“What?” Tia’s eyes go wide, like she’s bracing for another bombshell.
“I’m supposed to go to a hockey game tomorrow.”
Estelle doesn’t miss a beat. “Like I said, one problem at a time. Ash, you’ll stay here with Tia for a few days while we sort out a more permanent situation. It’s been a long day. I think maybe we all need sleep.” The second she says it, a massive yawn splits my face, like I’ve been given permission to be tired.
Bella stands, plucks Eugene from my arms, and grabs my hand.
“Come on.”
She drags me down the hall, past a wall of framed photos of all the girls, some with a guy who looks like a dad, some with a pair of scary-looking black dogs, then pushes open a door into the most wonderful bedroom I’ve ever seen. There’s a full-size bed in the middle, thick canopies draped all around it, and a literal mountain of pillows. It’s like a princess bedroom, but better.
“This isn’t your nest, is it?” I ask, nervous. I’m not sure how other omegas feel about strangers in their nests.
“Nah.” Bella kicks off her slippers and wiggles out of her pajama bottoms.
“Tia decorated it for me. We do sleepovers a lot. You know, cousins.” She shrugs again. “Not exactly a nest, but close enough.”
She tosses Eugene onto the bed, then flops backward and hauls me with her.
“What are you doing?” I squeak.
“You’re an omega, I’m an omega. You had a rough night, we’re going to cuddle.”
“Oh.” I let her pull me into the pile of blankets and pillows. “I’ve never had an omega friend,” I admit, voice small in the dark.
“Now you have an omega friend,” Bella hums, snuggling her face into my neck. She tugs the covers up and burritos us both inside.
She props herself up on an elbow and looks down at me, her face suddenly very serious.
“Do you need to come?” She asks, voice completely matter-of-fact.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“When I’m really stressed, I feel better after I come. I have toys, or I could go down on you if you want.”
I’m pretty sure I stop breathing. “I think I’m okay,” I manage.
“Offer stands.” She collapses back onto the pillow, draping an arm over my waist.
“I didn’t know that was included in omega friendship.”
“Look,” she says, voice already thick with sleep, “omegas have needs. What happens between omegas stays between omegas.”
“Good to know,” I whisper, pulling Eugene close and nuzzling his ears, already half-asleep.
Chapter forty
ASH
IwatchTiapullaway with Bella throwing me kisses out the window. My palms are sweaty, and I don’t want to wipe them on the designer jeans Tia lent me. I almost regret not borrowing Bella’s clothes instead. Tia’s clothes smell like expensive perfume, but Bella’s would be drenched in her scent, and that might have been comforting.
My head still isn’t on straight after last night. All that shit with Papa at the bar, then Bella with the ridiculous idea about the scent match. Now I have to navigate Liam and Pierce and hockey.
The crowd surges around me. Too many bodies pressed too close in Scorpion colors. I’m still outside, and everyone’s scent is already overwhelming.
What will happen when Pierce is added to that? Bella can’t be right. She just can’t be.
How can Pierce be my scent match? How can the man who might have killed my brother be my fated mate like that?
