Page 31 of Bonded By Tea and Tarot

I groan when she gets to the third one, and she freezes. She turns to me slowly with wide eyes, reminding me of a deer caught in the headlights. I sigh and shake my head at myself, then attempt to smile at her, although based on her pinched brows, it might come off as more of a grimace.

I nudge her water glass closer, wanting to do something to appease my alpha instincts, and her eyes jump from my face to my hand to the water. Then she slowly reaches for it and takes a tentative sip.

To my horror, another rumble sounds in my chest. Hayden’s grip on my knee tightens, and I snap my lips closed.

“Excuse me.” I force the words out between my teeth as I stand. “I need a moment.”

Chapter Nineteen

Siobhan

So far it’s going… okay. I don’t know what Jayce’s problem is. He seems unhappy to be here and it’s making my inner omega restless. I want to straddle his lap and scent mark the delicious bonfire-smelling alpha, but as it is I’m simply trying not to pout at the grump.

Hayden is as charming as I expected them to be, so at least there’s that. Ultimately, though, I’d like for them both to relax and show me who they truly are underneath all the bravado.

The maple bar was truly delicious though, and if nothing else, I’m glad I came for that.

“So, I take it you speak Spanish?”

Hayden tears their gaze from Jayce’s retreating form. The crease in their brow relaxes and their lips curl into a sensual smirk that has my lower abdomen clenching.

“Sí, amorcito, hablo Español. ¿Te gusta?”

The words go straight through me and I squirm in my seat, clenching my thighs together in a desperate hope to prevent my perfume from exploding around us. I nod, embarrassed when it’s jerky, and Hayden takes pity on me.

“I’m happy to speak Spanish whenever you’d like, or even teach you some, if you want.”

I clear my throat, but my voice is still more raspy than usual when I answer, “Sure, I think I’d like that.”

Jayce stomps back to the table and sits like he’s readying for war. I eye him warily, still not sure how to get a read on him.

“I think I’ll try the chocolate croissant next,” Hayden says, snagging the flakey pastry from the box. “Jayce? What looks good?”

He glares at the box like it’s personally offended him, and I roll my eyes while neither of them is looking. Then he sighs and grabs a flat, glazed cookie with tiny black specks throughout, which there are four of in the box.

“What’s that?” I ask, intrigued.

“Masala chai sugar cookie,” he grunts, then shoves the whole thing into his mouth.

I blink at him in shock, but before I can figure out how to reply, the door swings open with a gust of chilly air. I glance to the side, doing a double-take when Sage and Riley stroll in, their arm slung around her neck as he tugs her up to the counter.

They both see me looking so I give a small wave, only for both Riley and Sage to shoot back beaming smiles and two obnoxious thumbs up. Riley’s eyes roam over the two alphas and my inner omega prickles with displeasure, but thankfully Sage seems to have better manners. Then I realize they’re probably just seeing who I’m with, not checking them out.

“Friends of yours?” Hayden asks, dabbing the corner of their full lips with a napkin and drawing my attention there. I nod, and they glance up at the blue and purple haired pair. Then that slow, devastating grin sneaks out again. “They’re cute.”

I immediately sit up straight. My smile drops and my stomach plummets, while my pride has me bristling at the fact that they’d be looking at another omega while I’m sitting right here in front of⁠—

“Together, I mean!” Hayden rushes to explain, seeming to catch their error right before I explode on them. “Not to me. I wouldn’t notice, just that together they seem happy, like a pair, with the bright hair and all. That’s all I meant.”

I’m fuming, breathing heavy through my nose and my scent has turned bitter. Like tea steeped far too long and then left out at room temperature. I swallow hard and attempt to rein in my possessive reaction.

“I’m sorry, Siobhan,” Hayden says. They lean forward, earnest brown eyes peering at me through round tortoise shell glasses. “That was a thoughtless, insensitive comment. You deserve better. From both of us.”

I lean back in my chair, wondering if this is how it’s going to be. One alpha acting a fool and apologizing, only for the other to take up the mantle. I pinch my lips together and cross my arms, debating whether I should get up and leave.

“Please,” Jayce says, speaking for the first time in ages. “Give us a shot. We’re both nervous, this is a big deal to us.” He pauses to clamp a hand around the back of his neck and suck in a deep breath. “I mean, I’m glad I’m not the only one who messed up—makes me feel a bit less like an idiot—but we’d be honored if you’d let us make it up to you. Please.”

I crack a smile at his wry comment, appreciating the vulnerability in his words. He drops both hands to his lap, and I sense they’re holding hands under the table. It makes my heart do a tiny swoop in my chest.