Page 46 of Bliss & Her Idols

Even if his Burrow pack don’t understand what love is, in his own way, Cricket does. It’s shown in how he raised his brothers.

Cricket has a huge heart. I hope he realizes it soon.

Now, Cricket is trembling and trying to hide it.

His cheeks are red. His gaze is darting fast around the room but never resting above the Betas’ jawlines.

He appears terrified to make eye contact with the Betas, as if that may make one of them come over and start talking to him.

“I’ve dreamed about watching live music,” Cricket whispers. “Being around this many people — strangers who are all chatting like they already know each other — is hard. Does everyone do this type of thing? How are you so calm, Bee? But I’m making myself face this ordeal because I don’t want to be hidden away anymore.”

He edges as close to me as he can.

I glance around, before leading Cricket to an even quieter alcove, which is closer to the front but further from the chairs. “Is this better?”

Cricket chirps his thanks.

“Nobody but you would care that I was struggling around so many Betas.” He peers up at me through his thick eyelashes. “Nobody but you knows me well enough.”

I laugh. “It doesn’t feel like we’ve only just met, huh?”

“We haven’t. And this…” Cricket gets out the rest of the next line so fast like he’s embarrassed. I can’t make it out. “…Hasbeenthebestdayofmylife.”

“Sorry, what?”

Cricket takes a deep breath and tries again. “This has been the best day of my life.”

“But we only ate our weight in donuts in bed, drank way too much coffee, and planned how we were going to pull off tonight.”

“Exactly.” He smiles, softly. “We were together.”

Warmth fills me. “Well, just wait until we spend one of my legendary chocolate fudge ice cream movie nights with my brothers and Lion. Your mind will be blown.”

“It’s a date.”

We both freeze.

My cheeks flush.

“It’s a date,” I repeat.

Then we stare at each other.

My gaze drops to Cricket’s kissable lips, at the same time that he reaches to hold my hand.

“Crick,” I murmur.

Suddenly, I’m startled by the sound of footsteps coming from behind the small door just in front of the alcove.

There’s no time for Cricket and me to move.

My heart speeds up.

Jin is here.

A soft voice all caramel and smoke melts through the door.

“My Dragon.” Cricket’s eyes are bright.

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