Chapter Twenty One: Back to Basics
{ Jessa }

I sat in the booth and looked at my cellphone. It was the same text that Vale had sent me this morning asking me to meet him at our favorite diner.

I yawned and took a sip of the black coffee I ordered. To be honest I slept like shit since Vale came over last night, between his telling me about his mate and then him just randomly showing up at my house out of the blue and Wex's and my Wolf's input about Vale having mutual feelings of attraction toward me...it was all too much that it kept me from getting a good nights sleep.

And to top it off My brother had called me last night as well, He told me our mother had fallen and messed up her right elbow and her tailbone pretty bad, and given her age, recovery won't come easy if at all since she hasn't exactly shifted in years.

"Hey" He said as he walked in and hugged me, I tensed but then couldn't help but melt into his hug. "Sorry I'm late...you order already?"

I nodded, "Got you your maple bacon pancakes with a side of sausgae links and eggs sunnyside up...and a glass of water and childrens milk."

He smirked handsomely, "You know how much I love those little cartons of milk.

I nodded but found it almost impossible to look at him full on, "Sure do." I said as I looked at my cup of coffee, before taking another drink.

Our food didn't take long to arrive and we ate in a comfortable silence, bringing up bits of the dance from last night here and there every so often.

When I finished up I pushed my plate back.

"This was so much better than the boring girl talk my sisters would have put you through, trying to be nosey."

I nodded, "I'm actually glad you asked me to come out with you Vale."

"Me too Pinky." He smiled.

"We need to talk."

His smile fell, "What's up?"

I told him about my mom's accident and he felt bad.

"My brother and his wife work a lot and she needs someone to care for her right now, she's too weak to travel back so I'll have to go up there and take care of her for a while."

"Of course." He sound sympathetically, "Take as long as you need."

"I want to help you before I go though, get a room set up for your ...guest." I said trying to be discreet since we were in a public place.

He smirked, "Thanks Pinky."

"It's nothing...I'm assuming the both of you will get the second bedroom ready when the time comes?" I asked in refrence to the nursery the baby will need.

He nodded.

"We'll go and pick out all of the furniture and get everything sent over and then you'll have to set everything up, but I'm sure she'll enjoy the effort you put in for her."

He nodded and we left shortly after to pick out stuff for his mate.

We went store to store and got just about everything, "You sure we shouldn't get like a crib and stuff?" He asked.

"No, that's something you should do together for sure."

"Then that's it." He said with a sigh.

"And I should get going then." I said. "...Vale..."

"Hmmm?" He asked as he put is credit card away and then gave me his full attention. We were standing outside the store and oddly enough there wasn't anyone around.

I knew this would probably be the last time I get to lay it all out one on one with him before his mate gets here.

"I think it would be best if when I get back, we go back to being strictly professional."

"What do you mean? " He asked confused. "We are professional."

I shook my head, "from a girls point of view, I wouldn't want to see my guy hugging some other girl, calling her nicknames, taking her out to lunch or dinner so often, having her around his family outside of pack events, no late night calls just to chat...truth is you're one of my best friends Vale." I said getting a little teary eyed and I hated that I was so emotional right now.

"I would do anything to help you and keep you happy, and I know you are going to be beyond happy with your mate...and I am so pleased that you get the chance to know what love is like with your mate, but I think my going away right now will do us both some good...distance ya know."

He nodded a little unsure, "I feel like I'm missing something Jessa."

I shook my head, was he really oblivious to the fact that I was falling for him?

I shook my head, "I'll be back as soon as I can okay...try not to destroy the pack while i'm gone."

We both knew our conversation was over and normally when we parted ways we'd always just hug each other goodbye.

He looked at me and I looked at him, neither of us knew just what to do.

I sighed and stepped forward I wrapped my arms around his waist and felt as the lump in my throat grew more.

"I- I don't want to leave you." I said into his chest.

"I know what you mean." He sounded sadly as he hugged me tightly.

I stepped back and looked up into his handsome face, "Goodbye Monkey."

He struggled to blink the unshed tears from his eyes, "Be safe Pinky."

And with that I walked to my car, let myself in and dove away from him.

I looked in the rearview mirror and saw him just watching me go, unmoving, just watching.

The tears finally fell from my eyes mostly because I knew that when I get back nothing would be the same for us.

I mourned what we had to let go for the good of his future.

I drove on and the further away from the pack I got, the less my heart ached and my tears eventually slowed.

I let my windows down and took in the fresh air as I drove, but both my wolf and I couldn't shake how heartbroken Vale looked before we left.

It took everything in me to continue on and not turn the car around.

"The distance is good." I said to myself over and over almost like a mantra 'The distance is good.'