Page 32 of Fallout

“I thought we were supposed to go to your house.” I try to tease him, but my voice comes out breathy. From the way Parker smirks, I can tell he’s noticed.

“We are going to my house, which is why I should kiss you now. Once we’re at my house, my siblings won’t leave us alone.”

I laugh, knowing he’s right.

Parker bends down to match my height. Before his lips touch mine, my heart is already racing. It used to embarrass me, knowing he could hear, but I don’t care anymore. I don’t need to hear Parker’s heart to know he’s just as affected by my nearness.

His lips are so soft and warm. And even though I’ve only known that he’s my soulmate for a couple of weeks, I already feel so comfortable with him.

Parker’s hand cups the back of my neck. His calloused fingers brush softly against me, making me shiver. I lean further into him, knowing that I’m safe.

He abruptly pulls back and groans. “Henley, you’re killing me.”

I open my eyes slowly. “What?”

He grins, letting his hand slowly trace down my arm. He laces our fingers together and then slowly brings my hand up to his lips and kisses it.

“How long do you think your father will make us wait to get married?” Parker asks.

My eyes widen. “Parker, we’re still in high school.”

He chuckles. “You’ve got to stop thinking about things the way a human would. We’re soulmates. It’s not like we’re going to change our minds in ten years.”

Okay, when he puts it like that.

He tugs my hand. “Come on. Let’s get out of here before we get in trouble.”

I laugh, allowing him to tug me after him.

I hadn’t thought about it much before, but Parker is right. We are soulmates. I already know that supernaturals don’t have divorce like humans do.

Parker and I really are a forever kind of thing.

7

Some advice.

Henley

I tap my pencil on my book as I stare at a painting on the wall. The painting is of a forest that my dad has had hanging on the wall for as long as I can remember. Now, I recognize the forest as the one we live in. My father also confessed to me that his soulmate painted this for him. It’s the one thing he has from her.

My chest aches, thinking about how my dad lost his soulmate. It doesn’t seem fair. He and her hardly had any time together before she passed away. But if she hadn’t passed away, he wouldn’t be my dad. He never would’ve been working at the hospital the night I was dropped off. Who knows where I would be without him?

I look at my textbook, trying to concentrate on studying. We have a test and I haven’t paid attention during class. To be fair, it’s hard to pay attention when I can hear everybody’s thoughts around me—it’s overwhelming. But I should study.

Eh, when am I ever going to need to know human history? It’s boring. They all have short memories and it’s doomed to repeat.

Humans—I nearly laugh at the thought. Am I really thinking of myself as a non-human now?

I sigh, turning to look at the boy sitting behind me on the couch.

Today, Blaine is babysitting me. Will refused and Parker is doing his alpha duties. I try not to be too bummed. It’s not that I don’t like Blaine, I do. I just wish Parker were here. And, as much as I hate to admit it, I sort of wish Will were here. If he were, maybe we could talk things out. We left things in such an awkward place before. I should apologize to him and promise that I won’t read his thoughts ever again.

Blaine clears his throat. “Are you going to tell me what you’re thinking so hard about?”

“Huh?” I blink, my eyes slowly focusing on his blue eyes.

“If you’re that worried, I’ll compel you an A.” Blaine nods to my book.