An hour later, she texted me to let me know she was heading home.
I grabbed an old drawstring sports bag, then shoved a pair of shorts. The straps were long enough for me to wear them when I shifted.
I hurried through the forest; being away from her was like a stoner without his drugs. I felt like I was going through Little Bird withdrawal….
My heart skipped a beat when I stepped out of the tree line and saw her waiting for me. I ran towards her, tackling her to the ground, covering her in wolf kisses, and making her squeal and giggle.
"Clay!" Giggle, "Stop!" Giggle
Her arms wrapped around my furry neck in a tight hug. "God, I missed your fuzzy butt," she whispered.
I missed her too.
I pulled away from her so she could stand. She motioned for me to follow her as she walked around the house's front. "I will, Mamaw, while you run for my bedroom." She explained, grabbing the bags.
She held the door open for me, then showed her Mamaw the new dress while I hurried down the hall...
Once I made it to her bedroom, I shifted, pulled on the shorts from my bag, then sat on her bed, looking around her room.
It has changed some since the last time I was here; now, she has large printouts of me in my Guardian form and a framed collage of multiple pictures of the two of us and our friends. She has changed her comforter for one with a giant wolf howling at the moon. I was happy to see more of her personality.
My eyes landed on the picture of her and her mother. The little girl in that photo was so innocent and full of joy.
I had been holding the framed photo when the door opened. Eve's eyes landed on what was in my hands. Sitting beside me, she took the photo, smiling at her mother.
"For fifteen years, my mother rarely dated." She said, "Her love for me was all she needed. She was my best friend and always there for me when I was sick or had a bad day."
She placed the frame back on the nightstand, sat beside me, and then laid her head on my shoulder. My heart ached at the sight of her tears. "Clay, I'm so glad we will always have each other." She said, looking up at me.
I pulled her into my arms and held her tight. "Me too, Little Bird. Me too"
After making out, she fell asleep with her head on my chest. I promised to stay, but I told her I had to leave early in the morning to prepare for school.