Page 114 of Finding the Forward: Part One
We’d fucked this up. But we were on the road to making it better. Now, if he and Verity could get along, we’d be set.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Verity
Iwasn’t sure who thought an outdoor picnic in December in New York was a good idea. The wind cut through me, causing me to shiver, as I walked through the park. My tote with the food in it kept throwing off my balance, but not everything fit in my backpack.
Mercy was off with the Maimers doing some charity work. I should be in the lab or studying.
But first things first. If I planned on moving forward with Grif, I needed to make amends with AJ.
I felt dreadful that he worried I’d replace him.The alpha in melikedthe idea that there were additional people to help care for Grif. Not that he couldn’t take care of himself.
But I’d fix it the way I tried to fix most things–with deliciousness.
“Verity, over here.” Grif waved. He looked handsome in jeans and a peacoat, with a plaid scarf and hat.
“Grif!” Embracing him, I kissed him desperately, enjoying the way his beard tickled, since I hadn’t seen him in a couple days.
“Hey.” Grif’s hand cupped my face, and those green eyes met mine. “Come meet AJ.”
Nodding, I took his hand. Anxiety bubbled up inside me as he led me over to a picnic table with a festive tablecloth.
“Why are we having a picnic at a table? Aren’t they on the ground?” AJ wore dark pants and a tailored coat. The scarf was designer, as were the sunglasses on top of his slick near-black hair. He looked straight out of a debonair spy movie as he sat at the rough wooden table.
“It’s apicnic table,” Dean looked huggable in jeans and a puffer coat, a red beanie on his head.
“AJ, this is Verity,” Grif said. “Verity, meet AJ. Again. AJ and I met back in the minors. You’re both incredibly important to me, so I hope you can be friends.” His arm stayed tight around me.
I held out a gloved hand. “Alpha AJ.”
“Verity.” He shook.
“Verity!” Dean wrenched me from Grif and hugged me so hard my feet lifted off the ground and I almost dropped my crutch–and the tote.
“Hi. I brought some things.” I set the tote on the table. There already were some foil wrapped pans on the table along with wine, plates, cups, and utensils.
“Hey, Little Alpha.” Jonas slid an arm around my waist. He was a treat in torn jeans and a leather jacket.
“Hi, Alpha Jonas.” For a moment I leaned my head on his shoulder and let his mossy scent calm me.
“That won’t get annoying.” AJ made a face.
Dean laughed. “That’s why she does it.”
My nerves overtook me as I left Jonas’ embrace and busied myself by removing things from the tote. “I’m just being polite.”
A still-warm foil-wrapped parcel tied with a bow came out first.
“Dean, I made you something.” I placed it in his hands.
“It’s warm.” His face lit up as he opened it to reveal the flower-shaped loaf of sourdough I made him. “Oooh, it’s so pretty. How do you get it shaped? How do you embellish it?”
“I used twine to shape it, and some scissors and a razorblade to make the floral embellishments. You said sourdough was your favorite, so Grace brought me some starter when I was in Glitter City. I watched a video and made a few practice loaves, but I’m still not sure it’s right.” I set the containers of the food I brought out one at a time. Mercy and her friends had enjoyed the practice bread.
“Awww, Grace shared her starter? She seems sweet. I love it when you make me bread. It’swarm.” Dean tore off a hunk and stuffed it in his mouth.
“That is a beautiful loaf of bread.” Jonas passed around glasses of wine.
