18
OLIVE
I was sittingon the rolling chair in the watch room with a cup of hot tea. I’d run back into the house to get cleaned up and dressed, keeping Easton’s sweater on, and brought back some tea and cookies for all of us.
My body was loose and relaxed, the ache in my pussy a delicious reminder of what had just happened, although I was still in a bit of shock. What did it mean? They had called me their omega, but that had been in the heat of the moment. Was this just a casual thing for them while they were working on the lighthouse? And how did Finn fit into all of this?
The warmth I’d felt since I’d laid eyes on Lars this morning seeped out of me, replaced by insecurity. If I got too close to people, they would see the real me. My moods, my medical issues… it was too much for anyone to put up with.
Easton came up behind me as if summoned by my dark emotions. “How’re you doing, sunshine?” He brushed my hair to the side and kissed me on the neck.
I leaned back into him. “Good,” I lied. I loved hearing him call me sunshine, but I didn’t deserve the nickname. I was the least sunshiny person in the world.
He straightened up but kept his hands on my shoulders, tracinghis fingers across my skin. “What got you interested in being a lighthouse keeper?”
I looked at him over my shoulder. His expression was so open and genuine, like he really wanted to know me. “I hadn’t considered it until I saw the listing online. I’d been working from home, doing data entry, but I was ready for something different.” I didn’t know what had brought on my desire to change my life, but one day, I woke up, and my tiny studio apartment and dirt-boring work-from-home job were suddenly unbearable. “I grew up on the water,” I continued. “My parents were lobstermen, and I was on the boat really since I was a baby.”
“Really?” Lars joined us, standing by my side. The measuring tape he’d been using to take some measurements Finn needed was clipped to his belt. He curled a lock of my hair around his finger and my omega sighed happily. I’d been touch-starved for years. If these alphas kept it up, I would grow too addicted to their casual touches, the way they kept me in their orbit like they didn’t want me more than an arm’s length away.
“Yeah. I thought I’d be a lobsterwoman, but it didn’t work out.”
“Why not?” Easton crouched down so we were closer to being at eye level, but I kept my eyes fixed on the horizon.
“My parents died and it was hard to go out on the boat without them. Maybe I should have tried harder, hired people to help me, but I just couldn’t pull myself together fast enough before I ran out of money. I had to sell the boat.” I shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal, like I hadn’t cried for days until my eyelids were so puffy I could barely see.
“Baby,” Easton said, his voice so tender.
I gave him a quick smile. “It’s okay. It was years ago. But I’m trained in ocean rescue and I always read the meteorological reports for my dad, and I don’t mind being alone. This was a good fit for me.”
Lars’s hand rested gently on my shoulder. “I’m glad you’re here, sweetheart.”
I leaned against his arm, and some warmth returned to me. Even if this was just temporary, I could let myself enjoy this moment.
“How did you all get into restoration stuff?” I asked, pushing my chair so it spun to face them.
“It was really Finn’s idea,” Easton said, plopping down on the floor and pulling my socked feet into his lap to massage them. My little omega heart soaked up his attention. “We obviously have no shortage of historic buildings up and down the coast. Fredrik, Finn’s grandpa, had these big coffee table books about architecture and they always fascinated Finn. He decided he wanted to get his degree in architecture, and the two of us followed him to school.”
Lars sat down next to Easton and placed his hand on my thigh, gripping tight. I now had two massive alphas sitting at my feet, and I couldn’t stop myself from perfuming. My pumpkin spice scent filled the air, and I blushed.
“Do you also have architecture degrees?” I asked quickly to distract from my scent.
“Nah,” Lars said. “I knew college wasn’t for me, so I went to trade school for electrical work.” There was a tightness in his eyes, but then he smiled and jerked his head at Easton. “He did a woodworking apprenticeship and the two of us supported Finn until he finished his master’s degree and apprenticeship.”
“We like to remind him of that since he’s the one who pulls in all the high-paying jobs now. Keeps him humble,” Easton said. He shifted closer to me and laid his head on my lap. The move was so familiar and intimate it made my breath catch. I switched my mug to my other hand and ran my fingers through Easton’s curls.
Hearing them talk about Finn made my heart pound. It was clear to see how much they loved their packmate. Would Finn be upset that the three of us had been together? Would he turn them against me? I shifted in my chair, my stress rising again. This was a bad idea. I should do something to create distance from us so I didn’t get hurt.
“I don’t want to leave,” Lars said with a sigh.
“Do you have to?” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. I wanted to roll my eyes. Apparently, my resolve lasted all of half a second.
Lars captured my hand and kissed my palm and wrist. “We have aweekly dinner with my family. Do you want to come? We’d love to have you there, and my moms would love to meet you.”
“Oh, I?—”
“Please come, Olive,” Easton begged, his arms encircling my waist with his head still in my lap.
The desperation in his voice brought a smile to my lips. Lars rolled his eyes and mouthed “drama,” which made me snort a laugh. For the briefest moment, I imagined what it would be like to go to dinner with them. What it would be like to be a part of a family again, even for just an evening.
