As I explain, her face changes from cold anger to reluctant interest. “Well,” she declares finally. “It’s not an apology, but… not bad, Cristine.”
My relief is instant. “So you’ll help us?”
She rolls her eyes. “Her, Crispy. Like hell am I doing any of this for you.”
“I know. Thank you, Jess.”
She flicks me a middle finger before she turns around. “Emmett will get you when it’s safe,” she calls. “Don’t touch any of my shit, Cristina.”
“That’s not even close,” I drawl back. “Can I call you Julia?”
“Try it,” she calls back cheerfully. “If you dare.”
I do not dare. So I stay by the truck, waiting for Emmett to come out. Gray grabs the bags for him and Logan. “You want a hand?”
I shake my head. I want to do this myself.
It’s a good thirty minutes before Emmett comes ambling out. His head tilts and he whistles when he catches sight of the bags. “I’m not sure all of that will fit,” he deadpans. “Jess has taken over my living room for a movie night, so you’ve probably got two hours, max.”
Perfect. Refusing his help, I carry the bags up, Emmett directing me to their room before withdrawing back to the bar downstairs. Setting the first batch of bags down, I look around.
The room is soaked in Sienna’s scent, though there’s a bitter aftertaste to its usual sweetness that catches at the back of my throat. It smells like sickness.
My stomach clenches as I get to work, unpacking the bags and heading out to the truck until the room is awash with various bits of stuff.
Omegas can be territorial about their bedding, so I lay the blankets and pillows out towards the bottom of the bed so she can choose her favorites. The lights get untangled and I wind them around the wooden frame, making sure the plug is easily accessible. We bought some wicker baskets, and I make use of a nearly bare bookshelf on the other side of the room to stack up her lotions, spreading out the candles and adding a few other pieces.
When I’m done, I feel a satisfaction I haven’t felt in a long, long time as I gaze around.
It’s not much – not in light of what I could have given her, if we were home, in Navarre. But we’re not there, thanks to me, and this is the best I can do.
I wish I could see her reaction, but it’ll be something entirely different if I’m here when she gets back. So I gather up all of the trash into the bags, taking it with me and closing the door softly as I head back outside. Emmett calls me as I pass the bar.
“Coming in tonight?”
When I turn to look at him, he shrugs. “Sienna hasn’t been coming down much. Doesn’t make much sense, you sittin’ out there when you could be in here.”
Slowly, I shake my head. “We’ll wait,” I say with a half-smile. “Omegas can be territorial. I’d rather have an invitation.”
Emmett looks around before he beckons me closer. When I approach, he leans forward. There’s a panicked look in his eye.
“I don’t know much about omegas,” he says quietly. “But I might need to learn. Think you can help me?”
My eyebrows fly up as I read between the lines. “Truthfully, I’m the absolute worst person to ask, given the circumstances. But I can probably give you something.”
He exhales. “Anything that stops me feeling like I’m doing everything wrong would be great.”
Leaning against the bar, I can’t help but grin. “Jessalyn tying you up in knots?”
He shrugs, but the tips of his ears turn red. “She’s something.”
“She is,” I agree. I’ve no idea if an omega and beta relationship could even work, but something tells me that if Jessalyn is set on Emmett, they’ll work it out.
26
SIENNA
Iblink as I notice the credits rolling on the screen. “Wow. It finished already?”
