It got worse when her smell started to fade from the house. Then they started to really get antsy.
She finally,finallytexted after a particularly snippy conversation between Evan and James – if he'd been asked, Evan wouldn't have been able to tell a bystander what the two of them had even been talking about, let alone why it was so irritating – and his heart thudded a little faster when he saw her name pop up on the notification.
Are you home?
Evan swallowed, and his thumbs were flying across the screen before his mind even caught up to what she was asking.Yes. What do you need? Are you safe?
If she had asked him to, he would have gone to rescue her from anywhere and any situation, with James close on his heels.
It was an almost...frightening level of devotion for a girl who they barely knew anything about. Still, Evan couldn't lie to himself about it.
Her response came a moment later.I'm coming over. Need to talk to you and James.
"James!" Evan called, his heart leaping into his throat. He sat up, shoving his blanket covers out of the way and standing, already halfway out of his room.
"What?" James' voice was clipped and annoyed, and Evan rolled his eyes a little, the irritation that he had been feeling towards his friend already fading.
"Camelia is coming over."
Chapter thirty-two
Camelia
Camelia sat outside Evan and James' house in her car for longer than she wanted to admit, her stomach twisted with anxiety and anticipation.
The anxiety made sense to her. She wasn't here for a social call. If she wasn't able to figure out a safer situation, and fast...it was very likely that she was going to be assaulted before the semester was out. Alphas couldn't help themselves around an unclaimed Omega, especially as she approached her heat. Camelia knew herself well enough to know that if Evan and James didn't agree to the arrangement that her father had proposed...she might as well do as he suggested and drop out of school altogether.
Then again, if theydidagree...she might end up in a different kind of hot water altogether.
Hence, the confusing anticipation.
"Come on, you have to go in sooner or later. They're expecting you. You can't sit out here for the rest of your life." Camelia allowed herself a moment to take several deep breaths,bracing herself. She knew that the moment she was inside the townhouse again, the moment she was in their space and could smell them and feel them close to her...
Her resolve to be impartial and explain the situation neutrally was going to be much more difficult to cling to.
She steeled herself, clenched her jaw, and got out of the car, locking it securely behind her. She glanced around herself as she approached the front door, the same prickle of unease that she had gotten used to raising the hairs on the back of her neck despite the ostensibly quiet street.
It was that, that constant vigilance and fear that cemented her resolve to at least have this conversation. If they laughed her out of the house, well...she would come up with another solution. And then she could stop fantasizing about each of them in turn. If they didn't want her and it was clear, that would be easier.
She lifted her fist and pounded on the front door a little harder than usual, and it was seconds before it swung open, revealing Evan.
"Hey," she said quietly. Her voice was breathier than she wanted it to be, anticipatory, and Evan's eyes flashed slightly as he stepped to the side, letting her in. "Thanks for being available on such short notice."
"We were here. It's no trouble." He shut the door behind her, and Camelia couldn't help the way her shoulders relaxed as Evan and James' combined scents entered her nose. It was comforting, like coming home, and she hated how her instincts thrilled at being in their space again.
This wasn't supposed to be something she wanted. Shedidn'twant it. This was merely the best solution to a shitty problem. That's all.
"Where's James?" Her voice was even softer now that she was inside, and she shivered a little as she felt Evan move closer to her. His warmth radiated against her back and she sensed ratherthan saw one of his hands lifting, moving as if to touch her. He didn't, though, and Camelia ignored the disappointment as he cleared his throat.
"Upstairs. I'll get him."
Camelia nodded, clutching a little tighter to her purse as Evan disappeared up the stairs. There was the low sound of male voices upstairs – James' voice more irritated than Evan's – and then they came back down the stairs, their feet thudding heavily as they came back into the living room.
Camelia perched on the edge of the couch nervously as Evan sat in the armchair next to her, and James leaned against the wall with his arms folded over his chest. His gray eyes were as intense as they ever were as they looked at her, and Camelia swallowed hard before she averted her gaze, ignoring the way her skin tingled at their combined attention.
Remember the last time they were focusing on you like that here? Remember how good it felt to just give in and listen and take what you needed from them...
Camelia cleared her throat, forcing a small smile to her face as she met Evan's gaze. His expression was neutral, but there was a hint of relief in his eyes that piqued Camelia's curiosity. She didn't have time to ask about that right now, though. "Thank you...thank you for letting me come over. I needed to talk to you. Both of you," she clarified.
