Page 75 of Their Knotty Pack
"At least you weren't referred to as 'Cal the Calathea's evil twin', Miles mutters, but there's no missing the affection in his eyes.
Will they look at me like that one day? Or have I waited too long?
"I like being a lotus," Brody says proudly, looking at his phone, "according to Google, since it emerges from muddy waters, it symbolizes enlightenment and rising above challenges."
Thatdoessound like Brody.
Frowning, I take out my own phone and start typing in the search engine.
"Have you been thinking about these for a long time, sunshine?" Kieran asks, his signature smirk tilting at his lips.
"Nope," she smiles at him, fluttering her eyelashes, "it really just took me ten seconds to realize you're a thistle."
"Prickly and painful?" He raises a brow, challenging her.
"Yes, at first," she concedes, reaching across the table and taking his hand with hers. "But, they symbolize strength, resilience, and protection."
He gives her a real smile then. "I'll be your thistle."
"Boo!" Damien pretends to jeer, but rolls his eyes playfully. "Honestly, Kier-Bear, when did you get so sappy?"
"Ha. I see what you did there. 'Sappy'." Brody chuckles, and then Kieran says something, but I don't hear it.
My heart stills in my chest as my eyes run over the result of my search.
Dragon trees…slow growing, but are associated with strength, power, and longevity.
Isthis…is this what she thinks of me? But how? We've hardly spent any time together. Could it be…that she's been paying just as close attention to me as I have to her?
When I look up, her eyes are fixed on me, a small smile pulling at her lips. Miles whispers something in her ear, and she blushes furiously before looking away to where Kieran and Damien are going at it.
Turning back to my phone, I quickly look up the meaning behind Spanish Bluebells.
Humility, new beginnings, resilience.
Everlasting love.
"Has anyone asked what floweryouare?" I ask, my voice breaking Kieran and Damien out of whatever ridiculous argument they're having.
"Well, she'd be a hibiscus, obviously," Kieran says quickly. "That's her scent."
"Hibiscus' have multiple meanings, depending on what color they are," Bethany says almost quietly, stirring her straw around in her drink. "But why do I have a feeling you're going to tell me which one I am?"
My cheeksflame. Gods, no wonder I've only had two serious relationships. I thought it was because I had to find someone okay with waiting to have sex, but as it turns out, I'm justnotsmooth. "I…well, I'm not going to pretend to be an expert on the matter, but…um—"
"Lay it on me, Detective," she fuckingwinksat me.
The action throws me off my game so much, I just blurt it out. "Spanish Bluebells."
She pauses. "I'm familiar with the meanings of the California Bluebell, but haven't looked into the Spanish Bluebell. What's the difference?"
Shit. Are California bluebells…bad?
"I—Well, I didn't look up California Bluebells," I admit, rubbing the back of my neck. "But my eomma…well she used to be obsessed with trying to grow these Spanish Bluebells in her little pots in the backyard, and they were these pale blue color…just like your eyes." Damien and Kieran groan, calling me corny, but Bethany and Miles just look at me like I'm in the middle of telling a really intense story. "They represent new beginnings"
"Well, well, well. Look who we have here." Bethany and Miles freeze, their omegas instantly going on alert, which sends my alpha into overdrive. I was so focused on the omegas I didn't see the threat coming.
Four vaguely familiar looking alphas are leering at our table as they let themselves in through the gate that fences off the patio from the rest of the street.
