I pulled up to the restaurant and found Sam and Katie waiting by the door. They waved as I parked, unable to hide my excitement. It had only been two weeks since I'd seen them, but it felt long. Maybe it was because I felt so isolated, and the days blurred together. Frank and I were still avoiding each other, which seemed like the best option. We seemed to argue whenever we ran into each other.
“I feel like it's been forever,” Sam said, pulling me into a tight hug. I sank into it, not realizing how badly I needed it.
Katie gave my arm a squeeze as Sam pulled herself free and opened the door. “We've missed you.”
“I missed you guys as well,” I said as we stepped inside. Maples was a charming little place with Italian food and decorations. I could instantly smell it, and my mouth watered.
“The pasta here is to die for,” Sam said as she pulled her hands up, signaling to the waitress that there were three of us.
“And they make amazing mimosas,” Katie added, wiggling her eyebrows. “Which I need after my long day in the lab.”
“I can't drink,” Sam said, and both Katie and I looked at her confused, but it was only for a moment as she placed her hand on her stomach.
“Shut up,” Katie said, her eyes growing wide. “Are you pregnant? Seriously?”
Sam shook her head. “Not yet, but we are trying for another.”
Katie laughed. “I guess it's to be expected, considering you two are like animals in heat half the time.”
“Oh god, please stop.” I shook my head, unable to hide the smile as I laughed. I loved the idea of Sam having anotherkid, but I didn't need to imagine how it had happened in my head.
Sam elbowed both of us as the waitress took us down to a small booth near the back. We all squeezed in, and Sam smiled. “It's still a new decision we made, so we haven't exactly told anyone.”
“I'm honored you trust us with this,” Katie said as she placed her hands on the table. Their eyes turned towards me, and I stiffened.
“What?” I asked.
Katie leaned closer to me. “We want to hear all about how your life is doing down here. Don't leave any details out, either. Give us everything.”
My stomach flipped as I tried to think of what to say. I didn’t want to tell them the truth, but I also knew they deserved to hear the truth. I didn’t need to share the yelling match that Frank and I had, but maybe how alone I felt..
“This has been going okay. We’re still learning how to do this. I don’t think he likes me a lot.”.
Sam frowned. “What do you mean?”
I could see the concern cross their faces, and I shrugged. “I just mean we’re very opposite and we don’t get along.” I rubbed my hands together. “That’s normal, isn’t it?”
Katie elbowed Sam. “Yes, that’s normal. It isn’t going to be like you magically fall in love.”
Sam reached across the table giving my hand a squeeze. “He doesn’t treat you badly, does he? Because I swear to god, if he does.”
I shook my head. Frank hadn’t been terrible. It was clear that he had his walls up, but he hadn’t actually done anything, minus us fighting a few times.
“I think it’s just going to take time,” I add. “But it’s nice to tell you guys to truth. You guys kept telling me how we should get along.”
Sam nodded. “Well, you should, but we understand. We maybe should have been a little calmer about this. This is Frank after all, and he’s a tough cookie.”
I couldn’t help but smile, feeling a little relieved to hear that.
Sam waved a hand. “Alright, so the marriage needs a little work. What about work? Have you found anything? You said you didn't want to commute to work, which we understand, considering the drive.”
I frowned. I had to leave the job I had picked up, which was bittersweet. I was happy to get away from Geneva, but I was just starting to get the handle on things. I know Katie commuted, but her drive wasn't as long as mine. It was almost two hours to get to Jay's pack from Frank's.
My boss had been understanding, congratulating me on the marriage, and even stated he would give me a reference if I needed one.
“I'm doing okay. I haven't gotten anything new yet.” Not that I had been looking either. I wasn't exactly sure who would hire me, considering how Frank felt about me. I had decided to wait and learn the pack first before I started working.
Katie nodded at me. “You'll find something. I just feel it. Has anything happened with the darkness? The guys have been going on about how it’s been traveling around.
