“That’s Em’s new pack. She’s found her mates.” Miss Eloise said it so sweetly that my outrage got confused, and I sputtered out a few nonsense sounds before finding some real words.
“When did this happen? She told me and Mariska nothing. This is major! Why didn’t she say anything to us?”
“Perhaps the same reason you haven’t said anything to either Em or Mari?” Miss Eloise gave me that look with one eyebrow arched which declared her ultimate wisdom without rubbing it in my face.
I huffed and grunted. She had a point. I was an emotional mess. I didn’t know how I felt about Ozzi and Jason, never mind trying to explain it to my friends. Especially with Mariska going through her heat and dealing with the Silver Tree Farm pack. I’d seen her elated and devastated within the time span of a few days. So yeah… I understood why Emberlee hadn’t told us, but I didn’t like it.
“Em is happy, and she has her whole family looking out for her. She promised me that she’s going to continue going to college here in town, but I suspect she’ll be moving out of Primrose House and renting a place with her pack.” Miss Eloise’s eyes shimmered with tears. “I’m losing all my girls.”
“No!” I flung my arms around her and hugged her. “You have me. You’ll always have me. I’m never leaving Primrose House.”
“Oh, sweetheart, don’t say such things.” She put her phone down and patted my arm.
“No, I love living there. The new Omegas who will be moving in better appreciate the slice of heaven they found.” I would make sure that they did, and that they helped out around the house. With Miss Eloise recovering from her stroke, she wasn’t going to be able to do as much as she once did. I would have to be the assistant housemother, and I would do it for the rest of my life if she needed me. Miss Eloise helped me when I was at my lowest, and I owed her everything.
“You never know what might happen.” Her eyes darted to the door, and she gave me a smile that was strangely omniscient. “You should get home and have some dinner. I’m ready to have a good night's sleep and wake up to a beautiful Christmas day.”
There was a stone in my gut that felt suddenly heavy. I didn’t want to leave, but that was clearly a dismissal. I stood and fussed around for a minute making sure everything she needed was in reach. “Anything else you need? I have more cookies in my backpack.”
“You’ve brought enough treats, dear.” She chuckled and glanced over my shoulder as if telling me that’s the way to the door. “I’m well taken care of here. Stop worrying. Thank you for decorating the room and for my Christmas pajamas. It wouldn’t have felt right going to sleep tonight without them.”
Geez. I could take a hint.
Heaving a sigh, I gave her one more hug. “All right. Have a good night, and I’ll be here as soon as visiting hours start tomorrow. Happy Christmas Eve.”
“Happy Christmas Eve, dear.” Miss Eloise waved me off.
I pulled on my coat and grabbed my bag, my shoulders slumping. I didn’t want to go home. I’d be all alone, and I didn’t want to cry myself to sleep.
Tansy was asleep as I passed her. The poor woman napped a lot. I didn’t know what was wrong with her, and I suspected she might have said something was wrong to spend time in the hospital to get sleep. I’d left some cookies and a fruitcake for her too.
I’d scheduled a ride share to pick me up at a few minutes after eight, so at least I didn’t have to wait. Maybe if Culver’s was open, I’d get the driver to go there and I could stuff myself with butter burgers all night.
Ho ho ho. Merry freaking Christmas to me.
On the verge of tears, I kept my head down as I exited the room and almost immediately ran into an iceberg.
I bounced back, gasping in surprise, with an apology on my tongue, but then he caught my hands to steady me. A hot zing went through me as my eyes widened.
Jason.
And Ozzi.
Dressed not only in the Christmas sweaters I’d given them, but each in a fancy long tailed jacket with top hats.
Top. Hats.
What was going on?
My body sang at being so close to them again, but my emotions were doing the craziest interpretive dance that had so many ups and downs, I couldn’t keep up.
Realizing I wasn’t breathing, I inhaled and nearly fell backwards. Earthy myrrh and black sugar mixed with lavenderand a woodsy musk that embraced me and whispered everything was right in the universe again. A heat pang knocked louder, making me clench my thighs together.
“I’m so sorry, gorgeous. I thought you’d see us.” Jason still held my hands, and I gently removed them.
Oh, I saw them. I could never unsee this glory.
Each of them had a sprig of holly on their lapels, and Jason had a bit of mistletoe in the band of his hat. Silly man. They wore soft deerskin gloves. Jason’s were red to match his coat, and Ozzi’s were forest green. Christmas colors.
