Page 91 of Taken By the Pack

I lean against the counter. “So, what’s your plan for handling the heat now that you can’t have sex?”

Grace hums, twirling a strand of hair. “Adrenaline activities.”

Jake raises a brow. “Like?”

She shrugs. “That’s where you come in. You’re my pack.Youcome up with something.”

I glance at Jake. He tilts his head, thinking. “Hiking?”

Grace perks up. “That could work.”

Jake sets his glass down. “I know a trail that leads to the waterfalls. But…” He hesitates. “It goes past the cliffs.”

Silence.

Ash’s expression tightens. “You sure about that?”

Jake shrugs. “Enough time has passed, right?”

Grace glances between us. “We can do something else.”

I exhale. “No. If Jake wants to hike, we hike. We’ll all be together.” I meet his gaze. “Nothing’s gonna happen.”

Jake swallows, running a hand through his hair.

Grace leans in and presses a kiss to his cheek. “Okay?”

He exhales. “Yeah.”

Ash shakes his head. “This is either a great idea or a terrible one.”

Grace grins. “Guess we’ll find out.”

Dinner is easy. Comfortable.

We eat, talk, laugh.

Grace tells us about some old lady at the flower shop who tried to steal a succulent by stuffing it in her purse.

Ash tells a ridiculous story about a failed expedition involving a literal circus.

Jake argues that grilled fish is superior to fried, and I tell him he’s an idiot.

It’snice.

I glance at Grace. She’s glowing, animated, happy.

Yeah.

This isreallynice.

This is exactly what I wanted with my Lena, but somehow, it feels like more.

It feels like with time, this could be more than enough.

* * *

It’s too fuckingearly for this.

---