“Are you going to invite us in?” I quickly turn my attention to the loud redhead, who interrupts our moment. Sabs puts her hands on her hips. “Or are we going to freeze to death while you two get lovey-dovey?”
“Of course, sorry!” Shit! I better up my game. “Come on in.”
“We didn’t formally get introduced at the concert.” She steps inside. “I’m Sabs.”
“Tae.” I pause in the hallway. “Can I take your co?—”
Before I even finish my question, she has swung her jacket over her shoulder and is craning her neck to look over my shoulder at the living area.
“I’ll keep my coat on,” Kady mutters coldly, crossing her arms. “We may not be staying long.”
Ouch.
“Nice place.” Sabs lets out a whistle. “But I kinda expected something bigger for a celeb?—”
Delilah nudges her in the ribs. “Sabs!”
“What?” Sabs gasps. “I was only making an observation.”
“Thanks, Tae.” The final omega with golden hair and a flowery dress passes me her denim jacket. She’s soft-spoken, and her brown eyes are kind. “I’m Faye.”
“Thanks for coming, Faye.” I breathe a sigh of relief, sensing I may have found an ally in the group. “We’ve really been looking forward to meeting Delilah’s friends properly.”
“And we’ve all really wanted to meet you too,” Faye replies politely.
Standing beside Faye, Kady snorts.
“Why don’t you make yourself comfortable?” I lead them to the living area, nerves swimming through my stomach.
Nash stands awkwardly next to the sofas, tucking and untucking his hands in his pockets.
“Whoa…” Sabs looks him up and down. “You’re tall.” She turns to Delilah. “You didn’t tell me he was a giant. I can see why you work security. No one is going to mess with you with him around, Del.”
“This is Nash,” I tell the girls. He looks like a deer caught in the headlights as Jagger emerges from the kitchen. “And this is Jagger.”
“We’ve met.” Kady’s nose wrinkles as she snubs him, turning away to look at a painting.
Faye smiles warmly. “It’s so nice to meet you both.”
Sabs’s eyes narrow, looking Jagger up and down, then her nostrils flare. “What is that smell?”
The acrid, burnt smell wafts through from the next room, getting stuck in my throat.
“Oh no!” Jagger sprints back to the oven.
“We’ve had a bit of a cooking disaster,” I admit sheepishly. “Jagger and I thought it’d be good to cook for you. But it didn’t… go as planned.”
“Let me see what I can do.” Delilah marches after Jagger, her friends following in pursuit.
When they reach the kitchen, Jagger’s silhouette is framed by smoke as he fans the cremated lasagna, and Nash rushes in to open the window.
“Oh dear.” Delilah goes over to inspect it. “Even I can’t save that one.” She chuckles. “Next time you should bake it, not incinerate it.”
“I’ll try to remember that.” Jagger laughs nervously. “Luckily, Nash had the sense to order pizza.”
“It’s the thought that counts,” Faye remarks, bringing some much-needed positivity. “Do you like to cook?”
“I can make a few of my mom’s signature Korean dishes, but drinks are more my forte,” I reply, shaking my head. “Nash’s a wizard with the grill, though.”
