Page 85 of Crushes and Confections

“Where are you going?” I questioned, knowing damn well she’d have sent one of my dads if she wasn’t already going out. Mom was too busy otherwise. I swear, if she was idle for even an afternoon, I would think something was seriously wrong.

“I have a class an hour away. It’s on herbal tea blends and how to get the best combinations for optimal health,” she said. “The guy who runs it is a hunk of an alpha and his omega and beta wives help teach. They’re all amazing. The beta even owns her own wellness center. It’s got yoga classes, a spa, reiki, the works. We should go sometime!”

“That sounds like fun, mom,” I agreed, secretly knowing she’d already move on to new adventures by the time it came time to go.

“Okay, here. Go out in a few minutes, and it’ll be there. I love you!” She hung up before I could even respond, and I laughed, tossing my phone on the side table.

“She’s dropping off a care package of sorts. Apparently, the new phase is herbal tea blends she does herself,” I said with zero enthusiasm. “On a scale of one to ten, how bad is this about to taste?”

“Oh, like absolute grass, I would guess,” Riley snorted.

He shifted the blanket off before going to check the porch, coming back with an actual wicker basket and setting it on the table. A hot pink thermos was on top, and he grabbed it, twisted off the top, inhaled, then gagged.

“No,” I groaned. “Don’t. If I don’t try it, she’ll know.”

“It can’t be that bad,” Vance said, eyeing it with curiosity. But the moment it was in his hands, he held it at arms’ length and turned his head. “Holy fuck. Is this even alright to drink?”

Taking a deep, stealing breath, I grabbed it from him and poured a bit in the lid, ignoring the dark green color. It did smell like the inside of an herb shop. After counting down in my head, I tipped it into my mouth.

There was mint, lemon, something floral, and it was intensely bitter. Adrien quickly handed me a drink to chase down the tea, and I took it, doing it just like I would a shot.

“Okay, mom needs to move on quicker than ever,” I complained as I grabbed a chocolate truffle and shoved it in my mouth, for once not savoring the rich flavors.

“You know, I never knew how much I needed a family like this in my life,” Vance chuckled. “We get amazing food, cookouts, acceptance, and random treasures like this tea.”

“Never tell Blaire you’re sick,” Riley warned. “One time in high school, I got super sick. My mom couldn’t keep her mouth shut, and we ended up having to clear out our freezer to fill it with no less than eight different types of soup.”

“The entire town ate soup that week,” I confirmed. “My favorite was the wild rice one.”

“I couldn’t even enjoy it, I was too stuffed up to taste anything,” Riley laughed. “My mom swore me to secrecy when we got rid of it all. Don’t spill the secret.”

“I’ll take it to my grave,” Adrien said solemnly before we all burst out laughing.

Every other heat, I’d sat alone afterward, curled in a ball, watching trash reality television and wishing I had a pack. Now that I was experiencing our own rendition of the aftermath of heat, I could easily say it was so much better.

The warmth and steady thrum of comfort through the bond was everything.

“Okay, you’ve all officially ruined me. I have to know how this ends,” Adrien said, clicking the show back on. They’d paused it the moment mom called, so I didn’t miss anything. Seeing him this invested had me biting back a grin and snuggling back into the couch. I shifted so my head rested on Adrien’s lap and my feet on Riley’s.

Adrien lifted my head and put a throw pillow underneath before gently running his fingers through my curls. Riley’s hands gently rubbed the soles of my feet, eyes trained on the screen. While they watched the show, I watched them. Even Vance was touching me, sitting on the floor with a hand on my knee, offering silent comfort that had me feeling completely content.

“We should all submit the triplets for this show. They’re the ultimate bachelors,” Riley said as we waited on the recap from the last episode we just watched. “Imagine these hosts if they saw those matching, dirty flannels they love.”

“They at least don’t slick their hair back with a pound of gel,” I said in their defense. “And they know how to flirt. This guy was hopeless.”

“The first kiss is coming up. I watched the preview, and all I can say is just wait,” Riley said with a shudder.

“Now I have to know,” Adrien laughed. “I’m grabbing more drinks first. Pause if anything good happens.”

“I’ll help. I wanted to grab more chips,” Vance agreed, getting up and going with him. The moment they were gone Riley turned to me.

“So, are you doing alright?”

“Yes…?” I dragged out the word, confused why I wouldn’t be.

“The bites. Heat. All of it,” he said with a wave of his hand. “Just making sure. Adrien barely agreed to leave you to sleep this morning, if it's too much you let me know.”

“No regrets, Ri” I promised him. “One more bite, and we’ll have matching sets.” The joke had him grinning.

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