Page 81 of Knot So Sweet
"Yep. Wanted to know what kind of stones omegas prefer. How soon was too soon to propose. Whether he should talk to the other alphas first."
I grip the pillar so hard my knuckles go white. Garrick. My grumpy, sweet, protective Garrick is thinking aboutengagement rings. I want to squeal like a teenager.
"Holy shit," someone breathes.
Tom chides automatically. "Yeah. Man's serious."
"What'd you tell him?"
"To slow down and let things develop naturally. But between you and me, he's worried about Xaden making a move first."
Smart man, that Tom. But the fact that Garrick is worried about timing, about doing things right, makes my omega heart practically purr with satisfaction.
"Is Xaden making a move?"
"Hard to say. He's been at the library a lot lately, 'researching.' But Mrs. Henderson says he's been checking out books on omega psychology and pack dynamics."
Of course he is. Xaden would research the hell out of this. Probably has a whole strategy mapped out with footnotes and citations.
"And Liam?"
"Liam's been asking everyone in town for advice. Poor kid's so nervous he can barely string two sentences together around her."
My heart melts a little. Sweet Liam, getting advice from the whole town like this is a community project.
More rustling of papers. "Okay, I'm adjusting the odds. Garrick's anxiety drops him to 3-to-1. Xaden's research bumps him up to 2-to-1."
"Wait," Joe interrupts, "what about the group approach? What if they all make a move together?"
My breath catches. The idea sends a thrill through me that I wasn't expecting.
Silence falls over the tavern as everyone considers this.
"Coordinated pack courting," Tom muses. "That would be... efficient."
"And romantic as hell," someone else adds. "Omega's dream scenario."
Yes,I think, surprising myself with how much I want exactly that.
"New bet," Joe announces. "Coordinated pack approach. What odds?"
"Even money," comes the immediate response. "It's risky but potentially very effective."
I bite my lip to keep from laughing out loud. They've turned my love life into a strategic analysis, and honestly? I'm impressed by their thoroughness.
I slip back from the pillar, my mind buzzing with everything I've learned. The guys aren't out avoiding me or getting bored - they're out being normal men with normal friendships, probably getting advice about how to court me properly. Meanwhile, Garrick is shopping for engagement rings, Xaden is researching pack dynamics, and Liam is asking half the town for dating tips.
It's adorable. They're adorable.
And suddenly, everything clicks into place. The poker game I wasn't invited to? That wasn't them excluding me - that was them having a normal guys' night, probably while being interrogated by their friends about their intentions toward me. The distance I thought I felt? That was them being careful, respectful, making sure they didn't overwhelm me.
I practically skip out of the tavern, my heart light for the first time all day.
The entire town is invested in our happiness. Three amazing alphas are seriously considering a future with me - one is already ring shopping! They're researching, planning, asking for advice because they want to do this right.
I'm not being excluded. I'm being courted. Properly, thoughtfully, with the whole town as their advisory board.
As I walk home through the snow, I can't stop grinning. I'm going to have to work very hard to pretend I don't know any of this. I'll have to act surprised when Garrick gets nervous around jewelry stores, or when Xaden starts dropping casual questions about pack preferences, or when Liam asks increasingly specific questions about what I like.
