Chapter\u00a0779<\/p>\n
Judy\u2019s\u00a0POV<\/p>\n
Tabby\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0little\u00a0tipsy\u00a0when\u00a0she\u00a0arrived.\u00a0She\u00a0gave\u00a0me\u00a0a\u00a0large\u00a0smile\u00a0and\u00a0wrapped\u00a0her\u00a0arms\u00a0around\u00a0me\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0big\u00a0hug.\u00a0She\u00a0looked\u00a0exactly\u00a0the\u00a0same,\u00a0but\u00a0stronger,\u00a0and\u00a0her\u00a0hair\u00a0was\u00a0shorter.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u00a0smell\u00a0like\u00a0tequila,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0giggled,\u00a0pulling\u00a0her\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0room.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0just\u00a0returned\u00a0from\u00a0patrol\u00a0and\u00a0had\u00a0a\u00a0few\u00a0drinks\u00a0with\u00a0some\u00a0others\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0force,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0admitted.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0called\u00a0you\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0bar\u00a0up\u00a0the\u00a0street.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0so\u00a0good\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0you,\u00a0Tabby,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said,\u00a0meaning\u00a0it.\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0missed\u00a0my\u00a0friend,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0felt\u00a0bad\u00a0that\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0tell\u00a0her\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0region.\u00a0But\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0here\u00a0now,\u00a0and\u00a0that\u00a0was\u00a0all\u00a0that\u00a0mattered.<\/p>\n
\u201cTabby!\u201d\u00a0Nan\u00a0said,\u00a0hugging\u00a0her\u00a0next.\u00a0\u201cWas\u00a0wondering\u00a0when\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0get\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell,\u00a0if\u00a0you\u00a0guys\u00a0told\u00a0me\u00a0you\u2019d\u00a0be\u00a0here\u00a0this\u00a0weekend,\u00a0I\u00a0would\u00a0have\u00a0made\u00a0sure\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0you\u00a0sooner.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u00a0just\u00a0got\u00a0in\u00a0this\u00a0morning,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0tell\u00a0her.\u00a0\u201cWe\u00a0spent\u00a0the\u00a0day\u00a0resting.\u00a0We\u00a0are\u00a0jet\u2013lagged\u00a0and\u00a0exhausted.\u00a0But\u00a0in\u00a0much\u00a0need\u00a0of\u00a0a\u00a0girl\u2019s\u00a0night.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u00a0were\u00a0just\u00a0about\u00a0to\u00a0order\u00a0room\u00a0service,\u201d\u00a0Nan\u00a0added,\u00a0handing\u00a0her\u00a0a\u00a0room\u00a0service\u00a0menu.\u00a0\u201cPick\u00a0out\u00a0what\u00a0you\u00a0want.\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0call\u00a0them\u00a0and\u00a0order.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGet\u00a0extra\u00a0wine,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0tell\u00a0her\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0go\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0small\u00a0kitchen\u00a0to\u00a0grab\u00a0the\u00a0cups\u00a0and\u00a0plates.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf\u00a0course,\u201d\u00a0Nan\u00a0said\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0grin.\u00a0\u201cAlthough\u00a0you\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0drink\u00a0it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0not\u00a0for\u00a0me,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0call\u00a0back\u00a0with\u00a0a chuckle\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0grab\u00a0a\u00a0water\u00a0bottle\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0fridge.<\/p>\n
When\u00a0I\u00a0returned\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0living\u00a0space,\u00a0Irene\u00a0was\u00a0seated\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0couch,\u00a0her\u00a0hands\u00a0tucked\u00a0beneath\u00a0her.\u00a0She\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0looking\u00a0at\u00a0Tabby,\u00a0but\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0worrying\u00a0her\u00a0bottom\u00a0lip,\u00a0so\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0she\u00a0wanted\u00a0to\u00a0ask\u00a0questions,\u00a0and\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0suppressing\u00a0them.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo,\u00a0what\u2019s\u00a0been\u00a0going\u00a0on\u00a0with\u00a0you\u00a0girls?\u201d\u00a0Tabby\u00a0said,\u00a0sitting\u00a0on\u00a0one\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0love\u00a0sofas,\u00a0her\u00a0feet\u00a0tucked\u00a0beneath\u00a0her.\u00a0\u201cWhat\u00a0have\u00a0I\u00a0missed?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA\u00a0lot,\u00a0it\u00a0seems,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0say,\u00a0glancing\u00a0at\u00a0Irene\u2019s\u00a0face,\u00a0unsure\u00a0if\u00a0I\u00a0should\u00a0say\u00a0anything\u00a0or\u00a0just\u00a0let\u00a0Irene\u00a0talk\u00a0about\u00a0it\u00a0when\u00a0she\u2019s\u00a0ready.\u00a0\u201cWhat\u00a0about\u00a0you,\u00a0Tabby?\u00a0Anything new\u00a0happening\u00a0around\u00a0here?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve\u00a0been\u00a0so\u00a0wrapped\u00a0up\u00a0in\u00a0work\u00a0that\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0hard\u00a0for\u00a0me\u00a0to\u00a0have\u00a0a\u00a0life,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0admitted.\u00a0\u201cThis\u00a0week\u00a0is\u00a0the\u00a0only\u00a0time\u00a0I\u00a0have\u00a0semi\u2013time\u00a0to\u00a0myself,\u00a0so\u00a0this\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0good\u00a0week\u00a0for\u00a0you\u00a0to\u00a0visit.\u00a0Are\u00a0you\u00a0here\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0ball\u00a0on\u00a0Saturday?\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u00a0Alpha\u00a0Jeremy\u00a0invited\u00a0us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s\u00a0odd;\u00a0he\u00a0never\u00a0invites\u00a0outsiders.\u00a0But\u00a0I\u00a0know\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0been\u00a0wanting\u00a0to\u00a0expand\u00a0and\u00a0make\u00a0better\u00a0connections.\u00a0So,\u00a0it\u00a0makes\u00a0sense\u00a0that\u00a0he\u2019d\u00a0start\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0Landry\u00a0foundation.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0bit\u00a0my\u00a0lip;\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0it\u00a0had\u00a0nothing\u00a0to\u00a0do\u00a0with\u00a0Gavin\u2019s\u00a0company\u00a0and\u00a0everything\u00a0to\u00a0do\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0favor\u00a0Erik\u00a0pulled.<\/p>\n
1\/4<\/p>\n
But\u00a0I\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0tell\u00a0Tabby\u00a0that\u00a0information,\u00a0at\u00a0least\u00a0not\u00a0right\u00a0now.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy\u00a0do\u00a0you\u00a0look\u00a0so\u00a0down?\u201d\u00a0Tabby\u00a0asked, narrowing\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0at\u00a0Irene.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0know\u00a0we\u00a0aren\u2019t\u00a0close,\u00a0but\u00a0you\u00a0could\u00a0at\u00a0least\u00a0say\u00a0hello.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s\u00a0not trying\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0rude;\u00a0she\u2019s\u00a0just\u00a0going\u00a0through\u00a0a\u00a0lot,\u201d\u00a0Nan\u00a0said\u00a0in\u00a0Irene\u2019s\u00a0defense.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s\u00a0going\u00a0on?\u201d\u00a0Tabby\u00a0asked,\u00a0glancing\u00a0around\u00a0the\u00a0room\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0frown.\u00a0\u201cWhy\u00a0do\u00a0I\u00a0get\u00a0the\u00a0feeling\u00a0you\u00a0aren\u2019t\u00a0telling\u00a0me\u00a0something?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHave\u00a0you\u00a0seen\u00a0Chuck\u00a0around?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0blurt,\u00a0making\u00a0Irene\u2019s\u00a0eyes\u00a0go\u00a0wide.<\/p>\n
Tabby\u00a0frowned\u00a0at\u00a0my\u00a0question.<\/p>\n
\u201cSure;\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0unit,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0replied\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0slight\u00a0shrug.\u00a0\u201cHe\u2019s\u00a0as\u00a0cocky\u00a0as\u00a0ever.\u00a0Why\u00a0do\u00a0ask?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs\u00a0he\u00a0around\u00a0this\u00a0week\u00a0as\u00a0well?\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0nodded,\u00a0her\u00a0brows\u00a0furrowing.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u00a0but\u00a0right\u00a0now\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0on\u00a0patrol\u00a0with\u00a0some\u00a0others,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0replied.\u00a0\u201cWhat\u2019s\u00a0this\u00a0about?\u201d<\/p>\n
you<\/p>\n
\u201cDo\u00a0you\u00a0remember\u00a0the\u00a0last\u00a0time\u00a0you,\u00a0Chuck,\u00a0and\u00a0Shirley\u00a0visited\u00a0our\u00a0pack?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked.\u00a0\u201cDo you\u00a0remember\u00a0how\u00a0close\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0to\u00a0Irene?\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0thought\u00a0about\u00a0it\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0moment before\u00a0a\u00a0flicker\u00a0of\u00a0something\u00a0went\u00a0through\u00a0her\u00a0eyes,\u00a0though\u00a0it\u00a0was gone\u00a0in\u00a0an<\/p>\n
instant.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh,\u00a0yes,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said,\u00a0glancing\u00a0at\u00a0Irene\u00a0worriedly.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0do\u00a0remember\u00a0them\u00a0spending\u00a0a\u00a0lot\u00a0of\u00a0time\u00a0together\u00a0and\u00a0disappearing\u00a0quite\u00a0often.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0glanced\u00a0at\u00a0Irene;\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0watching\u00a0me,\u00a0waiting\u00a0for\u00a0me\u00a0to\u00a0continue,\u00a0and\u00a0my\u00a0heart\u00a0was\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0throat.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs\u00a0it\u00a0okay\u00a0if\u00a0I\u00a0tell\u00a0her?\u201d<\/p>\n
After\u00a0a\u00a0moment\u00a0of\u00a0hesitation,\u00a0Irene\u00a0nodded,\u00a0giving\u00a0me\u00a0the\u00a0consent\u00a0I\u00a0needed\u00a0to\u00a0tell\u00a0Tabby\u00a0the\u00a0entire\u00a0truth.<\/p>\n
\u201cTurns\u00a0out\u00a0they\u00a0are\u00a0mates.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tabby\u00a0gasped\u00a0and\u00a0covered\u00a0her\u00a0mouth\u00a0with\u00a0her\u00a0hands;\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0went\u00a0wider\u00a0than\u00a0I\u00a0had ever\u00a0seen\u00a0them.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0see\u00a0that\u00a0coming,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0breathed.\u00a0\u201cLike\u00a0fated\u00a0mates?\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u00a0like\u00a0wolves\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0get\u00a0enough\u00a0of\u00a0each\u00a0other\u00a0type\u00a0of\u00a0mates,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0say,\u00a0leaning\u00a0back\u00a0against\u00a0the\u00a0couch\u00a0cushion.<\/p>\n
Nan\u00a0joined\u00a0me\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0couch,\u00a0her\u00a0phone\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cRoom\u00a0service\u00a0is\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0way,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0announced.\u00a0\u201cHope\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0hungry\u00a0because\u00a0I\u00a0ordered\u00a0a\u00a0lot\u00a0of food\u00a0and\u00a0even<\/p>\n
more\u00a0wine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPerfect,\u201d\u00a0Tabby\u00a0said\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0grin\u00a0before\u00a0she\u00a0turned\u00a0back\u00a0to\u00a0me.\u00a0\u201cSo,\u00a0tell\u00a0me\u00a0what\u2019s\u00a0going\u00a0on?\u00a0Chuck\u00a0is\u00a0Irene\u2019s<\/p>\n
2\/4<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0779<\/p>\n
mate?\u00a0He\u2019s\u00a0such\u00a0a\u00a0flirt,\u00a0I\u00a0honestly\u00a0thought\u00a0nothing\u00a0of\u00a0it\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Irene\u00a0flinched\u00a0at\u00a0her\u00a0words.<\/p>\n
\u201cHave\u00a0you\u00a0seen\u00a0Chuck\u00a0around\u00a0lately?\u00a0Like\u2026\u00a0with\u00a0anyone\u00a0else?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked,\u00a0hating\u00a0that\u00a0this\u00a0line\u00a0of\u00a0questioning\u00a0was\u00a0hurting\u00a0Irene.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0thought\u00a0about\u00a0it\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0moment,\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0darting\u00a0between\u00a0me\u00a0and\u00a0Irene.<\/p>\n
Ruby is a master of holiday romance and slow-burn love stories that warm the heart like a crackling fire. Her novels weave festive magic with lingering glances and tender moments, drawing readers into cozy worlds where love unfolds one snowflake at a time. Off the page, she\u2019s baking cookies and dreaming under twinkling lights.<\/p>\n
We Built a Kingdom From Ashes That Still Remembered Love by Aila Frost 779 Chapter\u00a0779 Judy\u2019s\u00a0POV Tabby\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0little\u00a0tipsy\u00a0when\u00a0she\u00a0arrived.\u00a0She\u00a0gave\u00a0me\u00a0a\u00a0large\u00a0smile\u00a0and\u00a0wrapped\u00a0her\u00a0arms\u00a0around\u00a0me\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0big\u00a0hug.\u00a0She\u00a0looked\u00a0exactly\u00a0the\u00a0same,\u00a0but\u00a0stronger,\u00a0and\u00a0her\u00a0hair\u00a0was\u00a0shorter. \u201cYou\u00a0smell\u00a0like\u00a0tequila,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0giggled,\u00a0pulling\u00a0her\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0room. \u201cI\u00a0just\u00a0returned\u00a0from\u00a0patrol\u00a0and\u00a0had\u00a0a\u00a0few\u00a0drinks\u00a0with\u00a0some\u00a0others\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0force,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0admitted.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0called\u00a0you\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0bar\u00a0up\u00a0the\u00a0street.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0so\u00a0good\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0you,\u00a0Tabby,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said,\u00a0meaning\u00a0it.\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0missed\u00a0my\u00a0friend,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0felt\u00a0bad\u00a0that\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0tell\u00a0her\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0region.\u00a0But\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0here\u00a0now,\u00a0and\u00a0that\u00a0was\u00a0all\u00a0that\u00a0mattered. 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