Page 105 of Power Shift

Clacking his tongue to the roof of his mouth, he stands from the stool and grabs his cup. He lingers there, staring down at me with a straight-lipped expression.

“Then we’re at a stalemate.”

“Just . . . please give me a few days to figure everything out.”

“Why should you be the one figuring everything out? Isn’t that Landon’s job?” he asks, the words sharp.

I meet his hard gaze with one of equal determination. “The two of you need to make amends.”

“I’ll make amends when he figures out his shit,” he grunts, abandoning me at the island to bring his cup to the dishwasher.

The sound of the door swishing open and the top drawer sliding out fills the kitchen, swallowing the heavy sound of my exhale.

“You never shared what happened between the three of you downstairs last night.”

“I figured it was obvious.”

“That’s what I thought too, but considering how you’re acting right now, I’m wondering if I was wrong.”

When he sets his mug on the rack, he does it hard enough for the other glasses to rattle. He spins around to face me and crosses his arms.

“What happened between us should have been enough for him to snap out of this. Having our omega in such a vulnerable position like she was, bringing her pleasure and having her eager to return it, damn well should have made the bond he’s so fucking sure doesn’t exist snap into place. He’s so determined not to accept her that he’s going to wind up more broken than he already is,” he snaps.

While his words are angry, I’m too familiar with Ronan’s emotions to miss the hurt there. And the frustration. I feel all of it too.

“We have to be patient,” I mutter, trying desperately to believe what I’m saying.

“I’ve just about run out of patience, Jasper.”

“I know.”

“I’ll give him three days. If he still hasn’t figured himself out by then, I’m asking her to stay with us regardless.”

It’s pointless to push him for more time. We’ve already given Landon two months. Any longer and I worry the rest of us will run the risk of losing Briar.

“Three days, Ro.”

34

BRIAR

“When areyou coming to visit? We miss you, darling girl. You haven’t even called me often. This is the first time in nearly a month,” Mom says, pushing harder than the last five times she’s called asking me to come over. “Your fathers have been even antsier than me.”

“I’m sorry. Tell them that I’ll come by soon, I promise. Life has been crazy.”

“Oh? And why is that? Do you have hot tea to spill?”

I recoil at her use of tea and spilling. “Who taught you that saying?”

“I saw it online. Did I use it right?”

“You did, but maybe you shouldn’t say it. It sounds wrong coming from you.”

“I’m too old to be hip, Briar.”

“I didn’t say that.”Not exactly.

She huffs dramatically. “Fine. I’ll keep the tea spilling to a minimum if you tell me what’s been keeping you so busy that you can’t come visit your parents.”

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