Page 79 of Heat Island
“You’re late,” Amelia says, not looking up from where a technician is filing her nails into perfect ovals.
“By three minutes,” I reply cheerfully, setting my bag down. “The resort is pretty big. It took longer than I thought to walk over here.”
Isabelle’s eyes narrow as she takes in my relaxed demeanor. “You seem different today.”
I’m sure I do.
I’ve stopped taking my suppressants, for one thing. Two missed doses as of today, and I already feel a difference. It’s crazy to realize how much the damn things affected my mood.
Waking up surrounded by a pack this morning, able to get the slightest hint of their combined scents, made me want to snuggle deeper in those covers and never leave.
The chemical dulling might have made it easier to ignore my omega, but that didn’t make her go away. Now I realize the malaise and melancholy I’ve been experiencing for months directly result from trying so hard to hide from my true self.
I want this. I want them. And not just for the rest of the week.
But I have no idea if they feel the same way.
Fortunately, that’s a worry for another day. Today, I’m going to face Egret’s bitchy sisters with a smile on my face and a glass of champagne in my hand because I have a villa of gorgeous men to go back to.
I slide into the empty seat next to Josephine. Her roommate, Holly, is on the other side, and I’m happier than I expected to see another friendly face. A beta and one of Josie’s oldest friends, Holly has always struck me as a levelheaded counterpoint to my sister’s adorable chaos.
Josie squeezes my hand as I sit down next to her. “I was worried you might skip. You’ve been so busy with wedding stuff.”
“And wouldn’t that be tragic,” Isabelle mutters, loud enough for everyone to hear.
“It totally would, wouldn’t it,” Holly drawls, rolling hereyes when Isabelle glares back down at her nails to inspect the shape. She turns to me with a knowing smile. “Sorry, I’m just getting here. Final exams wait for no wedding, not even my best friend’s.”
“Holly just finished her first year of med school,” Josie explains. “This is the only time I’ve seen her without a textbook covering her face in months.”
“Well, my dad loves to remind me that my college tuition could have bought them a whole apartment building in Fujian if he thinks I’m slacking off on the school stuff too much,” Holly laughs, the obvious affection in her voice colored by some chagrin. “They try really hard not to be tiger parents, but I know how much they’ve always wanted me to become a doctor.”
Holly’s parents packed up and moved across the world specifically for her educational opportunities. It’s hard to imagine a more different upbringing than Josie’s and mine.
“Our mom was always more interested in whether I’d met someone than how class was going,” I tell her. “A tiger mom might be better than an omega one who was really hoping that you would graduate with a husband instead of a degree.”
“You say that until you’re twenty-three years old and your mom still usesFind My Deviceto make sure you’re at study sessions,” Holly counters, shaking her head. “I really just need to stop sharing my location.”
“Or get a second phone and leave your main one at home when you go out to the clubs,” Josie suggests.
Holly considers that for a moment. “That…is a really good idea. How did I not think of that already?”
Josie laughs. “Book smarts can only take you so far.”
“That’s fair,” Holly agrees with a smile.
I’d forgotten how much I liked Holly. And I’m also justglad that the entire bridal party isn’t made up exclusively of Egret’s sisters.
Holly leans forward, brushing the long fall jet-black hair over her shoulder as she lowers her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “So, Josie tells me you’ve got not one, not two, butfourgorgeous men at your beck and call.” She fans herself dramatically. “And here I thought I was doing well when that cute barista at the coffee shop gave me a free muffin yesterday.”
I laugh, surprising myself with how easily it comes. “It’s still new.”
“God, can we not?” Amelia interjects, her voice dripping with disdain. “Some of us are trying to relax, not listen to silly girl-talk about men.”
“This entire conversation is boring me to tears,” Isabelle adds, examining her nails. “Speaking of relaxing, aren’t we supposed to be having champagne?”
One of the spa attendants hurries off to comply.
Holly raises an eyebrow at me, murmuring as she settles back in her chair. “Charming, aren’t they?”
