Page 108 of Believe it or Knot

“They wouldn’t dare,” Sylvie says, sounding… kind of scary, actually.

Sadie scowls at me. “As if we would let them do that.”

I wave a hand and pick up a wide-toothed comb, pulling my hair over my shoulder to work out the tangles. “It was a joke.” I pin both of them with a look. “I know how hard it is for you to be away from them. I don’t want to keep you from your lives.”

“You aren’t, Sor,” Vee lies through her teeth.

They’ve spent nearly every moment since I showed up at the Falcone penthouse with me. They haven’t spent any alone time with their packs, and I know how hard that can be for an omega. And a pack.

“Please,” I wince as the comb catches on a particularly hard knot. “I am. Now it’s time for all of us to go back to our regularly scheduled program.”

They glance at each other and then slowly nod. “Okay, Sor, if that’s what you want.”

I give a resolute nod. “It is.”

Vee shifts forward and takes the comb from me, gently working out the tangle. “But you’ll-”

“I’ll let you know if I need anything, I promise. I think recent events have made it clear I’m not too proud to ask for help if I need it.”

Another nod from the omegas, though they don’t seem all that enthused to be leaving me. “I promise I’m fine,” I reassure them again. “I know you need to get back to your packs.”

Sadie scowls. “We don’t need to.”

“You practically cried this morning when you realized Logan’s cardigan doesn’t smell like him anymore.”

Sadie slouches against my pillows with a huff. “That’s easily remedied. He just has to send me more clothes.”

“Or you could go cuddle up with your pack in your nest,” I say in a wheedling tone. “Both of you.” Vee arches her brows at me, but doesn’t say anything, just keeps combing out my hair for me. I sigh again, folding my arms over my chest. “I’m strong enough to stand on my own.”

In a second, they both have their arms wrapped around me. “Of course you are,” Vee reassures me. “We didn’t mean to imply you aren’t.”

“It’s just hard to leave you here when we know you’re hurting.”

“I know,” I murmur into their hair. “But I’ll be fine.”

“Fuck yeah, you will,” Sadie agrees, pulling back and cupping my cheek. “I’m gonna have Ethan send you a new phone, one that only us and our alphas have the number. You can keep that one.” She points at my old cell with an accusing finger. “Or toss it, but we’ll contact you through the new one. Okay?”

I nod, knowing there’s no arguing with her. “Okay.”

She smiles at my easy acceptance, but it drops away when my phone rings again. Vee picks it up. “It says it’s someone named Joey?”

“Ugh,” I groan, tipping my head back. “Block him.”

Vee does as I ask before looking at me. “Who is Joey?”

I shake my head and bundle up my stack of clothes before padding downstairs to my bathroom. “Liam’s personal assistant, sort of.” I’m still confused about what exactly his job is and who he works for. But it’s not really any of my business anymore. “He never liked me, so it’s probably just another one of those calls to tell me I’m a lying whore.” I pause in the door of my bathroom and glance over at them. “Call your packs and let them know you’re coming home. I’m taking a shower.”

Thirty minutes later, Sadie and Sylvie are packed up and gone on their way back to the city. I’m clean and dressed and standing at my door with my hand on the knob, having a pep talk with myself.

“Business as usual,” I mutter to myself. “Just pretend like the last few weeks didn’t happen. You’re back to BCP—Before Cordova Pack. This is just a normal Friday morning.”

Nodding resolutely to myself, I yank open my door and step onto my porch, locking my door behind me. The mid-morning sun is already too warm, even filtered through the trees, so I know the lake will be packed by afternoon.

Hopefully, everyone will be too busy enjoying the weather and the water to pay much attention to me, the lowly burger slinger. As I make my way to my bike, I shoot off a text to Annie, letting her know I’m on my way to the restaurant. She responds with a thumbs up, and then I turn off my phone entirely, before tucking it into my mini cross body bag.

Awareness prickles against my skin as I bend over to unlock my bike chain from one of the front porch slats. A feeling of someone watching me, that has me glancing over my shoulder, searching between the trees for any sign of movement, but there is none.

I blow out a breath and shake my head. “Paranoid,” I mutter to myself, even as I hurry to undo the lock.

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