258

MAXINE

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. “Thanks, Nadia. I'll consider that.” I said.

Ella grinned. “And while you’re at it, maybe remember to have a little fun too? You’re allowed to enjoy yourself too, you know.”

I chuckled. “I’ll try. Speaking of fun, what have you two been up to?”

Ella went into a story about some recent pack drama and Nadia added in a few comments. For a little while, I let myself get lost in the conversation. It was nice to feel normal again, to feel like I wasn’t caught in a storm of emotions. l

With Ella and Nadia, I could just be Maxine. But even as we laughed and talked, I could feel Ronan’s eyes on me, even when he wasn’t there. I could feel Liam’s hurt even from a distance. I knew that this moment of peace was short.

But for now, I let myself enjoy the moment. I let myself be grateful for the small things—going outside and meeting my friends again.

As we walked down the path, back to the hospital, I realized that I didn’t have to have a