We eat, but the conversation doesn’t stop. Between bites, he starts asking more questions.
Your heat is coming.
Yes. In liketwo weeks or so if my calculations are right.
James gives me a knowing look, like I’m missing the question he’s asking but hasn’t actually spoken. I pick up a fry that’s coated in gravy and eat it.
Are you gonna ask someone to help you? Or are you playing chicken with biology again?
I roll my eyes at him. My cheeks burn, and I debate telling him before giving in. He is my bestie, and he’d tell me if I was crazy or not.
I actually talked with Lincoln about it last night. Asked him to go through my heat with me.
James lights up instantly.
“Good,” he says, both signed and spoken. “You should ask Milton too. Maybe even Korbin.”
I choke on a bite of Schnitzel, smacking his shoulder once I recover. He only shrugs, taking a bite of his own food before signing.
What? Milton sounds sweet. Safe. And you like him. And he likes you, even if he’s taking his sweet ass time showing you. You’re an omega, babe. Run the show.Have all the alpha knots.
I hide my face with my hands, laughing, though the warm flutter in my chest tells me he’s not wrong.
Maybe I will. Let’s watch Wicked now.
That’s my girl. Now I need to find me some alphas.
James gives me a wink, and we settle in, spending the rest of the day binge-watching television. Making popcorn, eating snacks, and when my parents get home, he stays for dinner.
Throughout it all, the guys and I message back and forth. Not only in our group chat, but privately as well.
Even Benton, when he comes home, is unusually nice. Never once bringing up the guys.
I’m on cloud nine.
The next morning, I wake up with a new determination. I’ve spoken with Lincoln about helping me through my heat. But today I plan to ask him what he thinks about Milton joining us.
I run over the conversation a million times in my head, thinking of every answer he could potentially give me.
Logic finally wins out. I’ll simply ask him if he'd be okay if Milton joined and helped him if he needed it. I’ve heard it’s hard for one alpha to sustain an omega in heat, and I don’t want to be a burden to him.
They’ve all mentioned their intentions for me. Is it too soon to think about my heat with the others? Lincoln and I, well, we’ve had sex. It’s just logical for him at this point. I don’t want him to think he’s not enough or that I care about one of them more than the other. Fuck me, how do multi-member packs do this? My parents choose to just be with each other. So it’s not like they have any insight for me.
My stomach swirls with nerves the entire drive to their house. But when I get there, no one's home. No one answers the door. I should’ve messaged them. Lincoln’s probably at work, and the guys are most likely at the rink or doing something press wise.
I just sit there in the driveway for a long moment. My heart deflated, any excitement unhurriedly cooling into disappointment. Should I message them? Tell them I’m here? Fuck, that makes me sound needy. I haven’t heard from them since this morning.
Reaching down to the console, I pick up my phone and open the group chat. One simple message, that's it. Then I’ll play off what they say. I type a simple hey whats up and hit send.I wait for a minute. There’s no response. No tiny bubbles bouncing even, saying someone’s typing. No little checkmark indicating t’s been read.
I’m being ridiculous.
I decide to leave, starting my car and backing out of the driveway and onto the street. I make it to the first red light when my phone lights up in bright rapid flashes, my custom alert for any and everything Brooks or Scorpion related. I wanted to make sure I was notified of any leaks having to do with our relationship.
My pulse jumps as I open the screen. It’s an official PR release from the Scorpions.
SCORPIONS PR OFFICIAL ALERT:
The caption gets my attention right away, and I drive until I find a safe place to pull over and read the PR release. My heart pounding as I shift the car into gear and read.
