Page 6 of Sunshine

“Of course.” Logan sat down across from me. “We’re almost done with service.”

Julian brushed his hand across my arm again. “You want to come over? We can play whatever you want.”

Julian and I both loved videos games, and bonded over them early on in our friendship.

We loved Animal Crossing and had already spent hours on an island we’d designed. It was a single player game, but you could visit each other’s islands and trade fruits, items, and clothing.

But as much as I wanted to spend time with my friend, I was going to crash when I went home. All the energy and work that went into planning an event left me drained. I would always be fine during the event, but every time I got back to my cottage, I just wanted to crawl into bed and binge watch cooking shows until I fell asleep.

“I need a rain check.” I hated telling him no, but I knew I wouldn’t be any sort of company. “I’m exhausted.”

“Sure.” I was relieved that he didn’t seem annoyed with me or hurt I didn’t say yes.

Julian was straightforward. It was one of the reasons we were friends. I couldn’t handle trying to read into what people secretly wanted, especially after Pack Beneventi.

Just thinking about the way they’d made me feel made the old worries come back, that maybe he was secretly mad at me for saying no.

“You’re okay to go back into the ballroom?” Julian studied me. “Because I’m totally fine hiding out here with a gorgeous woman.”

I laughed. “I have to do my job. The event’s almost over.”

“At least allow me to walk around with you. Luca and I can take turns.” Julian winked, and my mind went straight into the gutter at the idea of how else they might take turns with me.

Luca brushed his hand over my arm, his voice silky as he responded. “My pleasure.”

It was sweet of them to try and make me feel better. I stood up, and with promises to Logan that we would return at the end for more food, we went back to the event. Luca steered us around the room, avoiding my old pack.

I was lucky to have friends with me, but I reminded myself that’s just what they were. Friends. Nothing more.

Chapter 3

Julian

Packing up after one of Logan’s catering events was usually something I enjoyed, but tonight it dragged. Ordinarily, it reminded me of being at work with the fire crew, all of us pitching together for a common goal. Logan’s staff was chill, and Luca and I knew how to break down a kitchen, so it should have been a breeze.

Tonight, though, I sighed with relief as we got into the van. Logan arched an eyebrow but didn’t say anything. When I’d said goodbye to Sunshine, it had been on the tip of my tongue to ask her back to our house again.

Despite her glossy pink lipstick, and flawless makeup, she’d looked tired, and I knew she needed to rest.

My pack had moved to California from Honolulu almost four years ago, when we found out my mom had breast cancer.

Sunshine had been there through the entire horrible process. I wouldn’t have gotten through Mom’s chemo if Sunshine hadn’t been around to help me, distract me, and empathize.

Logan and Luca were my alphas, but Sunshine lost her parents as a teenager. She understood my grief in a way they didn’t. I’d been waiting to ask her out, but just when Mom wentinto remission two years ago, Sunshine had started dating Rob and Isaac.

After almost a year of Sunshine being single, I’d been thinking it was time for more. I didn’t want to wait much longer to make a move on the beta that haunted my dreams.

But Logan had said he didn’t think she was ready for more yet, and, after seeing Sunshine’s face tonight, I had to agree with him. It was one thing to be her friend, and another thing to date her. I had to make sure I wasn’t going to break her heart, no matter how badly I wanted her, or how much I craved her touch.

I was picky as hell. I’d known Logan was mine the first time I breathed in his scent. He was quiet and gruff, but that didn’t bother me. I’d perfumed early in high school and I’d had alphas throwing themselves at me for years.

It was nice to have space to just be myself around Logan. He cooked for me, made sure I got enough sleep, and helped me get ready for my Basic Firefighter Training school. It had been ten weeks of hell. Logan got me through it. Then, when we met Luca, my other alpha balanced me and Logan out with his quick wit and charm, in a way that was effortless.

Every other alpha, omega, or beta that made a pass at one of us seemed like a risk. What if they didn’t fit in right? What if they judged Luca for all his weird quirks? What if they made Logan feel bad because he struggled to talk about his feelings?

And, underneath all of that, I was secretly worried I would be jealous.

Luca and Logan were obsessed with me and had no problems showing that. They loved each other, too, and when they spent time together their solid bond of trust and respect was like those packs who’d been together for fifty years.

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