Nash merely shrugs and mumbles, “I’m okay.”
“Why don’t you all sit down, and I can bring you some cocktails?” I smile brightly. “At least that’s something I can’t screw up.”
Sabs tilts her head. “Getting us drunk to try to win our approval, huh?”
“N-no!” I splutter. “Of course not, I?—”
“She’s only joking.” Delilah’s hand on my arm calms me. “You’ll get used to her sense of humor.”
“I’ll clean this up,” Jagger heads out to the yard to throw away the lasagna remains.
Back in the living room, the girls settle in. Faye opts for the cozy armchair by the fire while Sabs and Kady sit on either side of Delilah, shoulder-to-shoulder on one of our new velvet sofas. They’re much more comfortable than the old ones. Across the coffee table, Jagger and Nash sit on our other new sofa, bodies ram-rod straight, like they’re about to face a judge at trial.
“So who’d like a Margarita?” Shaking my mixer, I retreat to the safety of our newly erected minibar in the corner of the room to prepare the drinks.
“Count me in!” Sabs licks her lips. “I think I’m gonna need it.”
“Water is fine,” Kady replies, pursing her lips as her eyes burn into Jagger, who drums his fingers on his knees.
I play music on low to fill some of the awkward silence while blathering on about some of my recent antics at the Tea House in an attempt to lighten the tension. Delilah and Faye nod along, everyone else seems to be oddly strained. If looks could kill, poor Jag would already be decomposing into the cushions.
Sabs sips her cocktail then lets out a satisfied groan. “Woah, that’s good.”
At least I get some props for that.
Nash glances expectantly at his watch, like he’s waiting for an excuse to make an escape. “The pizza should be here soon…”
“Why don’t we just cut the bullshit and get to the point?” Kady’s voice slices through the air like a knife. “We have some questions to ask.”
I gulp, taking a seat. This is way scarier than any job interview or exam.
“Despite being potentially bad judges of character, we’ve already agreed to give Nash and Tae a chance,” Kady continues. Ouch. I’m not sure whether to be relieved or insulted. Then she points her manicured nail at Jagger. “But you have some serious explaining to do.”
“Or you’ll end up in a worse state than that lasagna,” Sabs threatens.
As pleased as I am to hear that I’m not in the firing line, I’m nervous for my packmate. Jagger’s Adam’s apple bobs in an audible gulp.
“Tonight was supposed to be about you getting to know the guys.” Delilah straightens. “Not some interrogation!”
“No, it’s okay,” Jagger speaks up. “I understand that your friends have questions and that they’re angry. After what I did, I don’t blame them. I want to answer their questions.”
“See?” Kady waves her wrist. “Jagger doesn’t mind.”
“If this pack wants to be a part of your life, they have to pass our test,” Sabs proclaims. “You deserve the very best, Delilah.”
“That’s something we all agree on,” I reply.
Nash and Jagger nod in earnest.
“How do we know you won’t run away again, Jagger?” Kady turns up the heat. “Like you did last time.”
Delilah winces, and Jagger’s face falls.
“I guess…” He opens and closes his mouth. “Look…” He runs his hands through his hair. “I don’t expect you to believe me when I say that I promise I’ll never do that, but I mean it. I haven’t earned your trust yet, rainbow.” He looks at Delilah. “But you know I’ll spend the rest of my life trying.”
“What if you get cold feet?” Sabs squints at him. “Who’s to say you won’t up and leave without saying goodbye again?”
“What I did last year was…” He looks anguished. “Unforgivable. I thought I was protecting Delilah by shielding her from my life, but I was wrong. I came back to SVU to find her because our time apart only proved that I could never be truly happy without her, and my pack has helped me become a better man. They’ve shown me what’s truly important.”
