Leo snagged my hand and squeezed it. “You don’t want to? Did something happen that upset you?”
I shook my head. “Nothing happened, which is part of the problem, I guess. Everyone was really nice. I got a tour, talked to a couple of former interns, and saw their sewing room, which was amazing. But…the focus of the internship is design, not sewing, and most of the interns have goals of designing for wide-scale production.”
“And that’s not what you’re interested in,” King said. “You want to make high-end couture.”
My eyebrows shot up. “You remember that?”
“Of course.” He looked almost insulted that I’d even asked. “You shouldn’t take the internship if it’s not the right fit.”
“But it’s a really prestigious fashion house. The things I learn and connections I make could help me succeed as a designer. It’s not like I’ll get an opportunity like this again. If I turn it down, what’s the alternative? Staying in my hometown and running my little store?”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Wilder said.
“Isn’t it?”
“Why?” Leo looked legitimately confused.
“How could you believe people won’t take your designs seriously when you have a million people obsessed with what you’re making?” King asked.
“They’re obsessed with Felix, not me.”
“Yes, all the people complimenting the outfits and asking for sewing tips because you are, quote, ‘the best sewist I’ve ever seen,’ are just there for Felix.”
Leo cupped my face, forcing me to meet his gaze. “Why does a career have to be serious? You are the most fun, playful, sunshiny person I’ve ever known. Why not bring that into your work?”
“And you don’t just sew pet costumes, not that it’d be a bad thing if you did,” King said. “All it took was you going to a single event wearing one of your dresses to catch the attention of Jacqueline Wu and have people falling over themselves to get a slot for a custom dress.”
My lip twitched. “Not sure one person qualifies as a crowd of people.”
“There would have been a crowd if I hadn’t swept you away, desperate to get you alone.” He captured my lips with his, not caring that I was on Wilder’s lap or that Leo was cupping my cheek.
It was too much—their support, their confidence in me. My chest swelled with happiness.
King pressed a last gentle kiss to my lips before pulling away. “We just want you to be happy. I gave up everything I wanted out of desperation for my parents’ love and approval. I wasted the past decade of my life on people who didn’t even care about me. I can’t regret it because it brought me here, to you, but that doesn’t mean you have to make the same choices.”
I moved off Wilder’s lap and put my arms around King. My heart hurt for how little love he’d gotten in life—how little love both of my alphas had received. It was good Leo and I were here now.
“I love you,” I murmured. “I’m glad you made your way here.”
69
Lucy
I used a lint rollerto catch any loose strings on Leo’s baba’s custom suit before slipping a garment bag over it. I couldn’t wait for him to see it. He had already promised to model it for us when we went over for family dinner.
I slumped down on my rolling chair, my eyes drifting shut. My guys all had to wake up early this morning—Leo and Wilder at the crack of dawn to get to the flower market and firehouse, and King not too long after for some sort of work meeting. Since I didn’t drive, I had to get up with them. Well,get upwas maybe a bit of an exaggeration since Wilder had ended up rolling me in a blanket and carrying me to his truck. Not much could convince me they really loved me as much as them finding my morning grumpiness cute instead of annoying.
I wanted to be back in bed with all of my guys, sleeping and fucking the day away, but since napping in my nest alone held no appeal, I had started my work day. “If these guys think they’re going to turn me into a morning person, they are sorely mistaken,” I muttered.
The shop phone made me jump, and I realized I’d fallen asleep at my desk. It should be illegal for people to make phone calls before noon.
I rolled my chair over to the checkout desk, where my phone was sitting on the new shelf King had gotten Easton to install.
“Spring in Your Stitch, this is Lucy.”
“Hi Lucy. It’s Jaqueline.”
My heart pounded and my stomach lurched with nausea. My guys hadn’t pushed me about my internship decision, but when I told them at dinner that I’d emailed Fran to turn it down, they’d said they were proud of me.
