The realization that neither of them would judge me if I did need my alphas hit me right in the chest. They were really just here because theycared.
I shook my head. “They can wait.” I blinked quickly to stop from crying. I was always extra tearful during my dark days, but I was tired of it.
“I brought roasted pork banh mi,” Summer said, cutting through the emotional tension as she pulled out a large stack of the Vietnamese sandwiches wrapped in brown paper. “I’m trying toperfect my recipe, so I expect honest critique and abundant praise. I’ve also brought brownies for dessert. With sprinkles because… why not?” She set a ziplock bag of slightly smooshed brownies beside the sandwiches.
Felix had been curled up on the basket bed I made for him, but at Summer’s words, he ran over and rubbed himself against her legs. Summer rolled her eyes but lowered the almost empty bag to the floor. “We had a banh mi casualty. One of them got unwrapped, so I guess you can have that.” He scampered back to his basket, dragging his prize behind him.
What a little freeloader.
My stomach rumbled, and I covered it with my hand. I hadn’t had much of an appetite the past few days, but suddenly I was starving. “That sounds amazing.”
“And I brought you a blanket,” Lucy said. She pulled a white fluffy blanket out of her bag. “Freshly laundered, too, so it shouldn’t have other scents on it.”
This was too much. I didn’t have anything to give them in return. I should’ve refused their gifts, told them it wasn’t necessary, but my omega urged me forward until the blanket was in my arms.
“I love it,” I breathed. “Thank you.” I looked down at the blanket. “I’m sorry I don’t have anything to give you.”
Summer made a dismissive noise. “That’s not how friendship works.”
I swallowed hard and nodded. Maybe that was true. I didn’t have much experience with friends, and I still wasn’t quite sure why these omegas wanted to spend time withme.
“Where’s Ivy?” I asked.
“At work,” Lucy said, taking a plate from Summer and handing it to me.
“Oh, right.” My cheeks heated. “I forgot it was a school day.” Without the rhythm of my dull nine-to-five data entry job, it was hard to keep track.
“Time is a construct.” Summer shrugged. “I should be at work, too, but Harry didn’t have enough for me to do this week.”
I cocked my head. I hadn’t heard Summer talk about a job, just about the bakery she wanted to open.
“I help Harry, Stanley’s husband, with accounting work. But it’s hourly, and there aren’t quite enough hours. I also help in my parents’ restaurant. I just need to save enough for a commercial bakery space.”
“You’ll sell out of everything the moment you open,” I said. Everything Summer had made me so far had been incredible.
She smiled at me. “Should we be monsters and eat on the fancy couch or civilized and sit at the table? You choose, Oli. It’s your home.”
I bit my lip. I didn’t want to mess up the sectional, but I was itching to curl up under my new blanket. “Couch.”
“Monsters it is,” Summer said.
Lucy grabbed some paper towels, and we all settled down with our food. Lucy and I were on the couch, and Summer was in the armchair. I spread my new blanket over me and balanced my plate on my lap before taking a bite of the banh mi. The pork had a sticky sweet sauce with it, and the veggies were fresh and crunchy. “Oh my god. Summer, this is one of the best things I’ve ever eaten.”
“Yeah, this is definitely the best one yet. This one has more of a kick than the ones last week,” Lucy said.
“Not too spicy, though,” I said.
Summer beamed. “Excellent. I’m playing with the amount of chili peppers, so I’ll mark this as a success.”
“Definitely,” I said around a mouth full of food.
Lucy and Summer started talking about potential locations for the bakery, and I was content to just listen. I curled up further under my blanket as I ate, a wave of fatigue washing over me. This was the thing about my dark days—I was left exhausted even once the fog lifted.
The thudding of steps in the back of the cottage let me know the guys were on their way down. Finn was the first through the door and headed straight to me, leaning down over the back of the couch to give me a kiss. “Hey, pretty girl. How’re you doing?”
“Good. Summer brought lunch.”
“For Olive,” Summer said. “Not for the boys.”
