Page 73 of Knot All is Forgiven

"I don't either." I rub my temples, the beginnings of a throbbing headache forming, and let my eyes drift shut. "I don't know all of it. I haven't let them explain."

"Oof. Yeah, that's something to find out. I mean, it's hurting all of you at this point."

I throw my napkin at her, smacking her in the face. "Stop making sense. You're supposed to be the goofy younger sister archetype."

"And I am!" she chuckles, tossing my napkin back at me. "You know I worry about you both, and you both deserve happiness. And I hate to say it, but I've been there before." Her smile drops for a moment, and I want to ask more, but she starts talking again before I can.

"Plus…" she looks around the restaurant conspiratorially, like she has a massive secret for me, "I've seen all those men. Holy fucking hot, Jordan."

"Ugh, don't remind me. Why can't they be hideous and make it easy to ignore them?"

It's an oversimplification of everything, of course. Even if the guys had grown unattractive from when we saw each other last, they're still my scent matches. I'd be drawn to them regardless. And despite what happened between us, I know they're good guys deep down.

I'll admit, it's getting hard to hold a grudge.

But then I take my anxiety med every morning, and I remember all that I went through because of their choices, and I find it easier to steel myself against them.

We finish up our lunch, chatting about Athena's love life, or lack thereof, and her shitty landlord. She has a lot to say about that landlord.

After we part ways with a hug and a promise to get together again soon, I trek back to my office to finish the work day.

Lanie looks up when I come in, a tight smile on her face. "Long lunch?"

I glance at the clock on my phone. It'd only been fifty minutes.

Besides, I'm the boss here. It's not her job to police my schedule like this.

"No longer than standard. Do I have any meetings this afternoon?"

She pulls up my calendar on her computer, clicking her tongue. "Just the two o'clock call with the C-suite."

"Perfect!" I clap my hands together. Despite the conversation, spending time with Athena energized me. Her positive energy is contagious, and I needed that kick in the pants. I've been feeling so worn down lately. "Are we still on for brunch this weekend?"

Lanie's brows raise in surprise. "I assumed with the whole packing up stuff that you wouldn't want to go out as much."

"You're my friend, Lanie! I'm not giving you up." She chuckles and shouts an affirmative to me as I saunter into my office.

Chapter twenty-eight

"Can you put itover there?" I ask the tattooed Alpha. Chase raises an eyebrow at me and then rolls his eyes, setting up the serving dish and heating element on the opposite counter.

"Remember how you told me about my one freebie when I was carrying my traumatized Omega into your safe house?" Chase is Joey's packmate and an acquired taste. Since his restaurant, Bea's Kitchen, purchased Roberto's, and Joey took over managing it, it's become an unofficial Hawk meeting ground. So I've seen a lot of Chase in the past year and had some time to grow used to his surly attitude.

"Hey, it wasn't my house." I raise my hands. "Nitro made that call."

"Joey's dad can suck a dick," he grumbles, tossing the foil that covered the last dish. "You know he still hasn't met Nora?"

"I mean… do you want him to?" I glance at my cut hanging on a hook by the door.

I love the club.

Really, I do.

But I don't know if I want Jordan anywhere near it.

Chase shrugs, ruffling his bleached hair. He's got bags under his eyes, making him look paler than usual. He brought the food here on his way home for the evening so he didn't have to spare the catering staff, but maybe he should've gone straight home because he looks like he's about to fall over. "No, I don't think I would right now."

I can't ignore the way his body sways. "You alright there?"

---