Page 57 of Feeling the Heat: Part One
Jackson: Dude, nothing matters more to me than making this work with Camille. I’m already looking to see what we have in the fridge to make for dinner. You think she’ll like steak and roasted brussel sprouts?
Jackson: Wait, no, those might make us gassy and I don’t know if she eats meat. Can you text her and find out what she likes to eat? I’ll make her whatever she wants.
The speed at which my beta packmate texts when motivated is truly impressive. I’ve started and deleted my reply multiple times as he keeps up his flurry of messages.
Ambrose: I’ll ask her. Thank you for taking care of dinner.
Jackson: Of course. There’s no way I’m letting you cook. I don’t want her to run away screaming.
Ambrose: Hey, I can cook some things. Like spaghetti.
Ambrose: Or eggs.
River: Your impressive culinary prowess knows no bounds.
I laugh as I read River’s message in the droll tone he uses to tease me. Sure, I’m not a great cook, but I’m not as bad as they say. Last time I made us grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner, they turned out great and not burned at all, if you don’t count the test one I threw out before anyone noticed.
River: I have to stay late tonight at work, but I’ll come home as soon as possible. Let me know what kind of dessert she likes and I can pick it to try to compensate for making a bad first impression by not being there when she arrives.
I don’t need our bond to know that River is nervous. He’s already anxious about meeting Camille and worried she won’t like him. Springing a last-minute dinner on him instead of giving him time to prepare was a dick move.
Guilt makes me begin to type a message that I’ve changed my mind and we need to pick a different time, but River messages before I can.
River: I’m okay, Ambrose. You don’t need to cancel.
River: This way is better because it’ll give you both some time to reunite before I get in the way.
Jackson: You’re not going to get in the way. We talked about this. She’s going to love you. How could she not? You’re a total catch.
Jackson: A certified hottie.
Jackson: A grade A alpha.
Jackson: 10/10, would bang.
Jackson: If I were her.
Jackson: You know what I mean!
Jackson’s deluge of compliments makes me shake my head, but I don’t miss how River’s tension through the bond eases.
He may be ridiculous, but there’s a good reason Jackson’s part of our pack. He can get through to River with his enthusiasm and confidence in a way I can’t, which makes me love the ebullient beta and his silliness.
Ambrose: He’s right, love. There’s no question about if she’ll like you. Also, she’ll be as nervous about meeting you, so you’ll be in the same boat.
River: You’re right. I just worry because you’re both so excited, and I don’t want to ruin that.
Ambrose: If it’s not a good fit, it won’t be your fault. It’ll be because it isn’t right. Camille expressed a similar worry about entering into an established pack and hurting our dynamic.
Neither of the omegas we’ve courted acknowledged the risk their joining us posed to our pack dynamics. Yes, things need to change and adapt when an omega—or anyone new, for that matter—joins an existing pack. But they assumed that we’d throw away our love and care for each other to cater to their whims, and that’s not possible for us.
Camille has no experience with pack life or even being an omega, but she seems to understand that me loving River doesn’t reduce my capacity to care for her. That love is an abundant resource, and our pack will only be stronger for sharing love between us in whatever ways feel right.
Jackson: I’m not surprised. She’s special, Riv. And not just because she’s got fantastic tits and a pussy that made me see God. Though, fuck, dude, when you get a chance to experience that firsthand, you’ll die.
He’s not wrong, but I scowl at his crude words.
Ambrose: Stop talking about her like that. We’re taking it slow and getting to know each other, not objectifying the poor omega.
