“Silas!”Rami shouts, throwing an arm around my shoulders. “You’re here!”
Hereis the first of many tiny-house builds that Rami has planned for this summer, and all the Wildlings are here to support him. I check my phone.
I’m the last to arrive, and it’s five fifty-eight.
In the morning.
I have killed men for less.
At the very least, I regret leaving Cupcake at home.
Cupcake is my hundred-pound emotional support Cane Corso, and she was not having it this morning. Looking around at all the happy, fully awake people organizing supplies and greeting volunteers, she had a point.
I try to discreetly step away from Rami, but he drags me into an even more effusive hug. “This is going to be so. Much. Fun!” he exclaims, swaying me back and forth. “I’m so glad you could make it!”
A large hand lands on Rami’s shoulder and gently pulls him away from me. I bite back a smile.
Oakley.
I’m probably not supposed to have a favorite Wildling, but I do. Maybe it’s because he was the first to insist that I’m one of them. Maybe it’s because he looks like the love child of an Olympic powerlifter and a Greek god.
Both. Definitely both.
When I try to pick a favorite feature, I get stuck. Thick eyebrows. Strong cheekbones. Square jaw. Perfect belly. Oh—and histhighs. His calves. His square hands. That thick, dark hair you just want to get lost in.
I haven’t even mentioned the fur on his chest. It’s a daily struggle not to bury my face in it.
Hm.
“Rahm.” Oakley’s voice stirs me from my reverie as he presses a paper cup full of life-saving coffee into my hand. “I’m gonna need you to bring down the enthusiasm, just a hair. Give the caffeine a chance to do its magic.”
I sip my coffee, hiding my flush. Oak sends me a wink.
He doesn’t mean anything by it.
That’s okay.
I still like the way it makes my skin feel alive.
“So, Oak, buddy. You and Mav coming into Wimberley for orientation on Monday?” Rami asks, pivoting with a weird little grin on his face. “It’ll be one helluva first day.”
Oakley narrows his eyes. “Why is everyone acting like Mav and I are walking into a trap?”
Rami snorts. “No reason.”
Honoré, who is quiet—unlikesomepeople—grabs Oakley’s muscular shoulder. “The first day is overwhelming on purpose,” he says in his soft Afro-French accent. “You need to know how it feels so that when we break down how to deal with overwhelming things, you have a baseline.”
“Thanks, Honoré,” Oakley says, glaring at Rami.
I know what’s coming and, like all the team members, have been sworn to secrecy.
Honoré is right, the first dayisoverwhelming. But I have faith in Oak. He’ll do just fine. Mav, on the other hand? Let’s just say that there are bets on his level of freakout.
Rami pops his brows. “It’s a good thing you got in one more wild sexcapade with that couple last night. You won’t have time for shenanigans after Monday.”
Ouch.
I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut. Just like I do every time I find out that Oakley went and had fun with someone not me.
