Page 114 of Party Girl: How a Naughty Omega Finds Love
“Why didn’t you get mad at me when I came in?”
I pinch my eyebrows together. “I was mad, but then Asher told me to go easy on you and I realized I was acting like my mother.”
Silence again.
It stretches until heat begins to crawl up my neck.
“I get it. I can go if you want,” I say to the table. “I’m really sorry.”
“Look at me,” Hayden demands, sounding like an alpha.
“It’s okay. I wouldn’t want to live with a crazy omega either.”
“Whitney. Look at me.”
I tear my gaze from the table and stare into his gray eyes. His face softens, and he shakes his head.
“That’s not how it works. We’re a pack. We’re not going to abandon you because you’re human.” I start to say something, but he puts his hand up to stop me. “You didn’t give in to your emotions, and that’s what matters. You didn’t yell at me.”
“I wanted to. If it weren’t for Asher, I would have.”
He shrugs. “So what? Asher helped you? That sounds a lot like pack to me.”
“I don’t want to become her.”
Trev is really the only one who knows about my mother, but Hayden nods in understanding. He’s piecing it together. He might only have a small portion of the entire damaged picture, but he’s getting it.
“And I don’t want to be like my father who always broke his promises. I don’t want to ever be the reason you wait at the window for me to show up.”
“How did you know I was waiting there?”
He frowns. “I didn’t. It’s what I used to do every weekend he was supposed to come pick me up. My parents weren’t together, and on his days, I’d sit and wait for hours. Sometimes he’d show up late, other times he wouldn’t come at all.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Nothing you did. It’s something that’s stuck with me though. I try to keep my word. Would it help you if I text you on Avi’s phone when I get off and let you know if I have any plans?”
“I don’t want to be controlling.” I shake my head and bite my cheek. “It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not. It’s not controlling to want me to communicate. You expected me home, and I didn’t show up for an hour after I was supposed to arrive? I’d be a little worried too.”
I was more than a little worried, but I get his point.
“I guess if you want to send a text.”
“We all can,” Trev says. “We should anyway, with Curtis out there. It’s good to know what’s going on. That way if something does happen, we’ll know when to call in the cavalry.” He places a plate of toasted garlic French bread on the table. “Now, who’s hungry?”
Trev breaks up the tension and we all settle in to eat the delicious spaghetti Avi made. I sit at the head of the table, per Melanie’s guidance, and the guys don’t even blink twice.
“What did you get anyway?” Asher asks Hayden while filling my plate with a giant spoonful of pasta.
“Model cars.”
I suck in a breath and glance at him. “You did?”
“I hope you don’t mind. You mentioned you liked them, and since we’ll be here awhile, I figured you might like something to do.”
A grin spreads across my face. “Thank you.”
