Page 38 of Heatwaves

“Good morning, Lil,” I say with a half smile.

“Morning, Wy.” She stretches, her arm knocking into Ty, who’s asleep on her other side. Her eyes go wide as she shoots up in bed, disturbing the others.

Instead of saying anything, Lila scrambles down the bed and hustles into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her—leaving me alone with four sleepy, barely awake men who stare blurry-eyed after her.

“Her heat has broken, boys,” I say with a chuckle, easing myself down the bed until I can stand up. “Let the games begin.”

Ty frowns, rubbing his eyes before narrowing them at me—not because he’s mad but because he doesn’t have his glasses on. “What games?”

Carter leans over to grab Ty’s glasses from the bedside table and hands them to him before focusing back on me.

“Her heat is over. She said you could stay for that, and then she wanted you out.” I shrug. “Iget the feeling she ducked into the bathroom to give you a chance to leave. If you’re not gone when she comes out, something tells me it isn’t going to be pretty.”

“But we need to tell her what happened,” Aidan argues, and I laugh.

“I agree, but I’m not sure now is the time. She’s angry, and she’s hurt. You’re going to have to do this on her timeline, not on yours.”

Oliver’s eyes narrow. “And why should we listen to you? It’s clear you’re in love with her and want her for yourself.”

“Of course, I’m in love with her. She’s an amazing woman, and I do want her, but that doesn’t mean I only want her for myself.” I shake my head, moving to the dresser to grab a pair of sweats I keep here and pulling them on. “I also know Lila has too big of a heart to only love one person. Being loved by her is my only goal—to be one of the men in her heart.”

The four of them just stare at me in disbelief.

Whatever.

I don’t need them to believe me. I don’t owe them a damn thing. The only reason I’m even speaking to them right now is because I know Lila loves them, and I don’t think she’s as done with them as she’s claiming. If I were a bettingman, I’d put money on her ending up with the four of them. I just hope I also end up as part of the polycule.

“Believe what you want. Do what you want. You’re all grown-ass men.” Throwing my hands in the air, I head for the kitchen.

I’m starving, and I know Lila will be, too. It’s just what happens post-heat.

I always make the two of us breakfast while she throws out whatever whale shifters she’s invited over for the heat. It’s a tradition I don’t think we’ll be breaking today.

There’s no way she won’t be kicking them to the curb the minute she exits the bathroom—even if they don’t believe me.

Pancakes, eggs, and bacon sound perfect.

“What the hell are you still doing here?” Lila’s raised voice reaches my ears, and I wince in sympathy for the men on the receiving end of her words. “My heat is over, so get the hell out!”

I hear murmurs of other voices before Lila cuts them off.

“I never said I would listen to you. In fact, I told you that you’d be leaving as soon as my heat was over. If there’s any confusion, it’s only on your end. Get. The. Fuck. Out.”

I can feel their surprise and disbelief from here, and I chuckle.

They really should’ve listened to me.

Lila steps into the kitchen, her face a mask, but I can feel her roiling emotions as she steps around to stand next to me. “Pancakes?”

“Of course, I’m making pancakes. I don’t want to be on the other end of a tongue-lashing.” I grin at her so she knows I’m giving her a hard time. “I’m also making eggs and bacon because we need the protein.”

I hear the four shifters step into the kitchen, not commenting on the way Lila stiffens.

“Lila,” Carter begins, cutting off when she spins on her heel.

“I told you, I have no desire to hear anything you have to say. Leave my house. While you’re at it, do us all a favor and disappear from my life again.”

A quick glance over my shoulder shows her words have hit them hard—hurt written all over their faces.

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