Page 104 of Knot Only For One Night

“You sure showed me, huh, Penny,” I say.

Her face falls. “I did.”

“Penny, I'd be homeless⁠—”

“But you’re not⁠—”

“No thanks to you!” I scoff. I can’t believe it… I can’t believe this is real. She was my friend. My best friend. My only— and she turned around and…

I shove my way past Penny, a terse “Don’t call me” thrown over my shoulder.

I don’t need her anymore.

Just around the corner, my eyes clash with warm brown ones. Asher stands a few feet down the hall, hoodie over his head. He opens his arms a bit and that's all it takes for me to go rushing into his arms. My tears wet the front of his hoodie, and I cry silently.

God, this hurts.

“Did you hear?” I whisper and he nods, his head on top of mine.

“And stay away from her, you jealous bitch.” Jewels' voice is loud and distinct as she storms out of the door. Lacy’s sneakers follow after her.

“And who the hell are you? Threatening me? Don’t make me call security!”

“Do what you need to, Cupcake, I don’t even go to this school,” Jewels calls back out and I can’t help but chuckle, even with sobs locked in my throat and tears streaming down my face.

“Come on, honey, we got better things to do,” she says as she pushes both doors wide open, striding outside.

“What a sick ending,” I mumble as Asher takes my hand, Lacy taking the other as we follow Jewels’ storming figure to the car.

“So I know you’ll have to unpack, but why rush it, you know? Come to my place.”

Jewels stands among the boxes and bags that now decorate Neven’s studio apartment. I take her offer like the lifeline it is.

“I could think of nothing better,” I sigh.

“Besides our nest, right? Come cuddle with me, Princess,” Reed tries to convince me, pulling on my arm. He latches onto me, kissing the top of my head.

“As much as that also sounds good—and trust me it does,” I say, leaning into Red a bit, grabbing a whiff of his sweet pancake scent before unraveling myself from him, “I need a girls’ night.”

“Yay!” Jewels cheers and is dragging me down the hall. I wonder how many members live above the bar and how many apartments they fit. It has my mind reeling on how I could fit my Pack into one space. Five folks in a studio is… tight.

We get to Jewels’ apartment. It’s a two-bedroom and the decor is as vibrant as her hair. Pastels paint the room and I try to imagine her grunge biker mates in here. Her living room has a huge projector set up with a couch so low to the floor it might as well be a bed.

“It’s a bit messy. But it’s all actually clean. Promise!” She plops down on the couch, and Lacy is quick to follow. I slowly enter the pile of rainbows on a cloud and breathe as the day replays in my mind.

Soren fighting, packing my dorm, now here, having a girls’ night.

“Here.” Lacy pulls out a baggie with the Wolves Dispensary logo on it. “I had them make gummy worms this time. Coated in the sour stuff.”

“That sounds amazing, " I say, grabbing one and taking a bite. I always limit myself to two typically, depending on how much is in each one.

Lacy snags a few worms in her fingers. “They are super low doses. I think we can have like ten each.” Jewels scrolls through movies.

“I think I have some face masks somewhere.” I want to contribute, then remember that they are lost somewhere in my bags in Neven’s room.

“Don’t worry. You’ll get us next time,” Lacy says and Jewels dashes off toward where I assume her bathroom is.

“Do we want pizza? I can at least do that,” I ask and they nod. I smile, finally feeling useful, getting up and searching for a nearby place on my phone. “Pepperoni okay?”