I frown and motion to the theater. “Does this look like they’re keeping me a secret? We’re here together. There were at least twenty photographers out front who saw us arrive together. And,” I glance around and lean forward like I’m telling them a secret. It feels like one even though the rest of the world will know in less than a half hour. “They told the reporters that they never plan on seeing Isadora again.”
“Likeeveragain?” Petal questions, sounding awed by the notion.
“Everagain.”
She squeals and hugs me again. While Tristan is still eyeing the pack with distrust. When the pink haired omega releases me, he hugs me too, murmuring, “I’m happy for you, jalapeno. You deserve the best,” in a surprisingly earnest tone for the male omega.
He pushes me away from him. “I haven’t forgiven you though, and I won’t until we’ve had a proper brunch and a chat, yeah?”
I shrug. “Fair enough. I’m in town for another few days-”
“What? Only a few days?”
“My best friend is having a baby in a couple weeks.”
Tristan looks down at his stomach and then over to Petal’s flat tummy. “You’re mistaken, jalapeno. Neither of us are pregnant.”
I laugh. “My best American friend, Haven, is having a baby. I promised her I would be there for it. I wouldn’t miss it for anything.” I glance around. “I don’t have my phone on me-” Piers thrusts a familiar cell in front of me. “Or I guess I do. Thank you, dimples.”
“Dimples,” Tristan mouths, rolling his eyes. “God, you're adorable and I despise you for it.”
That pulls another laugh from me. They seem to come easier now, like I’m healing. Like I’m… free.
I unlock my phone and push it in Petal’s direction. “Put your number in there. And we’ll set up a time to get together before I leave.”
She dutifully taps at my screen. “And you’ll be back, right? I mean with the Ashbournes being your pack, you’d have to be.”
I’m not sure what to say to that, my first thought is yes, of course I’ll be back. Like I told Thayer days ago, it feels like the assumption is that we’ll live here, and I’ll give up everything to be with them.
But we also haven’t discussed it. They’ve only just told the world they aren’t going to be with Isadora. They’ve only just told me they aren’t going to be with her.
“We haven’t figured out where our home base is going to be,” Forsythe says, smoothly stepping up next to me and sliding his hand to the small of my back. I’m glad he doesn’t just outright agree that I will be coming back to Bravonne. Today has been a lot. “But wherever it is the both of you will be more than welcome to visit.”
“Just not too much,” Court says happily, sliding his hand to my ass and squeezing. “And we’ll need warning. Lots of warning, so we can be sure not to be knot deep-”
My hand claps over his grinning mouth. “Pretty boy.”
Tristan grins. “Don’t worry, jalapeno. Petal and I are aware of what happens between omegas and alphas.” He nudges the pink haired woman next to him. “You wouldn’t think it to look at her, but this one is actually a massive slut.”
If anyone else said that about…anyone, I would get all up in arms and tell them not to use that word, but this is Tristan and he sounds downright proud and fond when he calls Petal that.
Petal’s cheeks go almost the same shade of pink as her hair, but she just shakes her head. “You’re just jealous that Javier wanted my number last night and not yours.”
Tristan snorts. “Of course I am! That man was a G.O.D. God, Pet.”
My brows arch as they bicker, like they’ve forgotten that we’re here, that the crown prince of Bravonne is standing in front of them, patiently waiting for them to finish. And god, it makes me laugh. They are exactly the same and I love them for it.
Most of that damn show was only tolerable because I had them.
Their discussion cuts out when I lunge forward and wrap my arms around both of them squeezing them tight. “God, I missed both of you so much. I’m sorry I didn’t keep in touch. I’ll be better about it.”
Petal’s little hand strokes my back. “You had a lot going on, Ren.”
“Of course you forgot about us, what with finding out that the Ashbourne pack is your fated pack and getting sick and battling Isadora for dominance.”
I laugh at the way he just lays it all out there like that. “That is true.”
The overhead lights flicker a warning for everyone to find their seats. “We should go,” Petal says, taking a step back and lacing her arm through Tristan’s. “Our box is on the other side of the theater from yours.”
