Page 5 of Queen Of Clubs

Not physically because there’s no way he could touch Zane, but Charles told him that if he wasn’t out of his house in a half hour, he was calling the cops.

His bags were already packed, waiting by the front door. I wanted to kick that asshole in the balls so damn bad, and I could tell Everett and Griffin wanted to as well.

We tried to follow him out, but Charles said he needed us home to do yard work. The guys were ready to tell him to eat shit, but they kept their mouths shut because they knew it was putting me at risk of being moved to another foster home, and the guys weren’t risking that when they still had a few months left with me before they would be kicked out too.

Because it was only May, Zane stayed nearby, sleeping on one of his friends’ couches. He went to school every day, and that was the only time we really got to see him.

Charles and Karen kept us busy, mostly me, giving me the most pointless tasks around the house. I had to lie, telling them I got detention or that I asked to stay after class to get help with work. When really, I was going to the music room every day after school with the guys like I always did.

Karen would call me stupid and get pissed off because I was becoming nothing but a problem. But because she was under the impression it was for school, she didn’t tell me no.

One after another the other two left too, also crashing on their friends’ couches, until it was only me left.

They stayed around for the rest of the summer because of me, to spend as much time as we could together before they had to leave. But now that summer is coming to an end and school is starting back up, the guys are leaving.

They worked their asses off, saving money from their summer jobs to get bus tickets out of Las Vegas and to cover the first three months of rent in LA.

“It’s not going to be forever, Tiny.” Everett rubs his hand up and down my back, soothing me. And then he purrs, fucking purrs, and God, I love it. But it only makes me cry harder.

I was right. Each of them ended up presenting as an alpha. Then, like I knew they would, they decided to become a pack. They talked about it for years, but it made things more real, more official, even saying that when they got the chance they would go to the courts to officially file as a pack.

But they were waiting for me. For me to age out of the system and be free to start my life with them.

I want that more than I need air. I need them more than anything in this world. I’ve fallen madly, hopelessly in love with each of them, even more so over the past year.

They have never once given me the impression they wanted to be more than just friends. Maybe they’re waiting, biding their time to see if I become an omega.

The fucked up part is that I resigned myself to my pathetic fate. I can’t stand the idea of being without them. If they didn’t want me in that way, I’d take anything they would give me. Even if that's just being their friend.

Call me stupid, but telling a teenager in love to be realistic is pointless. We think and do as we please and only learn the hard way.

Griffin hugs me from behind. “We will call every day. And come visit on holidays if we can afford it,” he murmurs, burying his face into my hair and sandwiching me between him and Everett. And then he starts to purr, a deep vibrating sound that has my body going lax. I feel the stress melt away.

The announcement that the bus to LA will be leaving in ten minutes has the panic clawing its way back in.

“We’re going to do it, Tiny,” Everett reassures. “I have a good feeling. Our TikTok has been blowing up, people are using our songs for sounds. We’re even in talks to meet with some very important people. We’re going to get that deal, make that money, and in two years, you're going to be out of this shithole and with us where you belong.”

“We will keep your phone plan topped up too. We will text all the time,” Griffin adds.

I insisted on coming to the bus station with the guys. Karen told me no, but I told her to fuck off. I didn’t care what she thought, didn’t care what my punishment would be when I returned home. She made my life hell for years, taking away the time I had with the only good thing in my life. There was no way I’d be letting them leave without seeing them off. I needed every last second with them.

She could send me to a new home, into a group home, for all I cared. It wouldn’t matter either way because they wouldn’t be with me.

“We gotta go.” Zane’s hard voice sounds from a few feet away.

“Fuck,” Griffin curses. He and Everett hug me so damn tight it pushes the air out of my lungs, but I don’t mind. Their scents—pumpkin spice, lemon and blueberry, cinnamon, and clove—surround me as if they’re telling me everything will be okay. That Everett is right, this won’t be forever.

When they step away from me, my body feels cold. That hand that’s wrapped around my heart pulls, and a sharp pain crashes into my chest as I watch my best friends leave.

“Goodbye, Jelly Bean.” Griffin’s voice is thick with emotion, unshed tears swimming in his eyes. He turns around, as if looking at me hurts too much, and heads toward the bus, throwing one of his bags over his shoulder.

I don’t hold mine back, a sob bubbles up in my chest as tears stream down my cheeks. I don’t care how I look, if people are staring. I don’t care if snot is running from my nose, I’ll just use the sleeve of my hoodie to wipe the tears away. Nope—Zane’s hoodie, which he gave me last night.

“Be good, Tiny. You're so fucking strong. Time will go by fast, and then we will have a lifetime together. Just remember that, okay?” A tear slides from the corner of Everett’s eye. He leans in, kissing me ever so gently on the forehead, that tear landing hot on my skin.

Without another look, he turns on his heel and joins Griffin on the bus.

Pulling my bleary eyes away from the bus, I turn to Zane. He hasn’t said anything since we arrived at the station and was quiet the whole hour we hung out before coming here. He has a stormy look in his eyes like he’s starting to shut down.

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