Billionaire Alpha's 99 Deadly Games novel Chapter 135

Chapter 135

I couldn’t stick around my office with his scent everywhere. It was too overwhelming. I couldn’t leave until I stopped crying, though. It was like I was an emotional mess and I didn’t have the excuse of baby hormones like Kelsey. My emotions were just on overdrive. I longed for something, someone I knew I couldn’t have. I forced myself to calm down. I checked the mirror I carried in my purse, and didn’t think anyone would notice the slight red puffiness around my eyes.

I gathered my things and left. I shot Kyle an email that I was taking an extended leave of absence and would explain later. I went straight home and started packing my bags. I jumped on the computer and tried to book a room at a spa I knew a few hours north. I thought maybe I could take a leave of absence to spend some time with our cousins in the Alaskan Pack. That would buy me a few weeks, maybe even a few months, but I knew I needed to move quickly.

Everything was booked solid. The smell of gingerbread wafted down the hall and it struck me that I didn’t even know what day it was anymore. I checked my phone and was shocked to find tomorrow was Christmas Eve. Mom had started her baking and wouldn’t stop until Christmas morning. The smells made my stomach growl, but I chose to wallow in misery, alone in my room until exhaustion finally took me into a restless night’s sleep.

Waking the next morning, I quickly showered with hopes of feeling human. It was Christmas Eve and the realization hit me that I hadn’t bought a single thing for anyone. I had selfishly been absorbed by my own drama. Grabbing my car keys, I was determined to rectify the situation.

It was an hour drive to the closest thing that could even be considered a city or anything close to decent shopping. Everything was last minute picked over, but after several hours of therapeutic shopping I had gifts for everyone. On a whim I grabbed a blue and green striped T–shirt and a much too expensive black watch. I was home and wrapping my presents before it dawned on me that I had already gotten all the guys‘ gifts. A small voice in the back of my head told me they were for Patrick.

I gasped. Looking at the shirt and watch, I knew they were both for him, and I knew they’d look great on him, but I hadn’t consciously done it. What did that mean? I couldn’t allow myself to think about it.

I headed to the kitchen and spent the remainder of my day baking and laughing and enjoying my family. I didn’t want to break the news that I was leaving. I now realized that the next day was not only Christmas Day but also Tuesday, and you didn’t mess with Mom’s Tuesday night family dinners unless you had a death wish, especially not on Christmas.

I had managed to book a last minute room at a new resort and spa I hadn’t been to before, four

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Billionaire Alpha’s 99 Deadly Games

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Chapter 135

hours north of San Marco. I would be leaving after Christmas dinner and it was booked for five nights. From there I would decide if I was heading further north for a longer stay away or growing a pair and coming home to face the inevitable. I knew Mom wouldn’t be happy about my decision, but I thought she’d understand.