TALIA
The next day, I returned to work feeling much better. I was working the late shift that day. When I came in, Valerie pulled me aside. “You were in heat yesterday?” she asked. “Does that mean you have a mate?”
“Yes, I do,” I admitted, realizing there was no way around it now.
“Then what was that whole thing with Tom? Why were you going on dates with Lucy’s cousin when you have a mate?”
I sighed and said, “Because I want to reject my mate. I don’t want to be with him. Lucy was just trying to help by finding me a replacement mate.”
She raised her eyebrows and said, “Well, there’s a story I’d like to hear.”
“Maybe another time.”
Lucy came in not too long after me, late as usual. Punctuality was clearly not one of her positive qualities. I mostly worked the front of the house while she helped Valerie put together pastries in the back. After we closed for the evening, I walked with Lucy toward the packhouse since I had to walk in that direction to get to my apartment anyway.
“W
