Page 12 of Sass Me Again

“You’re here to get away from everything and to spend some time with me. I need you here for moral support. I hate coming to these things alone. It sucks being surrounded by all these supernatural beings yet knowing almost no one. Besides, it’s a good opportunity for you to mingle.” Jenn winked at her. “This place is crawling with hotties.”

“You’re not wrong there,” Emily giggled. “But I’m not interested. There has only ever been one shifter for me. You know that,” she sighed. Her body was still humming from the night she’d spent with Ian. Her body wanted that again, and so did her heart. Her brain told her to stay the fuck away from the sexy thoughts and images rushing through her mind. She had to stay away from Ian.

“I don’t know how you do it.”

“What’s that?” Emily’s heart started to race. She drew in a deep breath hoping to slow it.

“Ian. How do you do it?”

“Do what?” Emily had somehow lost track of the conversation and where it was going. She rubbed her clammy hand over her forehead, checking to see if she had a fever. Her phone buzzed in her pocket.

“I’m guessing that’s your mom again? Just answer her already. She’s just going to keep calling until you do,” Jenn clucked her tongue against the roof of her mouth.

“Hello,” Emily answered as pleasantly as possible.

“You were supposed to be here for brunch today. Where are you?” her mother demanded.

“I told you and Daddy that I was going out of town. I wasn’t going to make it this weekend.”

“And I told you that I didn’t want to hear it. That you were to be here regardless.”

“Mom, stop. I’m an adult. I’m perfectly capable of living my life. I don’t know why you try to control every aspect of what I do, but I’m done with it. No one else lives this way.”

“You will get your ass home now,” her mom growled into the phone.

“No, Mom. I’ll see you when I get back to town.” Emily ended the call, her heart feeling heavy as if she were somehow a disappointment to her family.

“Hey. You’re not doing anything wrong. You know that. Don’t let your mom make you feel like this. It’s about control. She wants to keep that leash tight around your neck for whatever reason. I know you think she is this way because she only wants what is best for you, but it’s not. Trust me on this. Parents want their kids to spread their wings and fly. They want them to create their own independent lives because that is what’s best for them. That’s the natural order of things…of life.”

“I know.”

“They’ve kept you from what you’ve really wanted in your life. Who you’ve really wanted to be with. And for what?” Jenn asked.

Emily didn’t know how to respond to Jenn. Lately, she had been questioning everything regarding her parents and their brand of control. None of it made a lick of sense to her. She knew none of her friends lived under their parents' rule like she did. They had when they were teens, but not as adults. It had to stop.

“I’m working on it. That’s why I’m here. That’s why I took a couple of weeks off from work. I need to figure my life out– free from their influence.”

“You got this. Now, let’s go and have some fun. I need to see if my one true mate is here,” Jenn giggled.

A tingling sensation swept over Emily’s skin. She knew the feeling well. It was the same feeling that overwhelmed her when Ian was near. Her body was drawn to him like no other man she had ever met. A shiver ran from her spine to the base of her neck as she turned to see none other than the man who held her heart.

“Did you know he was going to be here?” Emily’s head quickly snapped back to face Jenn.

“Umm…”

“So this was a setup?” Emily wanted to be mad at Jenn. She really did, but another glance at Ian, and she knew she couldn’t be.

“Em, please. It’s not what you think. Well, maybe it is. But I can explain,” Jenn tried to plead her case.

Emily placed her hand gently on Jenn’s shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. We’re good. Go find your fated mate or whatever. I’m good.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yep. Go,” Emily’s voice was firm but caring. She had never been more certain of anything in her life.

“I’m assuming I shouldn’t wait up for you.”

“Probably not,” Emily chewed on her bottom lip, her eyes roaming greedily over Ian. She wanted to run her fingers through his messy hair as she peeled off his skin-tight t-shirt. Her eyes continued south, finding dark jeans that hugged his ass and thighs perfectly. Images of him crawling up between her legs flashed through her mind. She could feel the heat pooling in her core.