Page 145 of Labor of Love

“Nah. Anything would do. He’s a big reader, and I think some soft fabrics would help settle his Omega side. If he keeps this up, I’m not sure what I’ll do. It’s not like I can go beat the shit out of this guy.”

“Please don’t. Judy would not be happy to know you came here, then decided to go on a rampage. I’d rather not face your wife’s wrath.”

He laughed at my expression. “You’re right. Definitely don’t need that on your plate too. You’ve got enough to handle here in the shop.”

While the business did well, there was always competition in some form thanks to the increase in technology. Social media and ebooks accounted for a big part of my loss over the last decade. I had to work twice as hard to stay relevant in a world that was trying to leave businesses like mine in the dust.

Thankfully, in my younger years, I was smart enough to invest. Even if the store started to sink, I’d be just fine personally.

But I hoped it never got to that. I loved this place. Loved what it stood for.

I wanted to have it for as long as possible.

2

CLYNT

“It’s so fucking stupid. Why can’t I let it go?” I whined as more tears poured from my eyes.

I swiped at them angrily as Judy patted my leg. My cousin was not only my best friend, but she was also my savior. The second I’d called to tell her Diggs had dumped me, she told me to pack a bag and head her way.

No questions.

No judgement.

Only an understanding heart and a bit of petty shit-talk about my now ex.

I loved her so much. Our moms were twin sisters who’d been connected at the hip even after mating two very different men in very different packs. Compromise had them working together to live on the borders of each wolf pack to keep us close.

Raised like siblings, it was no wonder she was the first person I went to with my broken heart.

Though, the more distance I had from the situation, the more foolish I felt. How did I stay with that idiot for so long? Why didn’t I realize what an asshole he was to me and everyone around us?

“You’re going to be fine. I give it another day or two and this will pass. You’ve always bounced back from stuff so quickly. Plus, there are plenty of delicious, single shifters here. No need to bury yourself under that sadness when you could be buried under someone else.”

I choked out a laugh. “That was corny, cousin. Don’t try to give me sex advice.”

“I’m not trying to do that, though I will ask — when was the last time you took a knot? Real or otherwise? You know it’s good stress relief. I can convince Kris we need a night on the town if you want some privacy,” she said with a wink and a shimmy of her shoulders.

Groaning, I pulled the pillow from behind me and tossed it at her face. She was across the couch from me, so I was easily able to nail her with one hit.

Her garbled squeal came a second before I got smacked with a pillow myself.

“Oh, it is on!”

Next thing I knew, we were having a pillow fight like we were teens again and not two adults well into our thirties. My sadness was pushed aside to make room for my need to win. Competition made me a vicious pillow fighter.

“Woah! What the heck is going on in here?”

The shock in Kris’s voice had us both freezing where we stood. Because Judy was as competitive as me, that meant we were balancing on the couch, pillows in hand as we waited to be broken from the Alpha’s questioning stare.

Judy managed to relax first. As his mate, she knew him best and probably broke his hold easily enough because of it.

I wasn’t so lucky. Whimpering, I waited until he nodded my way before I dropped like a lump of coal onto the plushy fabric.

“Sorry,” I mumbled.

Kris frowned, then pulled Judy into a quick kiss. “I’m not mad. Just confused as hell. Walked in to you two trading blows with pillows like it was a professional boxing match. I thought you were mad at one another.”

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