Page 98 of Talk About… Rivalry

Not tonight.

My first instinct was to call Avery but I knew damn well what time it was.

Then again, she’d mentioned the babies were keeping her up.

It was worth a shot

Sidney: Are you awake?

If she didn’t answer, everything would still be fine. I’d fight through this on my own.

Right now I really fucking needed my best friend.

My phone rang a second later, Avery’s face filling the screen. When I answered I was relieved to see the light on in the room, piles of baby clothes stacked around her.

“What are you doing?” I questioned as she tossed some of the onesies aside.

She shrugged. “Sleep is a little harder when I’m this uncomfortable, so I’m sorting through their clothes for like the seventeenth time. Honestly, it’s pathetic at this point.”

I chuckled. The normalcy of the conversation and the sound of her voice were bringing me back down from the panic.

She eyed me. “Ready to tell me why you’re awake?” she questioned.

“That dream… I had it again,” I admitted.

Her face dropped and I was so glad that there was never pity in her expression. Like usual, she just looked upset on my behalf.

“The one with your mom leaving?”

“It changed,” I admitted. The words were on the tip of my tongue but I couldn’t get them out.

I shouldn’t have worried. In true Avery fashion… she already knew.

“Does this have to do with the rumors floating around today? I hear you’ve got yourself a pack. Ready to tell your bestie why you’re keeping secrets?”

My eyes burned with tears, a few of them falling free as I started telling her first about wanting Taylor, which she clearly already knew, then about Leo and Bennett, finishing with the one night stand.

“Shut up,” she gasped. “A one-night stand? That is definitely not like you. I’m so proud!”

Then she froze and I watched understanding dawn in her eyes.

“Wait, why did it bother you that Maverick went on a date, Sidney?” she accused.

There’s a hint of hurt in her voice. She should be angry at this point but she was ready to hear it and I had to tell her. Iwantedto.

“I’ve been in love with Maverick for years, Avery. I’ve tried to not let it happen. I know that my scent is gone, but he wants me, too. He promised that he wanted to be my mate.”

She was hanging on to every word as I continued, wrapping up the entire story in my haste to get it all out.

“Honestly, Mama and I were taking bets on when you two would get your heads out of your asses and tell each other that you caught feelings.”

“No, you didn’t,” I gasped, my jaw-dropping. “Am I just the most oblivious omega in the world?”

“Yes, yes, you are.” She laughed, tossing more clothes aside as she focused back on me. “Look, you’ve always been family, Sidney. This isn’t going to be any different. If you make Maverick happy and he makes you happy, then what more can I ask for? Hell, it might do him some good to smile more.”

“You’re not mad really?” I questioned.

“I’m a little hurt that you took this long to tell me,” she admitted. “I know that I was gone for a long time and things were weird with us for a while, but I love you. I just want what’s best for you. Don’t shut me out.”

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