me? Because he’s only really attracted to me because of the bond?”

My eyes well up as I finally put voice to the thoughts that have plagued me since all of this started. Is it me, or the fact that I’m his mate?

“Hey.” Georgie puts her hand over mine, effectively stopping my anxious fussing. “I get why that could be a fear of yours. But, Isabella, I’ve never heard him talk about anyone like that before, and it’s not just because of the mate bond. He adores you. He thinks you’re intelligent, beautiful, and kind. He can wax poetic about you for hours. And as someone who already knows how amazing you are, he’s not wrong. It’s a little lovesick for my liking, but he’s not wrong.”

A little tear slips down my cheek. “Really?”

“He couldn’t be any crazier about you.” She nods. “And I think you know that.”

I do. Despite this lie, and how much it hurt me, I know the way Nick looked at me. I know the way he touched me. Spoke to me.

This is real.

My phone pings, and Georgie gestures for me to pick it up.

Nick: I’m sorry. If you’re ready, I’d love the chance to apologize properly. I’m at my house and will be all night.

I read the text aloud to Georgie, and she laughs. “His ears must’ve been burning.”

I laugh at that, eyes tracing over each word a million times until she clears her throat at me.