Page 18 of Feeling the Heat: Part Two
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Astrid: Operation Get Camille to the Launch Party is still on track.
Jackson: Which dress did she pick? Was it the pink one? Do you have pics?
Astrid: Not the pink one. God, you’re thirsty for her. Did you really think she’d wear what was practically lingerie to a professional event?
I snort,thinking about the dress I added to the cart on a hopeful, and yes, very thirsty whim. I saw that little slip of a baby pink dress that would hug every ample curve of her body, and couldn’t resist.
Jackson: Can’t blame a guy for trying. Don’t let her return it.
We paid for the dresses, so I don’t feel guilty making the request.
I know I’m getting ahead of myself, and that this plan is as likely to crash and burn as it is to end in the omega that has myheart donning that pink dress for me, but I can’t help it. We’re finally doing something. The fact that her best friend and her new boss are willing to conspire with us has got to be a good sign. They would’ve told us to fuck off if they thought we weren’t good for Camille.
Astrid sends a photo to the chat a few moments later, and my heart skips a beat. Any picture of Camille would make me happy, but goddamn, she’s a knockout in that tight black dress. Makes me want to kneel at her feet and beg for her attention. Not that I wasn’t already more than prepared to do that, but it’d certainly be more fun with her in that dress.
Jackson: Wow. I have no words. Dammit, Ambrose is going to be so smug when he finds out she picked the dress he liked.
Astrid: He has good taste.
Astrid: And enough sense not to be blinded by horniness.
I snort at her message. I’d be offended if it actually seemed like Astrid thought I’m only trying to get back with Camille because she’s hot and I miss having sex with her. Which, I mean I do, but that’s because I miss her, period. And after an intense conversation, where both Astrid and Lauren interrogated us about our intentions, I know it’s abundantly clear to them how much I fucking love her.
Jackson: You got me there.
Jackson: What time do you plan on getting to the party? Do you think it’d be better for us to be there when you arrive or come in after?
Lauren: Give her time to get settled. She’s meeting some clients for the first time in person, and I’d like her to have the opportunity to make a decent impression before the lot of you swoop in for your grand romantic gesture.
Unlike Astrid, Lauren wasn’t immediately charmed by my goofy enthusiasm or Ambrose’s dedicated sincerity. I don’t know all the details, but after our pack met with her and Astrid, she talked with River for another three hours to ascertain his intentions. It’s possible illegal interrogation tactics were employed. But apparently it was enough to satisfy her, and she’s the one who suggested we use the launch party for her new PR firm as the loving trap we’ve set for our omega.
I’d originally thought of having Camille go to dinner with Astrid and when she got there, she’d find us looking dapper, with candlelight and roses and all the romantic, please take us back vibes we could muster. But this plan is better because she’s not trapped with us or obligated to talk if she doesn’t want to. And the law firm I work for now was invited to the event, so it’s not inappropriate for me to be there. Bringing Ambrose and River as my plus ones is a stretch, but whatever.
The plan is solid, though adding more stress to an event that Camille is already dreading makes me feel guilty. But everyone agrees that Camille needs to be surprised, so she doesn’t have time to shut herself off from us. She needs to see how committed we are to getting her back, even if it means the potential of getting publicly rejected by her.
Fuck, I’m nervous again.
Jackson: I really hope she won’t be pissed that we’re there. We can come up with another plan. I just want her to be okay.
Astrid: We shouldn’t wait any longer. She’s not doing well. She’ll probably kill me when she finds out I did this, but I’m too worried to care. I may not know much about being an omega or the effects of not being around her pack, but I know Camille. She won’t stop torturing herself unless we do something to snap her out of it.
Lauren: Agreed. Her omega will respond well to this, and I think that will be enough for her to let her guard down. She isn’t listening to reason right now, and I get it. Her omega is hurt and in a constant state of alarm because of the social media nonsense. But I trust you can pull her out of it, and give her the protection and security she needs to be herself again.
My chest aches as I recall how Camille looked when I showed up on her doorstep, and that’s enough to shake off my worries about our plan going awry.
Jackson: Thank you for trusting us to do this.
Lauren: Of course. But remind River for me I’ll tear his balls off if he fucks this up and upsets her.
Jackson: You’ll have to get in line if he does.
I want to believe that River has changed. That the work he’s been putting in to sort out his head is enough for him to make things right. But there’s a part of me that wishes I could harden my heart and factor him out of this equation. Take his leaving us and previous urging for us to abandon him to pursue Camille at face value.
It’s impossible. He’s woven himself into the very essence of what our pack is. Into whoIam. As pissed as I am, I can’tpretend he’s not inextricably tied to me, and if that’s the case for me, I’m sure it’s even more impossible for Ambrose.
River fucked things up, but he’s ours. We aren’t a pack without him, as much as Ambrose and I tried to support each other while he was gone. He’s ours, and Camille is ours, and please god, let this work because I can’t imagine a life that isn’t completely miserable without them.
