Page 70 of Knot So Sweet
"What's wrong?" I laugh, but no humor colors it. "You can't just... you can't dismiss me like that. Like I don't matter."
"Violet, what are you talking about? Where are you?"
"This morning," I slur, heat prickling behind my eyes. "You looked right through me. Like I was just... in the way. Do you know how that felt?"
"Where are you?" His voice sharpens with concern and something resembling panic.
"At the Watering Hole," I announce, dragging Meredith into a sloppy hug. "With my friend Meredith, who actually wants me around."
"Stay put, Violet." His voice slips into that Alpha command, and my knees give this pathetic little wobble. I grip the bar tighter, furious at myself for reacting. "Don't do that voice thing with me," I mutter, but my hand's already trembling. Stupid omega genes.
"I'll be there in twenty minutes." The line goes dead.
I reach over to show Meredith my phone, but my coordination is shot. I overbalance, grabbing for her arm, and we both tumble off our stools in a tangle of limbs and laughter.
"He's coming," I manage between giggles, sprawled on the sticky floor.
An alpha from one of the nearby tables appears, offering his hand. He lifts Meredith up first with surprising gentleness, thenhelps me. When I wobble on my feet, he steadies me with one hand and guides us both back onto our stools with a smile.
"Thanks," I mumble.
"I gathered," Meredith grins, raising her glass. "This should be interesting."
Twenty minutes later, Garrick fills the doorway like he owns the place. He's wearing hastily buttoned jeans and a flannel shirt inside out, his sandy hair sticking up at odd angles like he rolled straight out of bed. When he spots me at the bar, relief washes over his features before something more complicated takes its place.
He crosses the floor in long strides. "Hey there," he says, approaching with careful steps. His brown eyes scan me from head to toe, checking for damage. "You okay?"
"I'm fabulous," I announce, sliding off my stool with all the grace of a baby giraffe. I wobble, and his hand catches my elbow immediately. Warm and steady, and my knees almost give out for an entirely different reason. "Okay, maybe just drunk. But fabulous drunk."
"Ready to go home?"
"Are you going to give me the cold shoulder again?" I ask, suddenly uncertain. The liquid courage is wearing off, leaving raw honesty in its wake. "Because I don't think I can handle feeling invisible again."
His expression softens immediately, something painful flickering in his eyes. "No cold shoulders. I'm going to make sure you get home safe. Both of you."
"No. I need to go with my car. One of the farmers might steal it!" Meredith says, still sitting on the bar stool.
"Xaden and Liam are behind me. They'll take your car home and drive you."
The sincerity in his voice makes my chest ache. He slides his arm around my waist, supporting my weight as we head to the door. The cool night air hits my face like a slap, and I realize how drunk I actually am.
Xaden and Liam appear right on cue, corralling a giggling Meredith. I wave weakly at her as Garrick shepherds me toward his truck.
He helps me into the passenger seat, and the world tilts when he leans across me to buckle the belt. He smells like soap and cinnamon and fresh-baked bread. All comfort wrapped in plaid, and my chest squeezes stupidly.
"Sorry for calling you," I mumble as he clicks the seatbelt into place. "And for being dramatic."
Garrick crouches down so we're at eye level, his expression serious in the dashboard light. "You're not being dramatic, Violet. And I'm the one who should be apologizing for this morning."
"You made me feel like I was in the way," I shoot back, and my throat tightens. "Like I didn't belong there. Like what I do doesn't matter."
His jaw works, and he doesn't look away. "That's the last thing I wanted you to feel."
I slump against the seat, angry tears burning my eyes even though I refuse to let them fall. "So no, Garrick. You don't just get to say sorry and fix it."
He nods slowly, then climbs into the driver's seat and starts the engine. The silence stretches between us as he pulls onto the road.
"Crap, I forgot to leave the bartender a tip on the last round." The words tumble out before I can swallow them back. Heat floods my face.
