Page 141 of Switched

“But I could,” she says. “I have keys to the house.”

“You’re not pretending to be Scarlett anymore,” Bishop says. “Besides, I don’t think it’s smart for you to be out of our company. Not now.”

“Not now?” I ask, right after I’ve shovelled a forkful of egg into my mouth.

Bishop gives me a pointed glare.

I cover my mouth and swallow the mouthful.

Then, I frown at him. “What did you mean by that?”

Sapphire sighs softly and sets her coffee mug down.

“It’s fine,” she tells Bishop. “I’m not going to pretend to be my sister to anyone anymore. I’m just going to go over there while she’s out and see if any of her shoes are laying around. Rueben can come with me.”

Fucking score! Time alone with Sapphire.

I can’t hold my smile in as Bishop does his best to dissuade our mate with his disapproving stare. She ignores it, clearly still peeved at him. I guess my explanation only worked for me.

I don’t mind being the one with the unfair advantage.

In fact, I could seriously get used to it.

Chapter eighty-one

Sapphire

I feel better about Rueben already, and that’s probably at least partly because he’s so good at making me laugh, whether it’s intentional or not. It does help to know he was never attracted to Scarlett, even though we’re identical. Three years is a long time to go around thinking someone is your true mate, when they’re not.

We finish breakfast in relative silence, and probably only because Bishop reminds Rueben it’s rude to talk with his mouth full. He eats the rest of his food super-fast, probably because he wants to get the chance to talk again sooner.

Meanwhile, I enjoy the simple hot breakfast without thinking too much about the men sitting around the table with me.

Scout gave me a quiet greeting when he sat down, and he’s barely looked at me since.

I think he’s still processing all of this. He’s having mixed emotions. I don’t let myself focus on what they are. Right now, I’m having some mixed emotions of my own. One of the first things I learned as an Omega was to make space for my own feelings. That’s how I need to be until I’ve cleared the air with Scout and Bishop.

I think I’ve forgiven Rueben. He shared an embarrassing secret that’s going to cost him hundreds of dollars. I know I can trust him. He’s so earnest and open. I can’t imagine ever staying mad at him for too long.

“I’ll be back in a sec!” Rueben says the second he’s done with his food.

He gets up and darts out of the room, leaving me alone with his two more solemn pack brothers.

“He’s showering and getting dressed,” Bishop tells me.

“He wasn’t already showered and dressed?” I ask, kind of surprised.

Bishop shakes his head. “He slept in yesterday’s clothes last night. He just got up and fed the kitten before he came down here and did this.”

He gestures to the casserole dish full of sugary cereal.

“He was really going to eat all of that?” I ask.

“Usually does at weekends,” Scout says. “Not that much, though.”

“Comfort food,” Bishop reveals.

I feel a little pang of guilt. Rueben was feeling bad because of me, and honestly, that wasn’t his fault.

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