“She’s not inconsiderate.” I grimaced at the bite in my tone and forced myself to loosen my jaw. “She made a mistake and she apologized. But she didn’t tell me about this guy, and obviously something is going on between them.”
Maman’s scowl persisted, but Parisa looked confused.
“Okay…and? If she apologized for standing you up, I don’t understand the issue. It sounds like she’s building a pack.”
The fire of my righteous indignation spluttered and then extinguished.
I had been so caught up in my self-pity and insecurities, I’d forgotten one of the most basic facts about omegas. Of fuckingcourseLucy needed a pack. I’d discarded my hope of being part of a pack so thoroughly after college it hadn’t even dawned on me that Lucy would consider having me as part of her pack alongside the handsome alpha. King. I’d been drawn to him from the moment he entered my store. When he’d talked about Lucy, I hadn’t just felt rejected by her—I’d beenjealousthat I couldn’t have him, too. Instead of asking Lucy about any of this, I’d thrown a pathetic fit and stood her up for her craft night when she’d told me she wanted me there.
My hand shook as I pulled out my phone. I’d put it onDo Not Disturbso I could sulk without interruptions. Looking at the bright screen now only made me feel worse. Lucy had texted me two hours ago.
I had let her down.
“You really think so?” I asked softly.
“Yeah, Leo. She needs a pack and she would be lucky to have you. Any omega would.”
I swallowed hard. “Probably not anymore. I was supposed to go to an event she’s hosting tonight.”
“What are you doing here still?” Bibi asked, tossing her hands in the air.
Maman hopped up from the table. “Bring her food.”
“Yes, good idea.” Baba jogged after her to the kitchen.
My brow furrowed. They’d met Lucy for all of a few minutes and were already this obsessed? Actually, yeah. That tracked. She had that effect on everyone.
Moments later, I was being pushed out the door, multiple glass containers of food in my hands and my family’s shouts of encouragement following me to the car.
34
Lucy
“Lucy, cariño, the embroidery goddessis not on my side tonight.” Marisol waved her embroidery hoop in the air and I grinned. Always the flare for drama.
I helped her untangle her thread before walking around the table to check on everyone’s progress. I’d played a game with myself when selecting the pattern option for tonight, guessing which attendee would choose what pattern. I’d been spot-on with one exception—in a shocking turn of events, Stanley had chosen a custom pattern I’d designed of Felix wearing a bow tie. The cat in question was sitting on the table next to Stanley, closely supervising his work.
“You’ve done a good job organizing this,” Stanley said as he effortlessly completed stitching Felix’s tail.
“Wow, thanks, Stanley.” Praise from our human mayor was rare.
“Although, you do not have a prominently displayed event permit or evacuation route.”
I pursed my lips. There it was.
Harry patted his husband’s hand. “You’re off the clock, babe.”
“The mayor is never off the clock,” Stanley grumbled.
Harry winked at me, and I hid my smile behind my hand as I moved to help Easton and Lars.
“How’s it going, big brother?” My lips twitched at the tangled mess in front of him.
“This is worse than when you made me play with your Barbies,” he grumbled with a scowl.
I rolled my eyes. “That’s weird because I remember you begging me to play with you.”
“As if,” he huffed. He did a double take when he looked at Olive’sflawless embroidery of a mermaid tail emerging from ocean waves. “How is yours so fucking perfect?”
