[Austin]Watching Gemma drive away, I had to stop myself from chasing her car down the street. It had been hard as hell to let her go. The last few days had been the best I had ever experienced. With Gemma sleeping next to me, I felt safe and happy. I had the best sleep ever when she was cuddling my back with her hand stroking my stomach and chest. It was hard to know it would be two weeks before I got to have her back. Rock put his hand on my shoulder and I looked up at him. Through all of my healing time, Rock and Carmen had been there for me. They were like parents in a way and I appreciated everything they did for me. Especially giving me time with Gemma over the weekend. They didn’t insert themselves more than they had to. “She’ll be back. We understand how hard it can be to be without your mate. Carmen didn’t tell me I was her mate and went home after we met. Then she had to go back to the pack lands for her first heat. I was a mess without her. My friends helped me, though. We’re here for you if you need us,” he said to me. “I’ll be fine. I’ve been alone before. You two should go so you can get to work. I’ll work on cleaning today and keep myself busy.” “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay with you?” Carmen asked. I shook my head. “You need to go to work. I need to figure out how to exist without her until I can see her again. Have a good day. I’ll have dinner ready when you two get back.” “Meat’s in the tub. Thanks, Austin,” Rock replied.“No problem,” I said. They got into the truck and I went back into the house. There was a plate of food for me. Gemma hadn’t wanted to eat anything. She said she was sure she wouldn’t want to leave if she stayed any longer. I wished she had eaten and hoped she got something at the packhouse. I ate my cold breakfast and started cleaning up. I used my stepstool to do the dishes in Rock’s sink and wipe down the counters and stove. They weren’t particularly messy, but I wanted to distract myself. After the kitchen was wiped down, swept, and mopped, I went to gather clothes for washing. There were a few loads to be done, so I started with Rock’s larger clothing. I could wash Carmen’s and mine after. I cleaned the dining room, then the living room. For a while, I considered changing out the bedding in my room, but it smelled like Gemma. I didn’t want to lose her scent. It could wait until the scent of her was gone. When Rock’s laundry was done in the dryer, I took it to his room and started folding and hanging pieces. For a troll, he was very organized. Carmen’s side of the closet was just as organized. I knew she needed it in order to find what she wanted to wear. The bathrooms were next. The whole time I was cleaning, I thought about Gemma and how much I wanted her there with me. She really was perfect. Gemma let me act like a kid and didn’t get upset with me. We played at the park a few more times over the weekend. We watched television together and we talked. Talking to Gemma relaxed me more than anything ever did. She was interested in me, and learning as much as she could about me. The dessert she made last night was great. It wasn’t too sweet and it was so light and fluffy. It all reminded me of Gemma. After all of the chores were done, I looked at the time. It was only one in the afternoon. With a sigh, I went to get my lunch together. Rock was still making me large bowls of meat and vegetables. I reheated the food and sat at the table alone. Before every meal, Gemma would take my hand and squeeze it. She was encouraging me to eat as much as I could. Not that I needed the encouragement, but I liked it. I liked everything she did. Gemma was always touching me. I never thought I would like that, but I found myself missing her touches and hugs. Sometimes she would look at me and I would get the urge to kiss her. It took a while before I really believed that she was okay with me kissing her whenever I wanted. Once I finished eating, I cleaned up and went to get my laundry, since Carmen’s last load was going into the dryer. I pulled the laundry hamper with me to the laundry room and started filling the washing machine when I came across one of Gemma’s shirts. She must have accidentally tossed it into my hamper. I sniffed it and it still smelled like her. I held it to my face and breathed her in, then realized I was acting like a creep and stopped. Though I knew I should wash it, I couldn’t I wouldn’t have her scent around me for very long in my room and this was a way I could have her a little longer. Heading to the kitchen, I knew exactly what to do. I grabbed a zipper bag and put the shirt in it, sealing it and taking it to my room. I hid the shirt under my pillow. I’d wash it before she came back and found out how weird I really was. Going back to the laundry room, I started my laundry and took a basket of Carmen’s clothes to her room to be put away. This day was taking forever to go by. I didn’t even know what I’d do tomorrow. Maybe clean the garage…. Taking care of a house with so few people made for a lot less work. And it was late November, so I couldn’t do much yard work. I’d see if there were leaves to rake tomorrow. Perhaps one of their friends in the neighborhood would let me come clean their houses. I went to the bookshelf and looked over the books. Rock had some crime novels. I picked one out and sat it in the spot where I’d sit after getting dinner started. I was going to cook the meat at a low temperature for several hours. It would still be raw, but it wouldn’t be cold or cool in the middle. Warm and rare was better than cold and rare. The oven preheated while I rubbed seasonings into the meat and got it tightly wrapped in foil. When it was ready, I put it into the oven and cleaned up again, washing my hands carefully, so I didn’t ruin Rock’s book. I went back out to the living room and focused on the book instead of what Gemma could be doing right now and how much I missed her. Paying attention to the book was harder than I knew it should be. It was only a few more hours, then Gemma would call me and I could hear her voice again. I knew it would make it harder, but it would also make it easier. I would know she was okay and her day had gone well. -When Rock and Carmen got home, they went to their room. I knew from the last couple weeks that they had a routine when they got home. He worked in the field each day, so he was always dirty. Rock liked taking a shower before dinner and being clean at the meal. I eyed the clock on the wall and went to check if the phone was plugged in. Gemma should have called me by now, right? When did she get off work again? I suddenly couldn’t remember anything she told me about her work schedule. “Austin, are you doing okay? You smell worried,” Carmen said from behind me, making me jump. “When does Gemma get off work? I can’t remember and she said she would call me when she got home.” She smiled and put her hand out to me. I took it and she gave me a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t worry. You’ll hear from Gemma tonight. I know she wouldn’t want you to be afraid. Let’s go get dinner ready.” “You’re sure she’s alright?” “I’m certain of it. Gemma has a lot to get taken care of on the Monday after a long weekend. She’s probably being held up by that,” Carmen told me. “Got it. Let’s go get dinner served and I can worry about it after we’ve eaten. Rock pulled out a lot of meat for dinner tonight. He must have forgotten it was just the three of us….” “He gets used to more mouths and bigger appetites fast, but always overestimates for a while after that. Come on.” We went into the kitchen and I pulled out the meat while Carmen got things for salad. She worked on making a big salad while I carefully unwrapped the meat and got it started resting. I went to fill drinks for everyone. Carmen and I usually drank water or juice, but Rock liked to have a beer after work. It must be nice to be a species that could be affected by alcohol. It didn’t seem like a beer did anything to him, though, it was just a habit of his. As I was setting the drinks on the table, someone rang the doorbell. I called out that I’d get it and went to the living room. Opening the door, I froze. Gemma was standing on the other side of the door with a suitcase and a bag on her shoulder. A million thoughts ran through my head. Did they kick her out of the pack? what were we going to do about her heat? Who the hell gave my mate a necklace? Did she already own it? Why was she here?Before I could speak, Gemma stepped forward and put a finger to my lips. She smiled at me with warmth and happiness. I missed her so much. “Ben said I could work remotely, I only have to go into the office twice a week. My heat is taken care of by this necklace I’m wearing, so I don’t have to be away from you. I could hear everything you were thinking. Don’t worry, Austin. I told you my pack isn’t like yours. They want us to be together, but they would never kick me out just because you’re a rogue,” Gemma murmured. I wrapped my arms around her and held her tight, sniffing deeply and taking in her scent. That rare smell I thought I wouldn’t get to experience outside of the zipper bag under my pillow…. I needed to get rid of that before Gemma found it and thought I was creepy. “The thought of you being gone for two weeks was killing me. I tried to be strong for you, but I was weak,” I whispered into her neck. “I was weak, too. We can be weak together. I don’t need anything but you, Austin.” “Austin? Who’s at the door? I smell Gemma,” Carmen said from behind me. “That’s because I’m back. I hope you don’t mind me shacking up with you all for the winter. Rock told me it was okay when I called him earlier,” Gemma replied, pulling out of my embrace and grabbing her bags. “He didn’t tell me he talked to you. I’ll have to have a word with him about that. He probably forgot.”I moved aside so Gemma could get in and I took her suitcase from her. She didn’t fight me on it, she just followed me to the bedroom where I set it on the bed. She set down her other bag. It was a large bag that slung over her shoulder. It looked like a giant messenger bag. “That’s my workstation. Rock said he’d help me set it up after dinner. Let’s go get some food. I didn’t eat much today.” “Because you missed me too much or because you were working too hard?” I asked. “A little bit of both. Do I get a kiss or do I have to wait?” she asked. Pulling her into my arms, I kissed Gemma deeply, then dipped her, making her giggle while she gripped me tighter. If only a few hours drove me crazy, I couldn’t imagine how Rock and Carmen had lasted a whole week… twice.Standing Gemma back up, I caressed her face. She was more precious to me than anything had ever been. I would die for her.