Page 26 of Yes Now Yes Forever

He smiled warmly at me and nodded, causing his strawberry blond curls to bounce. “Yes, have you been?”

“No, but my best friend is from there,” I shared.

“Oh?” he pressed, adjusting his glasses, eyes bright with interest. “Maybe I know this friend.”

“Her name is Elora, Elora Casten,” I offered.

“Lägg av, I know Elora well,” Vili said excitedly and began to talk furiously in Numolandian.

Over the years, I’d picked up a few words, but I wasn’t at all skilled enough to understand what he was saying.

“Vili,” Bailey-Rose cut in, waving her hands like a referee. “Time out. I know you’re excited, but no one can understand what you’re saying.”

“Sorry, kitten,” Vili mumbled, his cheeks turning pink. “I got excited and started to speak in my home tongue, it is easier.”

Bailey-Rose nuzzled her nose against his and smiled. “It’s fine, I just want to know what’s so exciting.”

“Kitten, your friend Zelly, she has older sister, Elora, who lives in this country most of time. Lyra just told me she is best friends with Elora,” Vili explained, beaming. “You two like sisters now and good friends with sisters I know, this is amazing.”

Finally, I was able to put all the pieces together right about the same time Bailey-Rose had.

“You know Zelly?” we blurted simultaneously, only to start laughing.

“Yes, I’ve known Zelly for years. Elora was my college roommate,” I explained once I’d caught my breath. “How do you know her?”

Bailey-Rose settled comfortably on Vili’s lap as I took a seat on the couch between Zachary and Fawn. Nugget, who’d wandered off for a bit, returned, hopped onto my lap, and made himself comfortable. I absently started to pet his soft fur as I listened to Bailey-Rose’s story.

“A little over two months ago, we all went to Numoland to visit Vili’s mother. While we were there, Vili took me to the opera, but of course, you need a proper dress to wear. Vili surprised me by taking me to the shop, Dreams Do Come Tulle, which Zelly’s parents own. To my delight, Zelly was the one to help me pick out the perfect dress.” Bailey-Rose let out a sigh as if she was remembering the whole interaction. “You could say after an introduction like that, Zelly and I became good friends. I haven’t seen her in person again, but we video chat and text all the time. Although I’m sure you already know how crazy things are for them with Elora’s new album coming out.”

I nodded. “Yeah, it’s been taking her a day or two to respond to my texts, but I know it comes with being friends with someone who’s become kind of famous.”

“Kind of famous?” Fawn scoffed as he knocked his shoulder against mine. “Angel, I love you, but your friend has been nominated in the category for best rock artist. Elora is majorly famous.”

“I know, I know, it’s hard for me to think of her as anyone but my roommate,” I argued. “I’m overjoyed for her success, music is the one thing she loves. I wonder if she’ll take Zelly to the awards show since I doubt I’ll be able to go as her plus one.”

“Hold up a sec,” Bailey-Rose said, holding up a hand. “Why wouldn’t you be able to go?”

“Because I’m no longer single, and I doubt she’d want to have my whole pack tagging along. She offered it to me when I broke up with my previous pack, it was something for me to look forward to,” I answered.

Bailey-Rose tapped her chin in thought. “I guess if you, as an Omega, showed up at an awards show as her plus one, people might get the wrong idea. Everyone knows Zelly is her sister, so it doesn't draw any attention.”

“The only reason I would have gone is because she wanted me to. I hate being the center of attention,” I added.

My guys chuckled at that, knowing just how much I avoided such situations.

“Well, I think we’ve bonded enough so we can leave the Alphas up here without them killing each other while we go down to the studio and have some fun,” Bailey-Rose announced, hopping to her feet only to put an arm around the final pack member we hadn’t been introduced to. “Warrick, the amazing, even made some killer mocktails for us to sip on while we paint.”

Warrick snaked an arm around Bailey-Rose, holding her still long enough for him to kiss her. “Well, I had to help make a good impression on your big brother’s pack now, didn’t I, care bear?”

Bailey-Rose smiled so sweetly at her Alpha that it was obvious to a blind man how in love she was with all her scent matches and vice versa. “You say the sweetest things, but I’m gonna go spend time with my new Omega besties. Don’t miss us too much.”

With that, Bailey-Rose grabbed my hand and Fawn’s in a clear signal we should follow her. Nugget hopped off my lap, looked over his shoulder, and wagged his tail as if to encourage me to do the same.

“All right, but I’ll warn you, I’m not really the artistic type,” I shared as I stood.

Fawn hooked his arm through mine as if he’d been worried I’d run away and winked. “Don’t worry, if all else fails, I’ll make you my canvas and show you just how creative I can be for the both of us.”

After we left our Alphas to hang out, Bailey-Rose brought us over to a workstation, prepped and ready for use. Three blank canvases were marked where each of us should stand, so I skipped right up to the spot where I’d be between Bailey-Rose and Lyra.