“Bullshit?” Sunny adds with her usual dry wit.
I just nod, too tired to pick.
“So… we key their motorcycles and egg Sheriff Corbin’s house?” Clara suggests.
“The guys could be our alibis for sure,” Cali says, referencing their packs.
The thought of their loyal, faithful, loving packs makes my heart squeeze. I’d been dreading Flora’s wedding because I knew the questions would come—from family, from friends.When are you getting a pack? Why haven’t you settled down yet?Usually, I can brush it off. I’m happy with my life the way it is, for the most part. But with all of my friends mated and my sister about to marry her beta husband, I’ve been feeling the empty spaces in my life a little more sharply.
It didn’t mean I needed to find a pack. But given that I’vefoundthem now… do I really want to turn them away over one mistake we both made?
“I think I want to get to know them before I give the go-ahead to have them axed by the mafia book club,” I admit.
Sunny looks put out about not getting to avenge me, but the others look understanding.
“I’ll admit, I really don’t like the idea of you spending time with an alpha and his pack who couldn’t keep control,” Cali says, frowning.
“I also lost control. Why do we keep skimming over that?”
“’Cause you’re our friend, and it’s our job to skim over your faults,” Rose reminds me in complete earnestness.
I roll my eyes but can’t keep a small smile off my face.
“I haven’t gotten any malicious feelings from Zeke. Just a lot of regret and guilt,” I say. It’s been hard to keep his emotions separate from mine—but I’m managing. Barely.
“Still, I think Cali’s right. Until we know more about them, maybe your interactions with them should be, sort of… public for a while?” Clara suggests.
“What, like a chaperone?” I scoff.
But to my absolute horror, there are nods of agreement all around.
“You can’t be serious!” My voice is high and gives away just how strung out I am.
“Just for the first little bit. We need to know these guys aren’t murderers—or accountants,” Clara soothes. Shewouldput those two in the same category.
“Fine.” I take out my phone and pull up Zeke’s number. Since I don’t have the others’, it’s the best I can do for a group chat.
My fingers shake a bit as I type.
Me:
Hi.
I click send because I really don’t know what else to say. I set down my phone.
“Well, if he gets back to me, I’ll let you know—”
The phone buzzes on the table. The text that pops up is from Zeke.
Zeke:
Hi. Are you okay?
My heart does a little flip in my chest—and that’s mine—but the swooping sensation in my gut feels like it’s coming through the tether linking me to him. It’s getting easier to tell his feelings from my own.
I place the phone on the table, showing the girls.
“Well, at least he has his priorities straight,” Sunny mutters, irritation dripping from her tone.
