" When Zev still didn’t say anything, Toby visibly stiffened,
seemingly steeling his courage, and then continued speaking. “Is
something going on with Jonah?”
“We haven’t talked about Jonah since he moved away,” Zev
answered after a short pause.
“I know.”
“That was three and a half years ago,” Zev continued.
“I know.”
He probably should have been surprised that Toby had known
he’d kept in touch with Jonah, but Zev wasn’t. Lori was pretty
perceptive, and she probably knew exactly where Zev went when he
traveled for business. And what Lori knew, Toby knew. Whether they
were aware of the nature of Zev’s feelings for the human wasn’t clear,
but Zev was too tired to try to make excuses.
“He’s gonna go to medical school.” Zev still hadn’t moved his arm from his face, so he couldn’t see Toby’s reaction.
“Medical school?” Toby’s voice was tempered but confused.
“That’s, like, four years of school and then four years of
residency. Which means eight more years away from Etzgadol.” Eight
more years away from me.
The last part was really the crux of the problem, but Zev didn’t
dare say it out loud. It’d give away too much. Still, it didn’t make
sense. A few years away so they could grow up and be old enough to
tie when they came back together, Zev was almost able to understand.
But that time had passed, Zev had figured out how to tie with a male,
and he was ready for his mate to join him.
Why would nature give him a mate who insisted on staying
away? Zev felt like he was missing something. Like there was a lesson
he should be learning, but he had no clue what it was. Instead, he just
felt frustrated and angry. So many thoughts were swirling in his mind
that he hadn’t registered Toby’s long silence until the other man spoke
again.
“You know my mom works with Doc Carson.”
The change in topic was weird, but welcome, so Zev engaged
Toby in the conversation.
“Yeah, I know.”
“So I was asking her the other day if she thinks he’d take me on at
the clinic when I get my nursing degree, and you know what she told
me?”
The conversation was about as interesting as watching paint peel,
but at least it got Zev thinking about something other than Jonah.
Almost. "
― Cardeno C. , Wake Me Up Inside (Mates, #1)