Last year, she’d made the trip down to Pondside, but hadn’t stayed long. Nate, always the gentleman, had escorted her back to her house, which had made Bea insanely jealous. She hadn’t spoken to my brother the entire meal. They’d eventually patched things up, though.
I hadn’t seen hide nor hair of my eldest brother in almost a week. I imagined the case was keeping him busy.
Unless it was Bea?
Chapter 18
The red underwear set Adalyn had gifted me for my birthday came out of my drawer. As did my skinny black leather pants, which I paired with a tissue-soft tank top that clung to my torso like second skin. The black fabric was transparent enough to reveal the shape and color of my bra, but decent enough to wear to a family gathering.
Sadly, my hair hadn’t been touched by Adalyn’s magical fingers, so I tied it up in a high ponytail. Before leaving, I rolled mascara over my lashes and scarlet lipstick over my mouth to match my lacy lingerie. I stared at my reflection in the mirror beside the front door. I didn’t look old, but I didn’t look like a kid.
I stuffed the lipstick into my jacket pocket and took the cleared road down to the pond to avoid the crunchy snow that blanketed the hill. As I walked, I met up with a few other shifters, friends I hadn’t seen in a while because most of my peers were in college. When we reached the pack eatery, I’d fallen into step with Farrah, one of Niall’s exes—although could they be called exes when someone was just a one-night stand?
Like most of his other conquests, she still pined for my gigolo brother. “Would I be wasting my breath if I asked him out?”
I shrugged out of my jacket and stuck it on one of the rolling coatracks by the door. “He’s never had a relationship, but I suppose the worst that can happen is he turns you down.”
Would I have preferred Liam to say no instead of finding excuses? Would it have rankled less?My eyes wandered over the small crowd, which had already gathered around the ten communal tables, all set up with a spread of tiny pumpkins and festive cinnamon-scented candles that must’ve been burning for a while because the air was thick with spice.
“Could you ask him for me?” Farrah took my arm as my gaze locked on our Alpha, who sat at the bar beside Lucas, surrounded by a skein of females.
Most were fawning over Storm, probably in order to get close to Liam. Was it petty of me to feel glad Storm wasn’t putting on a show for Liam’s fan club? The little guy was wedged in tight against his father’s chest.
“So? Could you?”
I glanced at Farrah’s wide green eyes playing hide-and-seek behind heavy black bangs. “Sorry. Could I what?”
“Ask Niall.”
I bit the inside of my cheek. “Sure.”
“Thanks, Nikki. You’re the best.” She kissed my cheek before sauntering toward one of the tables.
I worried the inside of my mouth some more because I was almost sure Niall’s answer would benot interested. Farrah was too sweet for my—Noooo. I didnotjust go there.Damn you, Liam Kolane, for polluting my brain.
Annoyed with him and with myself, I headed to the fireplace where Niall was hanging with Nash and Adalyn.
“How’s my favorite sister?” Niall’s arm came around my shoulders after I’d plopped down beside him.
I rolled my eyes. “Your favorite and only sister.”
“Milk the status. Next month, I’ll have two sisters.” Niall turned a dimpled grin toward Adalyn, who pressed her hand over her chest andahhed, burrowing closer to Nash whose lap she was perched on even though there was plenty of space on the curved leather couch.
“That was so sweet, Niall.” She blew him a kiss before her gaze fell on me and lit up. “You wore my present!”
“I did.”
Niall pouted. “Why aren’t you wearingmypresent?”
“Sex swings are surprisingly harder to pull off,” I deadpanned, which made Nash smile and Niall burst out laughing.
“Careful. Don’t want your scar splitting.” I glanced at the bruised skin beneath his eye. “Does it still hurt?”
“Nope. Can’t say the same about my hands. Those still sting like a mother. Damn silver bars.”
Before he could sink back into the night he was attacked, I broached the subject of living together.
He stared at me steadily. “The room’s still yours. You tell me when, and I’ll help you pack up.”
