“He’s got that right,” Lucy shouted.
Oh god, I’d forgotten they were here. My cheeks burned as I pulled away, Lars’s finger slipping from my mouth. He didn’t look one bit embarrassed with that little smirk on his lips.
“Yes, fine, okay. I’ll check in,” I huffed.
Lars pressed his lips to my forehead and then kissed his way down the slope of my nose to my lips. “Good girl.”
Well, that just made my cheeks heat more. I squirmed in my seat.
“We can always stay if you need company, Oli,” Lucy said as she plopped down on the armchair. “I don’t have any tailoring appointments for the rest of the day.”
“We could even try to convince Ivy to join us if she doesn’t stay super late at school again,” Summer said.
Were they just saying that out of obligation? Or did they actually want to stay? Why couldn’t social situations come with a manual? I cursed myself for being an anxious overthinker.
“You good with that, baby?” Easton asked. I nodded. “Glad we got that settled. We can bring back pizza for dinner.”
“Yes, please,” Summer said.
The guys very slowly packed up their stuff and lingeredby the door. I couldn’t even make fun of their slow departure because I was right there with them, snuggling up to their sides.
“You know I’m strong, right?” Easton said for the third time, flexing his arms as he ran his fingers through his hair. “See, I can pick you up.” His hands cupped my butt and lifted me against his chest. Then his face transformed again. “Not that it takes a lot of strength to lift you! Not at all.” He bounced me in his arms, anxiety pouring from him.
“It’s like watching a train crash,” Summer said from her spot on the couch.
I grinned and pressed a kiss to his forehead. “You’re very strong, alpha.”
Lars crossed his arms. “I’m strong, too.”
“Oh my god, don’t you have places to be? Go!” Lucy shouted from the couch.
All my guys grumbled, but Easton finally lowered me to the floor. After final hugs and kisses, my guys headed out the front door.
“Ivyyy, stop stressing,”Summer whined.
“Sorry, sorry,” Ivy said, hands fluttering as she adjusted a throw pillow. Felix had gone to fetch her thirty minutes ago after Summer threatened to show up at the school and drag her away. “I just keep remembering things I need to get done. I was going to cut out paper leaves so the students could write what they’re thankful for on them and use them to decorate the classroom.”
I recognized a bit of myself in Ivy—her deep care for her work mixed with her inability to ask for help.
“Do you have the paper with you?” I asked.
Ivy blinked, her expression a little confused and owlish. “Umm, yeah, in my bag.”
“We can help you, then, while we watch a movie.”
“Great idea,” Lucy said.
“Oh no, that’s not?—”
Lucy pulled the construction paper out of Ivy’soversized bag. She passed out stacks of colorful paper to each of us and fished a pair of scissors out of her bag.
“I’ve got two pairs of scissors in the kitchen,” I said.
“This is really not necessary,” Ivy said, her cheeks heating as she took all three of us in with stacks of construction paper, leaf templates, and scissors.
Summer ignored her protests. “What movie should we watch?”
“Something chill.” Lucy’s eyes flitted to me, and I wondered how much Lars had told her about my mental health the past few days.
