Page 37 of This Fate That Guides Us
“Nex has a child’s palate,” Nebula jokes. “He doesn’t handle spicy or sour well.”
“So, just me and Titan then?” The other three members of their pack quickly agree. I smile broadly as I turn my attention back to the drummer. “I’ll need a glass of milk on standby, but count me in.”
Twenty minutes later we are seated across from each other at the table. Titan only has his bag of candy and an energy drink on his side. I have the unwrapped gummy, a glass of milk, and a bottle of water on my side.
“Okay, lady and giant, last chance to back out,” Nexus tells us using his best announcer voice. Nebula has his phone out recording both of us. I make a note to kindly ask him not to share the video on social media if my face is in frame.
When Titan and I both remain silent, Nexus shakes his head and starts a countdown. “5. 4. 3. 2. 1. Eat!”
I pick up the bright red, pepper-shaped gummy and pop it in my mouth. Titan pops one of the surprisingly black candies into his at the same time. My tongue instantly ignites with the heat,the burn spreading before I even start to chew. I try to keep a straight face as I watch Titan’s jaw clench, but it’s too much. I cough into my elbow, and my eyes water but I don’t back down.
“You okay, gorgeous?”
“Is it actually spicy?”
Nexus and Nebula ask at the same time. I answer both questions with a nod. Unable to speak with the fire raging in my mouth. This is easily the hottest thing I have ever consumed.
Titan’s nose scrunches as he reaches the center of the hard candy and he quickly caves, spitting the rest into a napkin.
“And the winner is–Omen!” Nexus and the others cheer.
Titan scowls, but I can see the respect shining in his eyes. “I admit this wasn’t very sour, but it does taste like licking a bar of lemon soap on the inside.”
I laugh-cry at his excuse for losing, swallowing the gummy and fanning my mouth. “This–” I gasp, “IS spicy!” I down the glass of milk, starting to sip on the lemon water immediately after. The acid in both helps to dim the rougher edges of the heat but it doesn’t make the feeling go away.
“I looked it up and that gummy is the equivalent of eating over four of the spiciest peppers available on the market.” Callisto looks at me in shock as he finishes reading from his phone screen. I flush, my skin most likely an embarrassing shade of red at this point, and shrug.
“You really do like spicy food, gorgeous. I’d probably cry like a baby licking something that hot!” We all laugh at Nexus’ serious expression. Titan chases him around the suite’s living room with one of the small black candies, teasing him about trying it.
I can’t hide my grin as I watch them interact. It would be so easy to see myself slipping into this life with them. To make our own inside jokes and spend our days living life to the fullest.
“Game time?” Nexus asks excitedly as he leads me over to the small array of couches and chairs across the room.
Butterflies fill my stomach at the feel of his large palm wrapped around mine. Being around their pack I always feel safe and content in a way I have never experienced before. I can’t help but sink into the feeling for just a bit longer, remembering my conversation with my friends from earlier.
Enjoy the here and now, I remind myself, we can worry about tomorrow when we get there.
I flip through my pile of cards quickly, discarding what I don’t need and waiting to pull the third brown card I need to force two of the guys into a duel. Titan cackles as he slams a set of orange cards on the table, sending the rest of us scrambling for the small squishy toys at its center. Nebula and Callisto both manage to grab one and I shuffle behind my chair to avoid becoming their target.
Laughter fills the air alongside Nexus’ shrieks as he narrowly avoids taking one of the toys to the face. He picks up the fallen projectile and turns to his packmates with glee.
Strong arms bind around my waist lifting me into the air. I squawk unattractively at my sudden airborne state but dissolve into giggles when Nebula tries to hide his huge frame behind me.
“Sorry gorgeous,” Nexus says solemnly, his arm winding back as he prepares to throw. I lift my legs, dropping my full weight and forcing Nebula to set me down or let us both topple to the ground. Nexus’ toy smacks Nebula in the chest and the war comes to a close.
“You don’t make a very good shield, wiggle worm.” Nebula’s hands are on his hips as he playfully glares.
My laughter turns to snorts at the horrendous nickname. Tears stream from my eyes as I fight to catch my breath from my spot on the floor. “Wiggle worm?” I giggle, accepting his hand when I can finally stop laughing long enough to do so.
He pulls me to my feet and I bounce against his chest, breathless for an entirely different reason when his hands wrap around my waist to steady me. Standing so close, it’s easy to get lost in his eyes. Dark blue swirled with spots of lighter blue, like rays of light reaching toward the ocean floor.
“It seemed fitting at the time,” he whispers, staring down at me. The attraction between us is palpable in the millimeters of space separating us. I’m drawn into his orbit, his gravity drawing me closer with each breath leaving my lungs.
My cheeks heat and I force my gaze away when a small burst of my perfume manages to leak around my scent-blocking clothes. An entirely too sexual growl rattles from Nebula’s chest and he inhales long and slow, tasting my desire for him in the air.
Clearing my throat, I step away from the alluring alpha before I do something ridiculous like lick him to see if he tastes as good as he smells.
“So, monopoly?” Nexus asks, waggling his eyebrows.
