Page 66 of Knot Her Reality

“Whatever. I’ll see you tonight.” Without waiting for a response, I hang up the phone. I’m not going to let anything rain on my parade today—not even a mandatory therapy session.

Tossing on a pair of sandals and grabbing a floppy hat, I make my way to the kitchen. The moment I step inside, all eyes turn to me. “Oh, um, hi. I was hoping to get some coffee.”

A woman who looks older than my grandmother did the last time I saw her gives me a sweet smile. “You can just head out to the pool area. We have a small buffet of snacks and plenty of coffee for you there.”

“Oh, wonderful. I’m also starving. I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name?”

The woman seems surprised at my words, but her smile just grows. “I’m Millie, Miss Evangeline.”

“It’s just Evangeline, Millie. Thank you for the information and for what you do for us here at the compound.” I look around the occupants of the room. “That goes for all of you. Don’t think I don’t know how hard you all work, and I’m very grateful.”

I can see surprise on most of their faces before Millie nods. “We’re happy to help. If you ever need anything, just ring the kitchen, and we’ll make sure you have it. Now, go enjoy those suitors of yours. I’ve seen them and they are some fine specimens.”

When she shoots me a wink, I can’t help the giggles that spill from my lips. “You’re right, Millie. They sure are.”

With a quick wave, I exit the kitchen. It’s just a quick walk to the sunken living room and out the sliding glass doors to the pool area. I’m unsurprised to see that I’m the last one to arrive.

“Good morning everyone!” I laugh as I wave, knowing that it’s nearly afternoon already. “I’m grabbing coffee and some food. Give me like ten minutes, and then I’ll be ready to start the day.”

Laughter follows me to the buffet setup as I make myself a plate of fruit and fill a large cup with coffee. Sitting at an empty table, I let my eyes wander as I sip on my coffee. Humming to myself, I drink it faster than I probably should, but it’s just what I need.

I also take the time to see how the suitors are grouping up so far. Viktor and Dustin are sitting away from everyone else on lounge chairs as they talk quietly. Pack Reyes is in the hot tub by themselves, which isn’t that surprising. They will need to spend time with the other suitors, though. It’s not doing them any favors to be off on their own.

Most of the other suitors have gathered in the pool. The only ones not in the pool are Jagger and Cora, but they’re sitting on the side of the pool dipping their feet in, so it’s not like they’re excluding themselves. All the suitors in the pool seem to move around, talking to all the others. It’s kind of nice to see. With only six suitors sequestering themselves, two-thirds of them are hanging out together in the pool.

They seem to have gotten the memo. This is exactly what I want to happen on Sundays. I want to see how everyone gets along with one another. I want to see who I can actually see as being a part of my pack.

I noticed the way the others were standoffish toward Viktor when I had the picnic with the day two suitors, but I didn’t expect it to still be going on. I really would rather not have to deal with a bunch of drama. I know there’s no way to fully escape it as we’re twenty-one people thrown together with different personalities. There’s never going to be a time where everyone gets along when that’s done.

Once I finish my snack, I feel much more human. Pushing off my cover-up, I make a quick stop to refill my coffee before heading toward Dustin and Viktor.

Dustin is the first one to notice me as he perks up. “Hi, Evangeline.”

Viktor glances over his shoulder at me, sunglasses covering his eyes. “Good morning, omega.”

I wince before trying to hide it. There are times outside of the bedroom I don’t mind being called omega—though it usually has some kind of sexual context to it—but I don’t like the way Viktor says it. I know I told Jagger when we first met not to call me omega outside of the bedroom, but it was mostly just to give him a hard time. With Viktor, I want to tell him the same thing, but I’d actually mean it. But I’m not going to say that. If I ignore it, maybe he won’t call me it again? One can only hope.

“Good morning,” is what I settle on, my smile feeling brittle. “Do you mind if I sit with the two of you?”

“Of course,” Dustin says as he and Viktor sit up fully. “We’d love to have you join us.”

Settling onto the lounge beside Viktor, I glance at the pool before turning back to them. “Not a fan of the pool?”

“Love the pool, but I’m not a big fan of the people inside it,” Viktor says, sneering as he glances toward the pool.

I jerk back at his tone, frowning. Dustin flicks his leg, waiting until the alpha looks up before giving him a “what the fuck” look.

Viktor turns to me with a sigh, pushing the sunglasses onto his head. “I’m sorry, Evangeline. I didn’t mean to snap at you. My anger isn’t meant for you. The other suitors have been… unkind to me because of the accident. They exclude me from everything. Well, most of them. It’s just hard when no one wants to give you a chance because of one stupid mistake.”

“I understand that. I’ll talk to them. They need to understand that it was an accident. I’m really sorry they’ve been treating you like that.” I shake my head as my gaze goes back to the pool. Alejandro’s, Jagger’s, Koda’s, and Lillian’s eyes are all on us, but I can’t tell what they’re thinking from this far away.

I don’t like that the suitors have been excluding Viktor. After everything, I’m not sure how they can still be blaming him for the accident. It’s not like he did it on purpose—or at least I don’t think so. It just doesn’t make sense that he would hurt me on purpose, hence why I’m choosing to believe that it was an accident. I wasn’t just telling Viktor that I would talk to the other suitors to make him feel better, but because I don’t like this kind of behavior. It makes me feel like I’m back in high school, and that was not a time I enjoyed.

“So, besides being excluded by the other suitors, how have you found your time on Heated so far?”

Viktor scoffs. “Unfortunately, being excluded by the others means I’ve spent most of my time in my room. But the others have allowed Dustin to join them.”

“So you’ve been all by yourself?” Gods, I feel so bad for this man right now.

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