Page 113 of Party Girl: How a Naughty Omega Finds Love
“I love them.” I beam at him.
His face softens and a look of pride flashes across his face. “Good.”
I hold his stare for a moment and something shifts between us. The rest of the tension between us slips away and I rise, wrapping my arms around his middle. It takes him a minute, but he slowly hugs me back, and when he relaxes, I know we’ve overcome our biggest obstacle. Our past.
Trev and I only want what’s best for the pack, and now that I am pack, we can work together to protect them.
After all, it’s only been two days since Curtis’ attack, and I know in my bones he’s not done tormenting me.
* * *
Hayden is late coming home from work on Wednesday. I wanted to call him, but I broke his phone. He hasn’t had time to get a new one yet. I sit at the window and stare at the backyard, willing him into existence.
“He’s okay. Sometimes there’s a last-minute call. I’m sure he’ll be done soon.” Asher stands next to me, staring across the lawn. The rocking chair beneath the pergola sways in the early evening wind.
Trev is showering and Avi is busy cooking something that smells delicious. I pick at the skin around my nails.
Turning to him, I ask, “What if Curtis got him?”
“He didn’t.” Asher takes my hand and smooths the skin I’d been picking. “He wouldn’t want that.”
“Habit,” I say, glancing out the window once more. Just then, the door to Melanie’s house opens. Hayden comes out carrying two giant bags from some craft store. Irritation flares in my chest.
“Go easy on him,” Asher murmurs.
I stop on my way to the door, realizing I was about to storm out there and go off on Hayden like my mother would yell at her mates. That thought steals away the last of my frustration, and I take a few calming breaths. I can wait for him to get inside and explain. There’s no reason to go yell at him.
“Do you want to help set the table?” Avi offers me a way to distract myself so I can get ahold of my emotions.
“Of course.”
By the time Hayden makes it inside, I’m grabbing plates from the kitchen cabinet. They’re heavy in my hands, but I focus on the weight rather than the urge to drill him with questions. He didn’t do anything wrong.
“Hey,” he says with a grin. “Sorry I’m late. I made a few stops. I got a new phone, but I was afraid I’d ruin the other surprise if I called.”
Asher flicks his gaze to me. “What did you get?”
I count my steps to the table and say each of the guys’ names while I set out the plates in their spots. Instead of answering Asher, Hayden joins me at the table. I look at him, but quickly look away when I see the frown he’s wearing.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I lie. “Dinner is almost ready.”
“Tell him,” Trev says from behind me. “We don’t hide things from each other, okay? We talk about it.”
“Did something happen?” Hayden sounds so confused.
I grip the back of a chair so tight my knuckles turn white. “Not really.” I sigh and glance over my shoulder. Trev tips his head up to say go ahead. “It’s going to sound crazy,” I warn, meeting each of their gazes. Asher, Avi, and Trev already witnessed the psycho, but repeating it out loud will really drive home that I’m fucked up.
“I like crazy,” Hayden whispers.
I smile a little and look him in the eye. “I was worried about you. I didn’t have a way to contact you, and I didn’t know where you were. When you got home, I got really mad.”
“Why did you get mad?” he asks, more curious than annoyed.
Thinking it over for a minute, I struggle to articulate why. Eventually, I say, “I’m not really sure? I saw you with the bags, and then I was instantly mad that you weren’t on a call or anything for work.”
The guys are quiet. I drop my eyes to the table, studying the wood grain and counting the moments until they decide it’s time for me to go. I’m too much of a mess.
