Page 46 of Talk About… History

She glanced up, surprised, but his eyes were pleading.

“I didn’t want to overstep during that conversation. I also wasn’t going to use your file to find you, Avery. I knew we’d run into each other, but I want you to know there were no ill intentions.”

With that he let go and she nodded, her hands steady now as she tucked her phone back in her purse.

“I should warn you that you’re not the only mates I’ve met. I’ll add Cohen to this chat after I drop in to tell him about you all.”

She started to walk away but turned around, her voice catching as she spoke.

“Don’t give up on me. I’m trying to figure out how to let you guys in.”

Avery

“Sidney, SOS, help,” I gasped into the phone the moment I got in the car and dialed her.

“What’s wrong?” she asked. “Whose ass do I need to kick?”

She probably wasn’t ready for the rant I went on, but she got every detail of my day from the builder, to the guys, to the rescue from my brothers, to the lunch, the panic, the lake, and the doctor mindfuck that followed.

I’d even gushed a little about the alphas’ scents. Mason was this rugged outdoorsy mix of apple, cedarwood, and fresh fallen leaves that made me feel safe. Ford was a rich and decadent mix of coffee and cream. Arden was a mix of rich vanilla and marjoram, laced with an herbal and spicy undertone that was perfect. They were all etched into my brain along with Cohen’s now.

“Holy hell, girl. Remind me that I never want to find my pack. That shit sounds complicated as hell,” Sidney said with a laugh.

“I still have to tell Cohen, I feel like he deserves to hear it from me,” I said. “Now, I also need to figure out something else for the house build and I need to get started on the bar’s account.”

“Girl, you came into this town and dove head first into keeping yourself busy as fuck,” she laughed.

“I thought it would help me settle in and find my place here. I didn’t sign up for this whole ‘finding an entire pack’ thing!” I protested.

She fell into another fit of laughter that had me huffing, but biting back my own.

“You’re not helping, Sidney. What the fuck do I do?!”

“Girl, you’re asking the wrong omega. My scenting is already off, I have no hope of figuring this out,” she said, more somber now. “But I’d start with Cohen. Just call him while you get ready to go in for work. I’ll be in later for a drink and you can vent some more.”

“Ugh, fine,” I groaned, ending the call right as I pulled onto Whitaker Ranch. Mama was waiting on the porch and I nearly turned around. I knew damn well my brothers filled her in on everything.

She offered a smile as I parked, yet I could tell it wasn’t her greeting smile, but one expecting answers.

I forgot how fucking fast the rumor mill went around here.

“So, I take it you heard?” I asked as I walked up.

“It seems you’ve had quite the day. The boys told me about the construction guy, and fuck him, but I want to know what happened after and why my daughter apparently has mates she hasn’t told me about.”

I sighed and sat down next to her. She slid over a tall glass of sweet tea and I took a sip before answering.

“Well, two of them I met today,” I started, before giving her a full, detailed recap of my insane day. She didn’t interrupt me as I got it all out, like she could sense I needed to just ramble it all out. “So now, I have to tell Cohen, figure out how to accept them all while protecting my heart, and not lose my mind.”

She laughed. “Oh, no big deal then. Right?”

“Right,” I snorted, taking another long sip and looking out at the view. “God, I missed this place.”

“We all missed you,” she said softly. The moment I went to apologize her expression turned fierce. “Don’t you dare apologize for living your life and finding yourself. I always knew you’d find yourself home one day.”

I snapped my mouth shut and sat back.

“It’s hard to ignore the guilt. I feel like I’ve abandoned you guys and yet when I needed you guys, everyone was there for me.”

---