I grinned. Olive couldn’t refuse Felix anything. Not that I could, either.
Char dropped off our drinks and I stirred creamer into my coffee, doing my best to ignore the conspicuous silence that had fallen over the table.
“Sooo…” Olive said.
Summer huffed, clearly having exhausted her patience. “What’s going on with you and the guys? Did they tell you why they didn’t come to the event?”
I shrugged, my heart still aching. “Wilder said he wasn’t feeling well, and Leo got caught up with a family thing. I’m not sure about King.”
“Why didn’t they let you know right away? Did their phones simultaneously break?” Summer’s tone was scathing.
“Wilder and King didn’t have my number. They were waiting outside my store this morning when I walked by with Blossom on the way to the clinic. I was a bit distracted so we didn’t really talk. It’s not like they actually owe me anything.”
“They owe you human decency and basic consideration.” Olive and Felix crossed their arms at the same time, both looking murderous.
“We’ll egg their cars and TP their homes,” Summer said. “I’m sure Easton will help us.”
“My guys will, too,” Ivy added.
My lips quirked. “Even Rome?” Rome and Ivy were both sticklers for the rules.
“He cares about you. All my guys do. This whole town loves you, Lucy.”
“I appreciate it. But I just want to move on.”
“But…revenge.” Summer sounded so disappointed it almost made me smile.
“We’ll find someone else to get revenge on, I’m sure,” I said.
Char delivered our food—four orders of strawberry cheesecake pancakes—and Olive mercifully asked Summer how the bakery grand opening was coming along. Summer launched into a long discussion on the pros and cons of industrial bread ovens, drawing the attention away from me.
I immersed myself in the conversation with a smile I didn’t quite feel. Ivy’s words replayed in my mind. I knew the town loved me, but I couldn’t help but wonder what they really thought behind my back.
Lucy, so flighty and unserious. That must be why she can’t land a pack.
As soon as I finished eating, I started gathering up my things. “I’ve got to get going.”
Ivy frowned. Our breakfast dates usually stretched for hours until an exasperated Char kicked us out. “So soon? Why?”
“I got behind on some custom orders with the workshop and everything, and Blossom needs some quiet.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Olive asked softly. “It’s okay if you’re not.”
“Thank you. I’ll be fine.” I leaned down and gave her a hug. Ivy and Summer joined in, squishing me among them, until I pulled away with a strained smile.
I picked up the bunny transport bag and headed out the door, Felix slipping outside with me.
“Are you hanging out with me today? I don’t have a new outfit ready for you yet, but we could brainstorm for the Eggstravaganza.”
He flicked his tail, leading the way as we crossed the street. I hadn’t been lying to my friends—I had a ton of work to catch up on—but as I walked into the shop, I knew I didn’t have the energy forany of it. My omega was crushed by rejection from the guys she’d already claimed as hers.
I headed upstairs to my nest. Some omegas slept in a normal bedroom and just used their nests for heats, but my omega instincts had always been…intense. Without a pack, being in my nest was the only thing that settled me.
I filled another syringe with milk for Blossom, and the three of us curled up in the middle of the plush velvet pillows.
“You are the cutest in the world,” I whispered to Blossom as she ate. Felix’s paw landed on my arm, his claws slightly digging in to my skin. “And you’re the handsomest boy.”
He purred and settled in beside me.
