Page 78 of Ember

“Wildflowers are fine,” I said. “Flowers from a hothouse have this weird smell.”

West gave me a side eye, like he knew I was dancing around the subject because I couldn’t make up my mind.

“No problem, omega gifts are better anyway. Soft blankets, pillows.” Rian looked smug that I liked my blanket.

“And extra clothes to steal for your alphas,” Ben said.

“That too,” I replied, only feeling a little bit forced.

The amateur chef was getting berated on TV for breaking a sauce, and Alejandro shook his head. “Who goes on a cooking show that doesn’t know how to make a béarnaise?”

“I would,” Rian said, watching the show with interest. “I would show up for the fun of it, just be like, I’m here, ready to cook you something delicious. Oops, I don’t know how to boil water.”

“And that’s why you and Ember get along so well,” West muttered.

I shared a grin with Rian, and we focused on the show.

The box under the TV narrated exactly what each person was doing, so Ben knew what was happening. I already liked using subtitles anyway, but having a voice narrate what was happening made it easier for me to focus on the TV show. With the added bonus of Rian or West giving snarky commentary.

I couldn’t believe I’d dodged the bullet again. It was starting to sink in that maybe they wouldn’t pry when I was uncomfortable. They weren’t going to force me to drag up my grief.

They weren’t going to pin my sorrow to the table for dissection, asking where it hurt, where that scar came from, all the while saying it was because they wanted to make me feel better.

When all it really did was make me sad.

But they hadn’t once dug in when they touched on a sensitive subject. Maybe that was why I felt so comfortable. We didn’t have conversational landmines to work around. We could avoid talking about something, like I chose not to press Rian into telling me why he hadn’t recorded more songs.

He clearly loved music, but something else was holding him back. Same for Ben. I knew he was blind, in the way that I needed to know that someone had a food allergy, but I didn’t need to drag him into a conversation about the shitty things that went with it, or even what his prognosis was. I wouldn’t mind listening if he wanted to share, but it wasn’t my right to know just because we were dating.

My phone dinged, and I reached over Ben to get it.

An unknown number had texted me.

I hopeyou enjoyed the flowers. That pack doesn’t take care of you like they should. Someday you’ll know true love the way you deserve.

Ben squeezedhis arm around me. “What’s wrong?”

I deleted the text and set my phone down. “Wrong number.”

I did not want to derail my happy evening just because some idiot randomly texted me.

“Who?” West looked up from his computer. Alejandro shifted next to him, looking at me too.

“It was a wrong number,” I said, my face flushing. “I’ll put my number on the block list again.”

Working with the public, I occasionally got wrong or random texts. I ignored the shiver of unease and focused on roasting the amateur chefs.

Chapter 29

Ember

Acouple of days later, West and I went to a movie night at Greg’s house.

I would have put it off again, but all three guys had to work super late, so I decided to get the socialization out of the way.

West drove, and I tried to psych myself up for a fun night with some work friends.

I’d rather be at my cottage if I wasn’t at Ben and Rian’s house. It had only been a couple of days since our second date, but it felt like more time than that. Like we’d all been together for years.

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