Page 58 of Dream Girl
“It is. But I like my job and I like everyone not being in jail. I know these detectives, and I know how home visits work. If the Center finds something wrong with us, theywillact. These things can snowball fast. Let’s follow the checklist and prepare for the home visit. She’s Wes’ mate, and that accounts for something,” Jett replied.
I frowned as they screwed the mirror onto the dresser, because I hadn’t known all that. “What if we fail the inspection? The Center’s not actually going to take her from us, are they?”
While I didn’t want her to stay, the Centerremovingher from us meant we were unfit.
We were fit. She just didn’t fit.
“They could,” Evan replied. “I took a girl from her home the same day Grace arrived, no visit needed. With everything going on, we don’t want to fail this or any other home visit.”
“There could be more?” I stepped back as they moved to another part of the bed.
“Well, yeah, we follow our omegas for some time. Gotta make sure they’re okay,” Evan told me.
Something caught my eye, and Riley had her face pressed up against the glass doors of the room.
She slipped in. “You know the doors are glass, right, Doofus? Should I add curtains to my next order?”
“Or something?” Evan agreed. “Thanks for your help.”
“That’s what you pay me for. I’m going to do shit to my room while the clothes wash.” She flipped us off and left.
“I let her get some new stuff for her room. Um, Caroline made a comment about Riley being alone in the store, and it bothered me. She wasn’t alone, I was at another register,” he told me. “We don’t need Dependent Services getting involved.”
“She’s fifteen, so why can’t she be alone in a store? Caroline would call Dependent Services.” That bitch. Ruining everything, as usual.
“I wish we had more time. There’s no closet or bathroom.” Jett looked around. “What will Grace use?”
Evan thought for a moment. “Right, I forgot to order a wardrobe. I’m putting stuff for her in Wes’ bathroom. Maybe I should add a desk for her in Wes’ room? Or a corner of the library?”
“I don’t want her on my floor. In fact, I want her away from me as much as possible. When is she coming?” I scowled, not liking all these changes. I didn’t like change. It wasn’t orderly or predictable.
“Saturday or Sunday, I think,” Evan told me, conferring with his phone.
I huffed, done with all this Grace talk. “I’m going to go cook some steak. Do either of you want some?”
Jett reached out and squeezed my hand. “I’ll be right there, Honey.”
“I’m good. Thanks, Handsome.” Evan shook his head and went back to helping Jett.
I went down to the living room. Riley was in her room blaring music. I went into the kitchen. Taking my bottle of good bourbon, which someone had been in, I poured myself a glass and got out what I needed to make dinner.
As I cooked, I realized the kitchen had stuff in it we didn’t have before, such as a fancy stand mixer. Ugh. Why? I hated counter clutter.
“I know you don’t like people in the house, but we have to play the game, Honey. Thank goodness Evan knows how. But we all have to be on board.” Jett came up behind me and slid his arms around my waist, which reassured my alpha that everyone still cared for me.
I flipped the steak over to get a sear on both sides. “Fine. The faster this is over, the faster she can be gone.”
“What if Grace stays? She’s Wes’mate.” Jett let go of me and got a beer out of the fridge. “Ooh, you got the really fancy beer. Thanks.”
“How did I not know that he had a mate? Or a serious girlfriend? I knew him then.” I frowned. “There was someone, but I also think he was also dating other girls…”
“Maybe they had an open relationship? Perhaps they took a break because her mom sounds like an asshole. That’s what’s really bugging you, isn’t it? That you knew him then and didn’t know about Grace?”
“Of course not.” Yeah, it rankled. “Why didn’t he disclose it when we formed the pack–or when we locked everything down after Caroline? I don’t want Grace to stay. We’re not supporting her.” I took a sip of my drink and sighed.
“Legally, we have to keep her if she and Wes want to continue to be mates–unless we cut Wes from the pack. That would get messy since he’s mated to Evan. Spencer’s trying to hire her, so I don’t think money will be an issue. Are you jealous that Evan likes her so much?” he teased, an arm around me as he sipped his beer.
Maybe. I could share Evan with Wes since Wes was first–and the reason I’d even met him. I could share Evan with Jett because Jett was my husband, and we shared everything. But I didn’t want to share Evan with Grace.
