Page 37 of A Pack of Honey
I instantly go back to minding my burgers. We eat, and I end up talking with Connor, the redhead and chef of their group. I ask him for a few pointers and he's happy to share. He tells me about mixing different meats for burgers, something I had no idea you could do, spices that might help, and by the end of the night, I feel excited to try again at the next barbecue. When I look up from Connor and my conversation, Jess stares at me, jaw clenched. Something hard in his eyes.
So, I smile and wink.
Sunny
"Iheardyourbook’strending?" Cali says to Clara as she grabs another burger from the pile Hunt brought in. Cali and Winnie are on my couch, I'm in the reclining leather armchair, Rose in the opposite chair, and Clara sitting cross-legged on the floor.
Clara blushes but smiles. "Yeah, the latest one is doing pretty well. Not like, quit-my-job-and-live-off-writing kind of good, but definitely able-to-splurge-on-a-few-nice-things-for-myself-good."
"That's awesome!" I say, and it is. Clara's a genuinely good writer. I've beta-read all of her books for her, and they make me smile, weep, and fall in love with the characters every time.
"Thank you so much for your marketing tips, too, Rose,” she says.“That's definitely why it's gotten so much attention lately."
Rose lifts a glass in salute to Clara. "You and your books deserve the attention. Marketing just helps it get to the right readers."
"Did you land that job you were after?" I ask her. She’d lost a client to a larger company a few months ago, and has been looking for a replacement.
Rose frowns. "No, unfortunately, but I did pick up a few clients online. They're small jobs, but they'll help pay the bills."
"How's everything with the pack going?" Cali asks, waggling her eyebrows like a weirdo.
"It's good." I giggle and then sober a bit. "I'm thinking about asking them to stay for my heat." Every girl's eyes go wide. Heats and nest invites are usually the last step before the mating bond. In fact, most packs bond during an omega's bi-annual heat.
"Have you talked to them about it yet?" Clara asks. She's a big believer in spirituality and fate. She's always wanted to find her scent-sensitive pack. So I feel a little bad talking to her about this. But her scent stays light, and she doesn't look upset.
"Not yet. It's kind of a tough subject to bring up in casual conversation." I explain.
"Have they decided to stay? Or have you decided to move to Detroit with them?" Winnie asks, looking more upset than me at the prospect.
"I'd never leave my farm." A weight was forming in the pit of my stomach. All of the issues from the start of our courting coming back to the forefront.
"So they're staying?" Rose presses.
"I don't know," I admit, my voice is small. The girls glance at each other clearly, not knowing what to say to comfort me.
"Maybe it's time to talk to them about it?" Cali suggests. I nod, feeling done with this conversation.
"Ok, how bad was the book. I did not appreciate the jump-scare tentacle dick that came out of nowhere. One moment, I was enjoying a perfectly nice sex scene, and the next, there was a tentacle. Why?"I ask. Thankfully they all understand and change the subject.
The next hour is devoted to what made good and bad tentacle smut in books.
Afterward, we head to the backyard to spend time with the guys. Even though Winnie, Rose, and Clara don't have mates, we've all become good friends with the Evergreen Pack.These people have been my family since Grandma went to live at the care facility full-time. It's important to me they they all get along with my pack.
"Is it true that you guys met the president?" Clara blurts. I hold in the groan, trying to claw its way up my throat.
But Cole doesn't seem to mind. He just smirks and shrugs.
"Is it true that every book you choose has at least five sex scenes?" Jess counters. I have to suck in my lips to keep from laughing.
Clara gasps dramatically, planting her hands on her hips. "Who told you that outrageous lie?" She glares around at the Evergreen alphas. Seth looks especially guilty.
"So, it's not true?" Jess asks. Ever the straightforward one.
"No! It isn't." She pauses. “They should definitely have at least seven."
The rest of the night is quick banter and shared stories. By the time I say goodbye, I'm exhausted but happy. The guys insist on cleaning everything up while I head up to bed.
Jess
