Page 61 of Stella

Especially since Aiden and Noah perfumed for Cole too.

We had a betting pool going, and mine was for the next time Aiden, the sexy underwater welder omega, went into heat.

“Great.” I strolled through the small garden in my backyard, fingers trailing over the flowering herbs and bushes Luna had planted last spring. I didn’t know what they were, but they smelled sharp and sweet.

Maybe I could bring the guys out here. Jerrick’s scent would only get stronger around all these herbs.

“Are they pampering you too?” Sunshine asked. “Not taking advantage of you being a sex machine?”

“We’re going to have an ice cream sundae bar.”

Collective oooo’s went through the group call. I smiled. “Everything is perfect.”

No one said anything for a second. I bit my lip, pulling a pink flower off the branch. “I mean, like not perfect enough to consider bonding. Obviously this is just for the heat.”

“Is that obvious?” Raina asked and I swore I could hear her raised eyebrow. “You should consider seeing them beyond your heat.”

I shrugged my shoulders even though they couldn’t see me. “Maybe.”

“Stella,” Ember huffed. “Don’t let your last pack of assholes ruin you forever.”

“Yeah,” Holly said. “Remember how scared I was?”

I huffed. “It’s amazing sex. And they are really sweet and considerate.”

“But you’re scared of letting them in,” Holly said implacably.

“You should learn to love again!” Shouted Mari from Holly’s phone. Mari was Cole’s thirteen-year-old daughter and we couldn’t wait until we could make her part of the family for real.

“Thanks for the pep talk,” I said, meaning it. I brushed my hands against the little blue flowers around the cobble stone path. “Luna, I think I need more of those flowers you planted last year. There’s a bare patch.”

“Which ones? The blue bells?”

“No the other, other flowers.” I stared at the plants, suddenly sure I needed these flowers or all life would stop.

Nesting was random and weird and I suddenly understood Luna’s need to own every plant ever.

“The ones next to the bench or the stone path?” Luna sounded excited. “Ember is taking me to Half Moon Nursery. I can pick some up.”

“Don’t forget to ogle the sexy dude who always talks to you about plants,” I said.

Luna huffed. “See if I bring you anything back.”

“You will. You can’t stand the idea of my garden being less than perfect.”

“Fine. But I get to redo your garden this year.”

“Sure. Ask that sexy dude to help you plant some flowers.”

“Anyway,” Raina said. “Stella, enjoy your heat. We’ll talk more about your commitment issues later.”

I wanted to remind her not to psychoanalyze me since we were family members, but it was no use. She’d do it anyway.

I said my goodbyes and headed back inside.

Jerrick, Simon, and Evan all straightened up quickly.

“How’s the fam?” Evan grinned.

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