Bearing the Midnight Sun (Ice Bear Shifters Book 3) Read Free Page A

but he burned with anger for her. She seemed like such a good-natured, kind person. How could anyone do that to her?
    But Kat just shrugged. “It was pretty tough, but I probably deserved it. I basically ignored him and spent all of my time with my dad. And I cried a lot. It had been like that for a long time. I mean, it got worse toward the end. But the whole time my dad had cancer I was kind of a mess.”
    “Kat, you went through something really hard. You lost the last family member you had. You’re allowed to be a little bit of a mess. You’re allowed to be a lot of a mess, in fact. You need time to grieve.”
    Kat stared down at her beer, looking uncomfortable. “I guess. But, when Ethan broke up with me, he said something that really bothered me. He told me that I didn’t seem like I knew who I was. That I just went to work and went through the motions, then came home to mindlessly watch television. And I realized that it was true. I used to be this fun-loving person who was always up for an adventure. But somewhere along the way I lost my spark and started just getting by. I decided that maybe if I took some time and went away for a few months—somewhere far away and adventurous—that I could get my spark back. During college, I always wanted to visit Alaska, but it never worked out for me to go. I decided now was as a good a time as any to come here. Then, I discovered that the midnight sun stuff was going on while I was on leave, and I knew I had to come to Glacier Point so I could see it. Sorry for being cliché,” Kat said, giving Tyler an apologetic glance.
    Tyler grinned at her. “It’s okay. It is a pretty cool thing to experience.”
    “Well, anyways, that’s how I ended up here. I got a bunch of money as an inheritance from my dad when he died, so I could afford to take some time off. I rented a cabin for four months, and decided to come ‘find myself,’ or whatever the expression is that the cool kids are using these days. I’m not sure if I want to stay at my job in Nebraska, but at least I have the option to go back after four months. This vacation will give me some time to think. I’m hoping I can get some clarity and decide where to go from here. And I want to get in kick ass shape, which is where you come in,” Kat said, grinning at Tyler.
    “I can certainly help with that.”
    “I feel like if I can just get my life in order and get myself back in shape, that I can win Ethan back. He’ll see that the person I became when my dad died was just a bump in the road. I’m better than that.” Kat smiled brightly. She put up a brave face, but the pain in her eyes had been obvious all through dinner.
    “Kat, I’m a big believer in doing things to better yourself. I think it’s amazing that you came here by yourself to take a break and take some time to reset. But do it for yourself. Don’t do it for some asshole who wasn’t there for you when you needed him most. That’s not love. If he couldn’t handle the fact that you were sad because your dad died, then he doesn’t deserve you.”
    Kat tilted her head sideways to look at Tyler. “I’m not surprised to hear you say that. All of my friends back home told me the same thing, in so many words. But what Ethan and I had was good. I’m determined to find myself again, and to win him back in the process.” Kat took a final swig from her beer mug, and pushed away her half eaten nachos. Then she stood and pulled some cash out of her wallet, throwing it down on the bar top next to her plate.
    “I should get going. I’m still adjusting to the time zone here, so I’m pretty tired. And I have a big day, tomorrow. Big workout coming up!”
    Tyler nodded and smiled at her, raising his glass in a farewell cheers as she headed toward the entrance. But he felt anger rising like bile in his throat. She could smile all she wanted, and make as many excuses as she wanted to for her scumbag ex-fiancé. But Tyler could easily see she was hurting,