Page 71 of Crushes and Confections

“If you haven’t figured it out already, you’re worth spending time and energy on, Vance. Your entire pack is. Even with all the chaos going on in your life right now, you still followed through and called me to set this up. We’re a community, and that means we help each other. Which leads us to this, piece number three for your gift.” She looked so proud, but I was confused, yet again, what this could all mean together. The piece of hard backing she handed me could have been used for any number of things.

I guess I’d have to listen to the residents of Holiday Hollow and trust that it would all make sense in the end.

CHAPTER 23

Claire

Never had I been more grateful that I’d decided to promote Corey and hire an additional staff member to work the front end. It meant not having to come in early every single day and actually having weekends off.

I was beginning to find the balance between my career I strived so hard for and my personal life which was flourishing.

I knew I’d made the right call voicing to the others that I wanted to see what living together was like.

Sure, we may eventually need a bigger bed, but I cherished how close we got to snuggle in the one we currently had. And I was way behind on watching some of my shows, but I’d gladly trade that all for the experiences and opportunities we’ve had to learn more about each other.

Which was why I was planning a trip over to my cottage today to bring over a few more things I wanted access to.

I missed my cottage, but I also knew there was no way we’d all fit in there. Hell, Riley and I barely fit in there. And with my books, and plants, and blankets, and antique teapots, and macrame…well, there just wasn’t a lot of available wall or floor space left to be honest.

“You’re thinking hard about something,” Adrien said, breaking me out of my musings.

“Just thinking about some of my things,” I answered honestly. “I was going to stop by and grab a few things unless we have any other plans?”

“No hard plans, but speaking of things, Vance and I wanted to sit down and talk a few things out with you and Riley.”

“Why does that sound like we’re in trouble?” I asked. “It’s all the throw blankets, isn’t it? You hate them.”

He chuckled, wrapping an arm around me and placing a kiss on my head. “I could never hate anything you love, mon chou. Come. The boys are in the den, I believe.”

Sure enough, we found them there, Vance sitting on the couch with his laptop in hand typing merrily while Riley leaned against his shoulder, reading the book of Vance’s I just finished.

You could learn a lot about someone from the stories they wrote.

Reading Vance’s book made me admire him more. The way he crafted his worlds and built his network of characters, the witty humor and dramatic plot twists that were woven throughout. He was beyond talented.

“What part are you on, Ri?”

“Well I’m hoping that Melinda is about to bang Commander Swanson’s brains out,” he said. “They’re arguing in his office and the tension is just—”

Vance let out a chuckle, closing down his laptop and setting it to the side. “Good things come to those who wait.”

“Well then, I’m fucked,” Riley said, using a bookmark and then closing the book. “My patience is basically non-existent.”

Giving into the urge, I joined them on the couch, climbing onto Vance’s lap burrowing my face into his neck as his free arm came around me.

“You were certainly more than patient with me, Ri,” I said to my friend as I stretched my legs to lay in his lap.

“That wasn’t exactly patience,” he said with a roll of his eyes. “But it got us here, so yes, I will take all the credit for us having this awesome pack.”

“That’s actually what we wanted to talk to you about,” Adrien said, taking the last open spot next to Riley and taking his hand. “What are the next steps the two of you want?”

“Like as a pack?” Riley clarified.

“As a pack,” Vance confirmed, kissing the top of my head.

“You first, Claire Bear,” Riley said. “I know we’re on the same page but I want to hear it from your lips. Make sure you don’t leave a single thing out.”

Whereas once the question would have given me anxiety to answer, I felt a sense of peace about it now. I trusted the three of them, and I felt comfortable enough to be honest and communicate, the very thing that my alphas had asked from me in the beginning.

---