Three months later …

Ana took another pile of shirts and placed them in her suitcase. She moved back to the closet and picked up the pile of jeans next.

“I can’t believe you’re leaving,” Edith sighed. “How long have we been friends for?”

“Since we were seniors in high school.”

“Exactly. That’s a long time.” Edith looked wistful. She stretched out on Ana’s bed, propped herself up on the headboard and pulled a pillow into her arms. Hugging the pillow, she sighed again. “I’m going to miss you so much.” She tossed the pillow to the side and scrambled up into a sitting position. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m so happy for you. Crazy happy. I’m also a little jealous though.”

“You shouldn’t be.” Ana shook her head, leaving the jeans where they were. “There’s a guy out there for you.” She sat down on the bed next to Edith.

“Guy shmuy!” Edith pulled a face. “I’ve pretty much given up on my search for love. That’s not it, I’m jealous of Winston.”

Ana widened her eyes. “I didn’t realize you harbored a secret crush on me.” She laughed.

Edith joined in. “No, you idiot,” her friend finally said. “I’m going to miss this. How we lean on one another. Our ice-cream nights. They won’t be the same, in fact, I’m going to lose weight. One thing to look forward to.”

“You look fantastic, my friend. You don’t need to lose any weight. Not a single pound.” Ana took Edith’s hand and squeezed. “Leaving is the one really shitty thing I have to do if I want to be with the man I love. Leaving my family, my friends and you.” She squeezed her hand again.

“I see I got my own category.” Edith’s eyes glinted, then she frowned. “It was separate from the friend category, which worries me.” She cocked her head, looking serious. Ana noticed that the glint was still there though.

“That’s because you’re not just a friend, you’re my very best friend and that deserves a category all of its own.”

Edith’s eyes grew misty, they welled with tears.

“I’m going to miss you too,” Ana said as they wrapped their arms around one another. “So very much. I wish I could pack you in a suitcase and take you with me.”

“Me too,” Edith murmured as they released one another.

“I’ll visit often.” Her voice was soft, still thick with emotion.

Her friend rolled her eyes. “Yeah right.”

“Every month or so.” Ana smiled. “I hope you’ll come to the wedding? The shifters call it a mating ceremony.”

Edith’s eyes lit up. “You mean I can visit you?”

Ana nodded. “My closest family is allowed to visit on special occasions.”

Edith frowned. “But I’m not family.”

“You’re my very best friend, and that makes you family in my book. You’re coming to the wedding ‒ if you want to that is?”

“Of course I do. You don’t even have to ask. I’ll take a few days leave. It’ll be amazing.”

“I’m pretty sure you won’t have to wait too long after that to come through again.” Ana could hear the excitement in her voice.

“What do you mean?”

“Just that there might be plenty of special occasions in my future.” Ana couldn’t help but smile. “We plan on trying for a family quite soon after we are mated and—”

Edith squealed. “Seriously? Oh, my gosh! Aren’t you guys rushing into things?”

Ana shook her head. “Nah, we don’t think so. We have to live together for three months before we can mate. The shifters give the time period to make sure that we humans enjoy living out in the middle of nowhere, that we’re serious about mating. Shifters mate for life.”

“A cooling off period.”

“Cooling off … I think the opposite will be true.” Ana bobbed her brows. “I can’t wait to see Winston every day … spend every night with him.”

“So, no more panic attacks?” Edith asked.

Ana shook her head. “Nope! I’ve had moments of anxiety but nothing out of the ordinary. I’m happy to say that my days of having to breathe into brown paper bags and of puking on people are over. Doctor Brenner says it’s admitting to my anger at John that did it. Winston has also had a big hand in it. Not pushing me … just being the sweetest boyfriend a girl could ask for.” She paused, gathering her thoughts. “It was also letting it go. As well as finally giving myself permission to move on. I will never forget John or my baby.” She put her hand on her belly. “I will always love them, but I’m still here.” Her voice became soft. Her heart still gave a clench remembering the family she used to have. It wasn’t unbearable anymore though. She would never forget either of them, but at least now she could turn to the future. She could think of all the amazing things in store for her, for both her and Winston.

“I’m so happy for you. I’m so glad you’ve been able to embrace your future.”

“Your guy is out there somewhere,” Ana said.

“Nah, I told you I’ve given up. I’m throwing in the towel. I’m done.” Edith looked resolute.

Ana laughed. “You know what they say, right?”

She could see that Edith wanted to roll her eyes. She sighed instead, a smile toying with corners of her mouth. “Okay, tell me … what is it that they say?”

“You’ll find your guy when you stop looking. Since you say you’ve stopped …” Ana shrugged.

Edith laughed. “Somehow I doubt that I’ll magically find someone simply because I’ve quit looking.”

“Just you wait and see, he’s going to sweep you right off of your feet.”

“I’d have to see it to believe it.” Edith looked skeptical.

“One day we’ll look back on this conversation and you’ll tell me I was right.”

Edith pulled a face, it was clear that she put on stock in it.