Page 76 of Broken Bonds

When Jillian releases her hand, completely oblivious to the apparent internal struggle Shelby is dealing with, she throws herself in the last seat and heaves a sigh. Shelby doesn’t take her eyes off Jillian once, following Jillian’s movements like she can’t help herself.

“Man, it’s busy in town today. But you’ll never believe the cute stuff I got for the babies from Sally’s little boutique. All gender neutral, of course, since somebody refuses to find out what my godbabies are,” Jillian says, grumbling the last bit out.

I sigh.

“I told you it didn’t feel right finding out.”

Jillian waves her hand in the air.

“Yeah, yeah. I know. Doesn’t make not knowing any less hard,” she whines, sounding very much like an omega right now with all her complaining.

“You’ll survive. If I have to wait, then so do you.”

“You could just let them tell me and I’ll keep it under lock and key!” She clasps her hands together and gives me a pleading look, but I won’t be swayed by her puppy dog eyes.

She’s been trying to get me to let her find out ever since I came home from my ultrasound and told her that I told them I didn’t want to know the genders. Impatient beta.

“Nope.”

“Ugh, fine. Be that way,” she grumbles, pouting adorably.

Shelby clears her throat. Seems we sort of forgot she was there for a moment.

“I should be going,” she says, rising from her seat.

“Oh, no. I’m sorry. You guys were hanging out and I just kind of barged in and took over. You don’t have to leave. I can go home until you guys are done if you just don’t wanna talk in front of me,” Jillian says, sitting up in her seat and looking up at Shelby.

“No!” Shelby says, waving her hands frantically and looking at Jillian with wide eyes. “I mean, no, it’s not you. I really do need to get going. I promise you didn’t interrupt anything…”

I become amused as I watch Shelby flounder as she works to assure Jillian that her being here isn’t the cause of her leaving. My eyes fly back and forth between my best friend and the alpha that seems to suddenly be tongue tied in her presence.

Maybe I’m not the only one with a loved one sending someone my way…

After I calm Shelby’s word vomit, I walk with her to the door to say my goodbyes. We make plans to meet up for coffee one day soon, and then she’s gone. Jillian raises a brow at me when I make my way back to the kitchen and take my seat. I avoid her penetrating gaze, knowing that the minute she looks into my eyes, she’ll know I’m hiding something.

Talking to Shelby about Forde is one thing, but Jillian is my best friend. She loved my guys and knows how much I loved them. I don’t know how she’ll react to what I did.

“So… you’re avoiding my eyes, and you had someone over from grief support… You have something you’re not telling me,” she accuses, pointing a finger in my direction.

I gasp, the words to deny her accusation on the tip of my tongue. I bite it, not wanting to lie to her.

“It’s cool. You don’t have to tell me now. You’ll spill your guts eventually, though. Now, how do you feel about a weekend away?” she asks, changing the subject so quickly I nearly get whiplash when I finally look at her.

I raise my brow and think about it.

A weekend away sounds like just what we need.

“When do we leave?” I ask, and she grins at me.

ChapterTwenty-Three

RION

Jillian textedme last night to tell me that getting Ramsey out for the weekend is a go. It’s Friday, so they’ll be leaving in a few hours. Now I’m just waiting for her to tell me what excuse she’s come up with for me being over there. It’s not like Ramsey won’t notice my scent around her house when she comes home. Especially after being gone for a few days.

Forde comes into the kitchen as I’m making breakfast, looking as morose as he did when he came in two nights ago smelling heavily of Ramsey. To say Link and I were pissed when he came clean is an understatement. Only, we were both upset for different reasons.

Link is angry because Ramsey is his brother’s omega, and he feels she’s still too tangled in her grief to make decisions that won’t impact her healing. She might have consented for Forde to do what he did, but based on her reaction after, he should have known better. Hedoesknow better.

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