“Will you tell us when you’re not feeling well?” Henry asked.
She scrunched her nose in an expression that screamedfuck no.
“Westin,” Gray growled, turning so he was facing her.
She crossed her arms. “That’s asking a lot, okay?”
“We’ll work on it, yeah?” Bear wrapped his hand around her neck, pulling her close and kissing her temple. “In the meantime, get used to us asking.”
Westin looked unsure, but there wasn’t time to discuss it more as we pulled up to the bakery. I looked around Main Street, shocked at the number of new shops and restaurants that had opened since I’d last been here… years ago? Fuck, had I really become that much of a recluse? My life revolved around the hospital, which was a bleak as shit realization.
Gray rounded the car, holding the door open for Westin and placing his hand on her low back as he guided her into the bakery, body on full alert. I had to begrudgingly admit that he might not be a completely shit bodyguard.
The scent of sugar surrounded me as we entered the bakery. We must have caught it at a lull—all quiet besides a beta couple cozy in the corner.
“Westin, it’s so good to see you!” an alpha behind the counter said. He wore a bright pink apron with cupcakes on it.
“Everyone, this is Ben, one of the owners. Ben, this is…” she hesitated, seemingly at a loss for words. “Umm, well, you know Gray and I think you met Henry, right? And then this is Liam and Bear.” She spoke quickly, a pretty blush on her cheeks as she fidgeted. She wasn’t ready to introduce us as her pack, and I found myself impatient to hear her say it. I’d let go of her once when she was Ava, but I wasn’t about to do it again.
Ben raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment on his employee bringing in a group of unknown men. “Well, then. Pick whatever you want from the case.”
“There’s ham and cheese croissants,” Henry said, grinning as he turned towards Westin.
“I told Josie we needed more savory options,” she said, winking at the beta. As she turned, she missed how Henry looked at her, like she was his entire world.
I inched closer to the pastry case, trying to get a look at everything. I had to admit, the food looked amazing.
I started as an omega burst out of the kitchen, her hair up in a bun and her green apron covered in flour. She rounded the counter and threw herself at Westin.
“That’s Josie,” Henry said to Bear and me. “Ben is one of her alphas.”
“You call in sick and then show up a few days later withthis?” Josie said, gesturing wildly. “How did I miss so much?”
Westin grinned. “What can I say? It happened fast.”
“No kidding,” Josie said. Then she moved in closer and lowered her voice, but I still caught what she said. “How was it?” Her eyes flitted over the four of us.
“Good.” Westin glanced over her shoulder, briefly locking eyes with me before turning back to her friend with a blush. “Reallygood.”
“I’m going to need more details than that,” Josie said.
The two omegas put their heads together and spoke in hushed tones, giggling and whispering as they kept looking over at us. Seeing Westin so happy eased some of the tension I’d been carrying in my chest ever since I’d seen her curled up in that hospital bed. I didn’t even care that they were talking about us.
“But you’re leaving now to get medical care?” Josie asked as the two of them pulled apart.
“In Sol,” Westin responded, biting her lip. I wanted to soothe it with a kiss.
“How long is the road trip going to take?” Josie asked.
“Five days, I think?” Westin said, glancing at Henry for confirmation.
“Whew, that’s a lot of days in the car. Are you going to drive at all?” she asked, a glint in her eye.
Westin rolled her eyes. “Not all of us enjoy driving like you do. Plus, I still haven’t gotten my license.”
“Get them to teach you,” Josie said, bouncing up and down.
Westin’s lips twitched and I wondered if she wanted to learn to drive.
