“And I made balloon animals for the children,” Summer said, an evil smile on her face. “It’s not my fault they were all snakes because I don’t know shit about balloon animals.”
“And then all the children used their balloons like swords and attacked Stanley with them,” Rosie said.
“Tell us, Olive, what horrible talents can you show off?” Lucy asked.
The iron fist of anxiety squeezed my chest at the thought of having to run a booth at a festival. “Nothing,” I said, shaking my head. “I have no talents.”
“Excellent,” Lucy said. “That isexactlythe energy we need.”
I choked on my drink.
“You don’t have to participate,” Ivy said warmly. “I’ve decided this year, I’m going to have the kids paint rocks. It will be fun.”
“Rocks?” Summer rubbed her hands together. “That sounds exceptionally dull. It’s perfect.”
“While this is a thrilling conversation, I want to know aboutOlive’s sweater,” Rosie said, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Because I can smell Easton on it from across the table.”
My cheeks burned so hot I was on the verge of bursting into flames, but my omega was a snarling, furious mess that another omega knew whatmyalpha smelled like.
The girls must have seen something in my expression because Summer leaned forwards and squeezed my arm. “We’ve all grown up with Easton, but it’s never been romantic.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, Olive,” Rosie said, looking truly contrite. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
I shook my head. “It’s totally fine.”
“I remember those early days, especially before I bonded with Gavin and Char. I hated the idea of any omega being within a hundred feet of them… or maybe a thousand. It’s normal to feel possessive of what’s yours.”
I twisted my fingers in the sweater. “They’re not mine,” I mumbled.
Summer nudged me with her elbow. “I think they are.”
“And they better act right,” Lucy sniffed. “I’ve been wanting a sister ever since Lars pushed me at the playground when I was five.”
“He pushed you?” I asked.
“Well, maybe not on purpose,” she said, and Summer rolled her eyes. “But brothers are just soughhh. Big and annoying and bossy. Sisters are way better, and I can’t wait for you all to make it official.”
I swirled my straw in my drink. Along with that anxious fist in my chest was a warm, syrupy feeling. At Lucy’s acceptance of me dating her brother. At the fact that all the omegas at the table thought the guys wanted me.
Rosie reached across the table and patted my hand. “My best advice is to make them work for it. Alphas need a challenge, so make it hard for them. You’re the prize here. And even once you’ve bonded, keep them on their toes.”
“Aren’t you—” I swallowed my words, fighting the voice in my head that told me to just nod and stay quiet. But this might be my only chance to talk to a bonded omega. I looked around, making sure Char was still at the cash register, and lowered my voice. “Aren’t youworried they’ll get tired of you? That they’ll think it’s all too much work?”
“Olive,” Rosie said, her eyes soft. “When you find the right alphas, they’ll never make you feel like you’re too much because you won’t be. You’ll be just enough for each other. If they think you’re too much work, they’re not the right alphas for you.”
I gave her a tight smile, trying to let her words sink in. The alpha from theincidentyears ago obviously wasn’t the right one for me, but there was no escaping the reality that I was an exhausting person, prone to pushing people away with my less-than-sparkling personality and multitude of issues.
The rest of lunch rushed by way too quickly, ending with Summer presenting us with cookies—a new recipe, she said. She wanted to start a bakery and was testing what should be on the menu. Char grumbled about outside food, but ate two of them.
The omegas sent me home with a package of cookies, lots of hugs, and promises to get together soon.
By the time I got home, my cheeks hurt from smiling.
21
EASTON
I perkedup when I heard Olive’s bike coming down the path, the dirt and gravel crunching under the wheels. I threw down what I was working on and sprinted out of the lighthouse. By the time I rounded the cottage, Olive was unlocking the front door. I snatched her up around the waist, and she squealed in surprise as I spun her in the air.
