“That seems very specific,” he replies.
He’s throwing the sliced vegetables into the freezer bag, and I sigh.
“If you put too much, they don’t smell right, too little and they don’t get clean. It’s a fine balance. I don’t know what I’ll be like in heat, but I can guess that I might be a little particular.”
“Nothing wrong with knowing what you want.”
I hum at his words and go back to printing out and putting a video link on how to use and remove a diaphragm. You can truly never be thorough enough. While I know Bram and Ethan are more than happy to be in my heat, I can’t seem to give up complete control. I need to know everything will be perfect, and even if I can’t communicate, they’ll know what I need.
My phone buzzes with an incoming call, and I pick it up.
“Hello?”
“What are you up to tonight?” Bram says in a sleepy voice.
The Foxes somehow beat the Lightning tonight, and I know he took a few hard hits.
“Ethan is over, and we’re working on heat stuff,” I reply.
Ethan arches a brow as I place the phone on the desk and hit the speaker button.
“You’re on speaker,” I tell him.
“She’s making me make Crock-Pot freezer meals for her heat,” Ethan says, throwing me under the bus.
“Sloane, you don’t have to worry about any of that shit. We’re more than capable.”
“It has nothing to do with you being capable,” I tell them both.
Ethan looks confused, and Bram sighs over the phone.
“Whatever gives you peace of mind,” Bram concedes, even though he can’t see my smug smile over the phone.
“Are you sore? I saw you take that hit tonight,” I say, trying to keep the worry out of my voice.
Ever since the night of the diner, it seems like we’re all relatively unified as a pack, but nothing has moved forward. I can tell Ethan and Bram have a connection besides me being the tether between them.
But it seems like Ethan might be keeping Bram at a distance as well.
Knowing that they’re both going to be there for me during my heat is the only thing settling my nerves and not making me spiral. We don’t have to be bonded for my heat, or maybe I have more time than I think and things will speed up.
“I’m fine. Icing my shoulder,” Bram responds and yawns over the phone. “When I get back, the three of us should do something.”
“I’d love that,” I agree easily. “I wish you were here.”
“Me too. Don’t go crazy with the planning. We’ve got you. Have a good night, you too, Ethan,” Bram says.
“Night,” both Ethan and I chime at the same time.
I hang up the phone, and exhaustion whirls through me.
“Is that your last bag?” I ask as Ethan makes sure it’s airtight and labels the bag with a Sharpie before tossing it into the freezer.
“Last one.”
“Let me wash my face and get my pajamas on. Stay the night?”
He swallows thickly but nods his head as I get ready for the night.
