Page 45 of Bliss & Her Idols

Cricket has no idea how gorgeous he is.

I have a sense that he’s barely looked in a mirror throughout his life.

Has anyone told Cricket that he’s good-looking before?

I’ll have to tell him more, even if it’s to see the blush spread across his soft cheeks that I’m coming to love.

Piper worked all day sewing and turning up a pair of his torn leather pants to fit Cricket. He also ferreted out a pair of his battered black boots that he’d worn when he was in high school.

Piper’s silver t-shirt is still too large for Cricket. It slides tantalizingly off Cricket’s shoulder every time that he moves.

Cricket looks like an accidental punk.

Somehow, these clothes make him appear even cuter, and I didn’t know that was possible.

My eyes narrow, when I notice how many of the Betas are eying him hungrily.

Luckily, Cricket hasn’t noticed the Betas’ predatory looks.

He’s been too lost in his own world, or possibly, drunk on discovering the real world for the first time in his life.

He gives offpreyvibes. I hate how many Alphas would hunt him.

Too late. I’ve already hunted this male Omega.He’s mine.

When I snarl possessively at the Beta journalists, they startle.

April drops her recording device in shock, and I grin, when it cracks loudly on the floor.

It’s petty.

But petty for the win.

“Your brother’s kind to give me his concert ticket.” Cricket nuzzles against my neck. “I couldn’t believe it. Why would he do that?”

“Because Pip is awesome. Oh, you really mean that?” I furrow my brow. How to explain how family works…sacrifice and love…to someone who hasn’t experienced it? I hope that Cricket slowly learns what it feels like to live in a good family, and never experiences anything else again. “He knew that it would mean a lot to you to come to this concert.”

In the end, I hadn’t needed to have a conversation with Piper about the second ticket.

I woke up this morning to find that Piper, who always wakes up before dawn to get everything ready in the coffee shop on time, had pushed it underneath the door with a note.

For your Bug.

Film Immortal for me, okay? He’s my future Beta x

Then Piper had drawna winking face.

“So,” Cricket says like he’s thinking hard, “your brother knew that I was central to this mission.”

I sigh. “Something like that.”

“Then I’d better give you my analysis. I can be pretty sure from watching online meet and greets like this that Jin will be flanked by at least two security team bodyguards and his Head of Security, Mr. Stapleton. Stapleton is a tall man in his late thirties with blond hair. Stern faced. I have also never seen my Dragon without one staff member, Zoe. She’s his supervisor. She’s in her late twenties, a couple of years older than Jin, with mousy hair in a bun and a mean mouth. She’s meant to be his employee. Her role is to cater to his needs, but she gives off the vibe that she’s, I don’t know,controllinghim.”

“I get the same vibe.”

It’s too soon for Cricket to understand that family can do things simply out of kindness and the wish to support each other. He sees our help for Jin in terms ofcaseormission.

He doesn’t appear ready to admit it to himself but he risked a lot to send the letters through his youngest brother back and forth to Jin.

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