I plugged in the heating pad and carefully spread it under the back of Frank Valente, the man I had been attending to for years. “How’s that? Too hot?” I asked.

“Don’t worry about me,” Frank said. “I’m fine with whatever you give me, darling.” Frank winked but kept his eyes directed toward the television screen. He wasn’t much of a talker these days, but he loved to watch the sports channels. That meant I had to see Addison’s chiseled face on the screen every single day.

“Okay. I’m just going to raise your feet up a little bit, and then I’m going to take a step outside to get some fresh air. Is that okay?” I asked.

Frank muted the television and turned toward me. “Kristoff, I know I’m just an old omega, but you desperately need to figure out what it is you want,” Frank said.

I felt my face turn hot. I ducked down, pretending to grab another pillow for his feet. “Well, that came out of nowhere. I already know what I want. I want to help you get comfortable, and then I want to go home and drink a few bottles of wine. Alone. Is that such a crime?” I asked, smiling.

Frank laughed. He liked my self-deprecating jokes because he was as cynical as I was. But he also knew a thing or two about the perils of love. Ten years ago, his mate of fifty-three years passed away. Somehow, it didn’t break him.

“I’m giving you the honest truth,” he said. “You stare at the screen more than I do.”

I gulped and tried my hardest not to smile. Frank had caught me. But what else could I do? Addison was my high-school sweetheart. We were together for over four years. Four fucking years. As far as I was concerned, that felt like a whole lifetime.

“Frank, he’ll always be a part of my life,” I whispered. I tried not to choke up. Though I could laugh about it, it was a painful memory.

I hated thinking about the last night we spent together. We were huddled together in the darkness of my room, completely lost.

Our future fell apart that night. I looked him in the eyes, and then he was gone. For the rest of the month, I held his old shirt up to my nose. I smelled him. I closed my eyes and thought of every single important moment with Addison. And then, I let him go.

“So be it. It’s not my life, so I’m not worried. I’m only trying to pass down my elderly wisdom,” Frank said.

I squeezed his hand and hugged him. “Thank you, Frank. I do appreciate you,” I said.

“I know, dear,” he whispered.

Frank unmuted the TV and closed his eyes. He liked to fall asleep to the sounds, but it put me in the position of having to listen to the latest update on Addison’s jeopardies.

If I knew one thing about that alpha, it was that he was destined for trouble.

Addison Matthews has shocked sports fans all over the country. He has announced that the negotiations for a new sixteen million dollar deal have come to an abrupt end after possibly paralyzing opponent Holloway Jordan on the field…

I felt bad for him. Addison would never hurt anyone intentionally. That was never his game. I quickly stepped outside and placed my back against the wall. I called the first people I could think of: his parents, Dill and Caleb.

“Hiya, Kristoff. You’re on speaker phone,” Dill said. “I’m assuming you just heard the news?”

I let out an exasperated laugh, but I wasn’t sure where it came from. I shouldn’t have felt this panicked about Addison, but I did. A part of me felt like we were connected throughout time and space. Another part of me wanted that part of me to shut the heck up.

“Yeah. I’m sorry for calling. I know it’s out of nowhere. I just felt worried for Addison,” I said.

I felt a pang of sadness run through my chest. I collapsed onto the bench outside and held my breath. “Well, I think Addison is trying to hold his head up. This chapter of his life seems to be coming to a close,” Dill said.

“Yeah,” I whispered. I felt guilty all of a sudden, but I knew it wasn’t my fault. After we ended, Addison went full-blast into his football career. I fell into my job as a caretaker. We went our separate ways, but he just got crazier and crazier. He couldn’t handle his emotions very well, and his ego was through the roof.

“He’s coming home this weekend,” Caleb said. “You should come too. It would be nice for him to see an old friend.”

I stood back up and paced near the front door. A voice inside my head was telling me to do it, but it was going against all reason. Our relationship was finished. Was it possible for a ex-couple to merely be friends?

“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea,” I said.

Dill’s deep and soothing fatherly voice resounded back. “We’ll save you a spot at the old dinner table,” he said.

Dill was so friendly that he never gave anyone a chance to decline an invitation. “Do you still live at the old house?”

I smiled and remembered all of the memories back there. Deep within the forest, Addison and I discovered ourselves there. I still remembered it as an enchanted place of comfort.

I opened the front door of Frank’s house. I could hear the television blaring still. “A new TMZ video has been leaked, showing Addison throwing a paparazzi’s camera!”

“Okay. I’ll think about it,” I said. “It would be nice to see you guys again, but maybe you should ask Addison first.”

“We will, but if Addison agrees, that means you have to stop by. I’ve got a new lasagna recipe that you’re going to love,” Caleb said.

“Ugh. You know how much I love your cooking, Mr. Matthews,” I said. Their generation didn’t expect omegas to decline an offer as such, but I desperately needed to think this through. “Okay. Ask Addison and see what he says. I guess I’m cool with it, if he is,” I said.

“Alright, dear. We’ll text you,” Caleb said.

I sighed and groaned against the palms of my hands. “Dammit,” I whispered.

“I heard that,” Frank said. “You’re really thinking about going over there. Aren’t you?” he asked.

“Keep asking questions, Frank, and it’ll be time for your sleeping pills,” I joked.

Frank merely smiled back. He could read my thoughts too well. I was going to see Addison again. Fuck. Was I really going to visit my ex-boyfriend?

This was going to be an awkward get-together…