“I’ve been looking forward to it.”
A stilted silence fell over us, and Leo shifted his weight onto hisother leg. I bit my lip. I’d had a crush on the cute beta since our first meeting, when he came into my shop with an armful of flowers to introduce himself, but he always seemed uncomfortable around me. I would have chalked it up to social anxiety, except he seemed at ease and charming with everyone else in town.
“We’re going to get dinner if you want to join us.” I glanced over my shoulder and grinned when I realized Summer had snuck away and was already standing in line at a food stand.
“I told my family I’d eat with them,” he said.
For the briefest moment, I thought he might ask me to join him.
“Here.” He held out a small paper bag and I took it. “It’s a mixture of fruit and nuts. It’s supposed to grant wishes.”
“Oh, thank you.”
“Well, I hope you have fun. Nice to see you again, Olive.” Leo turned around, moving stiffly like he couldn’t get away from me fast enough.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “You, too, Leo.”
“That was weird,” Olive said, cocking her head.
“Yeah, it was.” Summer inched up beside me, a bowl of noodle soup in her hands. “Did something happen between you two?”
I shook my head. “No. He’s always kind of like that with me.”
“What, super awkward because he’s clearly in love with you?”
I scrunched my nose. “What are you talking about? I’m not sure he even likes me.”
“Lucy,” Olive said, her eyebrows furrowed with reproach. “You can’t possibly believe that. Everyone loves you.”
My heart was too raw to have this conversation. I’d been nursing my secret crush for months, and I couldn’t handle false hope.
I opened the paper bag and grabbed a handful of the nut and dried fruit mixture. “Let’s get food.”
Olive and Summer looked like they wanted to push it further, but Ivy put her arm around my shoulder. “Excellent idea. There’s a kebab food truck over there that’s calling my name.”
I popped a pistachio in my mouth and made a wish.
After we’d eaten, Iwandered through the rest of the booths, stopping at one with a goldfish tank. They were surprisingly mesmerizing as they swam around. Maybe I needed a pet.
“Lucy!”
The second Azad sibling of the evening bounded toward me.
“I’m so glad you’re here!” Parisa engulfed me in a tight hug, her bright citrus scent swirling around me.
“Thanks for inviting me. This is all so cool.”
Her eyes sparkled. “It is, isn’t it? It’s amazing to see my town show up and be so supportive.”
A large alpha with brown skin and short-cropped black hair joined us. I didn’t recognize him, but the possessive way he pulled Parisa to his side made it clear that he was one of her alphas.
“There you are,” he said with relief. “Don’t go running off again.”
Parisa pursed her lips and shook her head. “Overprotective alpha. Amir, this is Lucy, the friend I was telling you about.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” Amir’s voice was deep and kind.
“Oh, and there’s Sloane, my other alpha.”
