“That’s not really any of your business. I didn’t cheat on Tyler, he kicked me out. Whatever he’s telling you is a lie.”
Jenna pursed her lips. “So you haven’t been ignoring his calls then? I saw him call you and you never answered. You’re claiming he was lying about that?”
“But he didn’t call me. I haven’t heard from him.”
Nathan shrank in his seat next to me.
Jenna tilted her head, clearly trying to suss me out. “You threw away a good thing. Not everyone is that stupid. Anyway, I’ll see you later.” Jenna trotted off to the host station to ask for a pick-up order for Tyler.
Ice water poured down my spine.
“Was that bitch sleeping with your man?” Farrah asked, staring after Jenna.
“Sure fucking sounds like it,” Nathan replied on my behalf.
A torrent of clashing emotions twisted my stomach. Had Tyler accused me of cheating because he’d been doing that? But Jenna had a pack…why would she…
“Why are you looking so guilty?” Jude asked Nathan.
“I might be the reason Madison didn’t know he called.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, turning to him.
“I blocked his ass on your phone. You should really have a more secure passcode that’s not your address.”
“Youblockedhim?”
“Heleft youon the side of the road.” Nathan raised his hands in surrender. “I did what I thought was necessary, and I wasn’t going to give him the opportunity to psychologically torture you with whatever fucked up shit he was going to say. He doesn’t get to stay in communication with you after pulling that shit.”
A hysterical laugh bubbled up from my chest. “You should’ve told me, but I won’t deny that was a smart move. I’ve seen the way he reams people out, and I’ve been way too fragile to be on the receiving end.”
“I’m going to need this story,” Farrah announced.
I gave her every fucked up detail that had led from Tyler literally dumping me to the brisk formation of my new pack.
She was slack-jawed by the time I finished. “Holy shit. Well, it sounds like you upgraded.”
Our server arrived with a tray full of appetizers, and Farrah named each of them for us, explaining their contents. Tabbouleh, or parsley salad; zeytoon parvardeh, or olive tapenade; kashk-e bademjon, or eggplant dip; and mast-o-khiar, or yogurt and cucumber dip; all served with fresh pitas and vegetables for dipping.
My first bite was heaven. “Do you know what’s dumb that I just realized?”
“Hmm?” Alve adjusted so he could look at me better.
“Tyler never wanted to try new foods with me. The furthest he’d go was Mexican food, which, while extremely delicious, isn’t exactly novel when you live in the southwest. Now he’s ordering Persian food withJenna? That’s fucking bullshit.”
“You’re fucking right it is,” Nathan agreed. “Pack, take note, on top of taking our girl on trips, we need to make sure she has culinary adventures while she’s at home.”
I laughed. “Alve and Leo have already done that.”
I zoned out a little as Nathan got the pack into a discussion of everything they needed to arrange so I could try tons of newthings. How had I allowed my existence to become so small with Tyler? It had never been that he didn’t want to do those things, he just didn’t want to do them withme. Even though I didn’t want him anymore, that knowledge still stung. I had never been good enough for him.
But for my pack?
Tyler hadn’t appreciated me, but they did, and right now, that was all that mattered.
Eclipse moved like a dream under me as we galloped around the arena with the rest of the cast. Madison and the pack were seated in the green section.Mysection. I’d never had anyone who knew me cheering there, except for my parents for my first show here. Seeing my new family as we rode past was surreal as hell.
Madison was crowned in white silk flowers and green leaves, looking exactly like a maiden a knight might sweep away.
