SIXTY
Jez
APPARENTLY, I WASN’Tthe only one panicking. Fifteen minutes after Tony left to share the news, he was back at my door, fidgeting awkwardly.
“They want to know if you feel well enough to come upstairs and talk about some things,” he said. “And it’s okay if you don’t! It’s only that—”
“I’ll come,” I said, even though the thought of leaving my nest looking like a tornado had torn through it spiked my anxiety to new heights.
“All right,” Tony said, sounding relieved.
I excused myself for a minute, heading back to the bathroom to splash cold water on my face. Straightening, I stared at my reflection in the mirror for a long moment, trying to convince myself that this wouldn’t be like last time. Or, god forbid, like thefirsttime, way back when I was thirteen.
My pack was here. My mates were here. My closest friend was here... even if I’d just ruined the weekend trip to St. Louis that he’d been so excited about.
I’d known my heat would be coming. I’d even been excited about it. I just hadn’t known it was coming sosoon.
Pushing away from the marble vanity, I took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and went to rejoin Tony. As we headed upstairs, I fiddled with the hem of my turtleneck, not looking at him.
“I’m really sorry about messing everything up for you,” I said, and then added, “Again,” under my breath.
He cut a sideways glance at me. “Didn’t realize you were a magic omega with special powers who gets to choose when you come into heat. In which case, yeah—total asshole move on your part. And here I thought we were friends.”
I shot him a glare, only to find him smirking at me.
“Dick,” I told him.
“It’s not like the restaurant won’t still be there a couple of weeks from now,” he said. “And there’s always a line out the door, so Shaniqua won’t have a problem finding someone else to take our table.”
“But your friends—” I began.
“My friends have two omegas in their pack, and they’re well aware of what an unexpected heat means,” he finished.
I deflated. “Okay. Well, I’m glad you’re not angry.”
“Angry? I’m about to get more smokin’ hot sex in the next few days than I’ve had collectively in the past several years.” He rolled his eyes. “Oh, no... poor me. How ever will I survive?”
Then he looked me up and down as we reached the top of the staircase. “What about you? Areyouokay?”
“No,” I said. “Maybe? I don’t know!”
He hesitated. “Do you want a hug? Or would that make things worse??”
I wrapped my arms around my torso, rubbing my biceps as though I was chilled. I felt twitchy and wired; still feverish. “After we talk to the alphas, maybe?”
Tony nodded easily. “Only if you want me to. Come on, they’re in the library.”
Neutral territory. Much better than having them come to my nest before it—beforeI—was ready.
