Page 72 of Meadowsweet and Marigold
"Is there?"
Meadow nods, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, the gesture oddly more intimate than what they've just done.
"You've been pale lately. Stressed. I've noticed."
Of course, he has.
Meadow notices everything, especially about her. The realization settles comfortably in her chest, another piece of clarity emerging from the receding fog of confusion. He watches her, studies her, and knows her in ways she's only beginning to understand.
"I haven’t been stressed…I think?" she admits, the words coming easier than expected, though she doesn’t feel shy about admitting her uncertainty. “I mean, coming to Willowbend was a good decision for me. An escape that hasn’t given me a sense of regret. Yes, it’s a bit of an adjustment, but that’s normal when you’re starting from scratch anywhere. Everyone’s been kind and welcoming. I’m excited to learn more about Flint and August, and Daisy is a nice mix, even with her being a Beta.”
"And me," Meadow adds quietly, his perceptiveness cutting to the heart of what she left unsaid. "I've been another complication for you."
Marigold studies his face, the strong line of his jaw partially hidden beneath his beard, the crow's feet at the corners of his eyes that deepen when he smiles. In the aftermath of intimacy, his features seem more familiar, as if she's known him far longer than the few months since she arrived at Willowbend.
"You're not a complication," she says, surprised by the certainty in her voice. "You're...clarity. I think."
His eyebrows lift slightly, surprise flickering across his features before settling into something warmer.
"Clarity," he repeats, testing the word.
"Yes." She shifts in her seat, adjusting her dress more comfortably. "When I'm with you, things make sense.Everything feels...steadier. Smooth. Effortless. I don’t really need to ‘think’ in a sense. I just know I’m safe and have the guidance before me without stressing over uncertainties…hmmm. Not sure if that makes sense, but that’s the best way to describe it."
A smile spreads across his face, slow and genuine.
"That might be the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me."
Marigold returns his smile, feeling the truth of her words solidify inside her.
Meadow Calloway is many things —solid, dependable, frustratingly cryptic at times— but above all, he is steady. A fixed point in the chaos her life has become since fleeing the city with her tail between her legs, nursing wounds inflicted by those who should have protected her.
The thought of Rowan and Magnolia still stings, but the pain seems duller now, less immediate. As if the pleasure Meadow just gave her body has somehow soothed her soul as well, blunting the sharp edges of betrayal that have been cutting into her for months.
"What did you mean earlier?" she asks, emboldened by this new clarity. "When you said this was just to ease the burning until I was ready for 'the one I truly desire.' What was that about?"
Meadow's expression shifts, a shadow passing over his features. His hands, which had been resting lightly on her knee, withdraw to his own lap.
"You have options here, Marigold. More than you realize."
"Options," she repeats, the word tasting strange on her tongue. "You mean..."
"I mean Gus and Flint," he says simply, naming the other Alphas who have shown interest in her since her arrival. "They're good men. Better than me in many ways."
Marigold stares at him, disbelief washing over her. "You think I want them?"
Meadow shrugs, the gesture too casual to be genuine.
"Gus makes you laugh. Flint challenges you. I've seen how you respond to them."
"And what about how I respond to you?" she asks, gesturing at her disheveled state, evidence of her very clear response to his touch still damp on her thighs.
A flush creeps up his neck, disappearing into his beard.
"Physical attraction is different from?—"
"From what? Emotional connection?" She finds herself growing irritated, the peaceful clarity threatened by his stubborn insistence on misreading the situation. "Do you think I would have let you do that if it was just physical?"
His eyes meet hers, searching. "Wouldn't you? You've been under stress, and your body is craving release. I'm convenient. Available."
