Page 67 of Stella

My family was right. I was letting my broken heart guide my decisions. I was too afraid of being hurt again to take another chance.

I straightened my shoulders. It was time to stop being afraid.

Simon put his hand on my hip. “Tell us what’s wrong. You’re worried about something.”

“I’m trying to picture the future. Are you guys going back to San Francisco?” I looked down at my coffee. Sadly, even coffee couldn’t save me from the level of awkward that I’d initiated.

“Hey, you’re not in heat anymore.” Even grinned. “Would you like to go on a date?”

I blinked. “A date?”

Jerrick kissed my shoulder. “You haven’t shown me The Bent Page yet either. You owe me a second date.”

Simon sighed. “I would ask you to come back with us to our house, but you have your work here. And my father would more than likely stop by to see you.”

I bit my lip. His father sounded like a tool. I didn’t want a lecture from daddy dearest that I wasn’t good enough for his precious son.

Evan rolled his eyes. “He can pound sand.”

“I know,” Simon said. “But he knows why I wasn’t at work this week.”

“It’s a forty-five-minute drive, right?” I rubbed Jerrick’s arm. Our scents had mingled completely until it smelled like dessert. “Meredith is staying up here?”

“Yes, at our beach house.” Simon rubbed my shoulder. “I can make the commute. We can keep dating.”

Some of my disquiet went away. It was too soon to talk of bonding, but I couldn’t stand the thought of never seeing them again.

I cared about them more than for this to be only a fling. We had plenty of time to get to know each other. There was no rush.

Chapter19

Stella

“Raina, leave me alone to die in peace.” Ember swatted at my older sister. I sat on the couch and tried to stay out of the firing range. Ember was trying to give herself a heart attack judging by the amount of cheese and jalapeños on her nachos, while Raina was in healthy diet mode.

“Last time you ate your weight in cheese you were crying about your stomach for a week.” Raina grabbed the bowl of queso. “Save some for the rest of us.”

It was Taco Tuesday, and my family had gathered at Raina’s cottage. Her sharp lemon scent had permeated everything, and I snuggled into her throw blankets, the scent familiar and comforting.

Simon was working late, Evan was getting his students ready for a half marathon, and Jerrick had overtime.

In the three weeks since my heat, I’d spent nearly all my time with them. Most nights the four of us slept in my bed, and Evan and Simon took turns cooking breakfast before we started our days. Evan’s day was the longest, so sometimes I met them halfway so we could have dinner together.

I kept waiting for them to be annoyed that I spent long hours at the resort, but instead they showed up with food and the occasional quickie. They all had their own careers and none of them seemed to expect me to put mine on hold to focus on their every whim.

It was refreshing, honestly.

“We’re onboarding three new packs this week.” Raina set the bowl of cheese on the countertop so that she could pick up her planner. She took organization to a whole other level.

Ember nodded, unable to answer because her face was stuffed with nachos. Sunshine had a taco in her hand, the only one actually abiding by the edict set down by our forefathers to eat tacos on Tuesday because alliteration was a thing.

Luna was nestled in her favorite chair again, watching us talk. She had been quieter than usual lately. I wondered what was wrong and if she would tell me if I asked.

“We all ready for the charity auction?” Holly looked at Sunshine. My beta friend’s dark hair was pulled into a ponytail. She’d pulled herself away from her doting pack for the night. “How’s your pack coming along with the menu?”

I hoped Sunshine was taking notes from Holly. Betas got sexy alphas and omegas in their packs, too.

Sunshine blushed scarlet. She had been spending a lot of time lately going over menus with Pack Kahele. “They’re not my pack.”

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