“If it’s about King, I don’t want to know,” Heidi glares at her.
But a Scorned Girls glare is not the same as a glare from any other person in the world. Sure, it’s full of bitchy love but the big bold love by far overrides the touch of snark. Much like the banter we share. I know we cross lines, but we do it understanding completely there’s no undercurrent of shitty intention. Being with the girls has certainly been an eye opener, and I love the way we are with each other. Secrets included.
“Says you,” Tris snarks back to Heidi, her lips pulling down. Although not even an ugly gesture like she’s currently doing mars her beauty. “Any updates for us on how things are going with waiter-boy?”
Heidi’s mouth falls open, a flash of hurt shadows her eye, but then it’s her turn to get cuddles. “I hate that he hurt you so much, Ho. You know Sim and I would be able to beat his ass up if you want us to.”
“So true, Heidi. I mean, we might get a couple of decent shots in. Although, let’s be real, Kai would probably keep walking into our fists and beat himself up better than we ever could.”
“True, but let’s not waste time on yesterday’s news,” Heidi answers flippantly. Her apple scent gets tart as she speaks, and I nearly start crying on her behalf, making the girls shake their heads.
“Are you sure you don’t want to take another heat suppressor?” Heidi offers as she starts rummaging through her tote. Being the heiress of Verdune Pharmaceutical means she always has a stockpile of the best Omega medication with her.
The small pink pill she gave me as soon as I told the girls I was going into heat is already starting to work, ironing out some of the jagged edges happening inside my body. Nothingwill stop me reacting like I’m on an emotional rollercoaster, but at the same time that’s nothing new.
“No, I’ll be a good party-pooper, I promise,” I say, looking back at the flowers Koz filled the limo with. Using them as a means to hide my tears while I put myself back together. “He loves her so much, doesn’t he?”
“He does. Our girl loves him just as much, Simona,” Heidi says quietly, admiration in her voice, maybe a touch of jealousy too.
Understandable though. From all accounts, he has never wavered in his devotion to our bestie. She never has either—nor has she balked at Koz’s chosen profession. And yes, that is me being entirely judgmental, influenced by society’s expectations of what a criminal should be. I know people with university degrees, old money and silver spoons have the capacity to be completely narcissistic assholes, Brody is the perfect example of that, but it doesn’t mean it’s still easy to endorse Koz’s criminal activities.
“I have no doubt, Sim, you are going to get swept away in the most epic love story. From the instant you meet who you’re meant to fall in love with, you’ll do things that will make you question who you are. But that’s okay, they’re meant to flip your life upside down. They’ll teach you once and for all about what a remarkable person you really are. I mean, we keep telling you, but I still see the disbelief in your eyes. Falling in love though, I think you’ll finally understand for yourself how we see you. Even if you stink like a skunk after using that cheap shit from my competitors.” Heidi leans back, taking me with her. Her head falls on my shoulder in an unexpected, but touching, display of her affection towards me.
Heidi isn’t a huge touchy-feely person. That doesn’t detract from her capacity to love. And like she herself suggested, I suspect her real pack, and not the ones she iscurrently agreeing to pack, will give her the safe space for her to heal so she feels like she can display her love however she chooses. Which I can relate to in spades.
“You know, Raney’s going to want to choke Koz out for everything he has planned. It’s pretty extravagant,” Tristan says, kicking her feet up on the seat opposite us.
Heidi and I follow suit, and Tristan takes a photo. Of course it’s incredible, the armful of wisterias in all their stunning variation, matches perfectly the dresses and shoes he also chose and asked us to wear.
“She’s going to bawl.” Tristan links her hand with mine. “You can cry with her. I mean you would anyway, heat or not.”
I twist and bite her shoulder, making her screech right into my ear before we all settle back in for the rest of the drive from the airport to wherever we’re picking Raney up. Koz left a detailed itinerary, which none of us really paid attention to, except the main points, of course. Spoiling her is high on his agenda, which is why he flew us in to surprise her. We’ll do everything to make her Packing Day memorable.
Tristan nudges me. “What do you think Puck’s going to be like?”
“Besotted?” Heidi answers with a straight face before a small smile starts to grow. “It’s a sweet story. I’m glad Raney and Puck got the chance to find each other, it’s nice to see love wins. He sounds slightly obsessed.”
“Understandable. She’s a right honey. What about the other two Alphas?” Tristan asks, seriously.
“Well, Koz has a lot of guns, he’ll probably use one of those if they ever upset her again,” Heidi adds seriously.
“Or he’d get the Phoenix Group to help,” Tristan says, stretching her feet out further. I lose sight of her foot under all the flowers.
Beside me, Heidi goes stiff as a board. I squeeze her hand tighter and pretend she didn’t just react to our discussion. She’d hate the attention, and I completely understand that.
“Well, let’s hope there’s no need for guns and bloodshed.” As I rest back, enjoying the drive, that feeling of unease continues. Like someone is following us. Maybe I’ve manifested a stalker instead of only using the idea as a smokescreen.
“Sim, you know the stalker thing, when do you think it started?”
“As soon as he realised I could speak,” I whisper. And it’s the truth but in a non-truthful way. Brody did start being obsessive in his persecution as soon as I tried to defend myself.
“That’s so not cool. Maybe you should tell Unity so they adjust your schedule at Rejoice.”
“Slight exaggeration there, Tris,” I offer back. Completely serious.
“You’re too modest, Simona. And always have been. Since the first day I’ve been envious of the way you speak and how you say things. You have a beautiful voice, and clearly everyone else thinks it too. You won the competition; you’re speaking to a packed auditorium,” Heidi schools me and before I know it, they’ve both made grand assumptions on my success. Entirely wrong assumptions, but I don’t do anything to correct them either.
Our chatting lulls as the car takes the exit to the hospital.
