Page 22 of Luke: The Bears

“Was that choosing dad?”

She nodded with a smile. She reached over and took Valley’s hand. “Honey, I’m not saying that Luke is right because he’s got shifter truemate instincts or that he’s clearly very devoted to you. And I’m not saying the job with Margie is wrong. I’m just saying that you’re allowed to ask yourself whether the plan still fits what you want your life to be, or if you’re clinging to it because it’s what you’ve been preparing for. You’re allowed to change your mind.”

Valley let the conversation settle between them as she leaned on her mom’s shoulder, the swing moving gently as her mom’s foot pushed off the porch.

It all sounded too simple. But hadn’t Luke said that? That the choice to go with her was not easy, but simple.

“I hate the idea of disappointing Margie. She gave me a chance when I needed one, and she kept giving me more responsibilities. And she’s trusting me to help her get the new location going.”

“Just because you’re grateful to her for what she did for you doesn’t mean you have to commit yourself to her forever.”

“True.”

“You’re not betraying her. Your life changed in a way that you didn’t plan. And I’ll point out that she didn’t decide to relocate based on you. She relocated because it was best for her. Yes, she wants you to come with her, and yes she’s relying on you to an extent, but it was her decision to move where she did. You should be honest with her about your relationship with Luke, repay the money, and be grateful for everything she did for you. It’s interesting.”

“What is?”

“That you don’t have to choose Luke or your job, you just have to choose here or there. Because he seems committed to going with you. And you never once said that you didn’t want to be with him.”

“I do want to be with him.”

“So here or there is the question. But you’re muddling it up with thinking about how fast you’ve fallen for him. I gotta tell you, I fell for your dad so fast. Oh! People thought I was nuts, your grandma included. But I knew it. I knew the moment I saw him, beat up pickup truck, picking up a discarded school desk at the side of the road to turn into something wonderful, that he was the guy for me.”

“Luke’s definitely the guy for me. I think I just need to talk to him.”

“That sounds like a very good idea.”

They sat in comfortable silence on the porch for a while longer, and then Valley kissed her mom on the cheek, patted Kevin on the head, and walked across the yard to her apartment. After changing out of her pjs into regular clothes, she got in her car and drove to King Lake.

The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon when she parked next to Luke’s truck and got out.

His house was dark and quiet. She wondered if she should have called or texted.

As she reached for her phone in her back pocket, the front door swung open and Luke – wearing only boxer briefs and looking far too yummy for dawn – stood in the doorway. “Valley? Are you okay?”

She opened her mouth but nothing came out.

His expression changed immediately, the surprise disappeared and sweet concern replaced it. In a heartbeat, his arms were around her and she sank against his warmth and strength as tears stung her eyes.

“I’m okay,” she said thickly.

He hugged her a little tighter. “You don’t seem okay. What’s going on? Talk to me.”

She spread her fingers across his warm back and listened to his steady heartbeat. “I couldn’t sleep.”

“I’ve been tossing and turning myself. Then I felt you before I heard your car pull into the drive.”

She stood in his embrace for a little bit, and then she said, “Can we go for a walk?”

“Yeah, let me grab some clothes.”

She stayed outside and faced the sunrise while he went into the house. By the time he came back out, the sun had cleared the treeline, bathing the lake in pretty golds and pinks. Linking their hands, they set out for the lake at a slow pace.

When they were about halfway around the lake, she stopped and stared across at the bears’ cul-de-sac. Other small subdivisions were around King Lake, all empty except for the bears, the wolves behind the tavern, and the dragons on the ridge.

She found her voice finally, and told him about her chat with her mom, her feelings about Margie and the job.

“When you said you’d follow me wherever I went, it caught me off guard. And it made me feel crappy for not dropping the job for you.”