Page 80 of Knot Baked Out For This
"Candles."
"For you. To help with... things."
Things. Jesus Christ, I run a business. I negotiate with suppliers. Why can't I form sentences?
"You brought me candles." Her voice is carefully neutral.
"Scent-calming ones. For anxiety. Not that you're anxious. Or maybe you are, which is fine. Normal. Understandable given... everything."
Stop talking. Stop talking right now.
"From Araminta Vale's," I add, because apparently I hate myself.
Her expression softens. "You drove two towns over to buy me anxiety candles?"
"The internet said they help."
"You researched omega wellness?"
"Extensively."
She laughs, soft and surprised. "Of course you did. Research and spreadsheets, right?"
"Spreadsheets are very versatile."
"I'm sure they are." She steps back. "Want to come in? I just pulled cinnamon rolls out of the oven."
The kitchen is warm, smells like heaven and hard work. She pours me coffee without asking—black, no sugar, exactly how I take it.
"You know how I take my coffee?"
"I pay attention," she says simply, then blushes. "I mean, you all come in enough. I notice things."
"What else do you notice?"
She looks at me, really looks, and I feel exposed in ways that have nothing to do with clothes.
"You count steps when you're nervous. Always in sets of four. You fix broken things without being asked because you can't stand disorder. You watch from the edges but see everything. You pretend to be cold but you're the first to help when someone needs it."
She sees me. Actually sees me.
"The video," I say, deflecting from the warmth in my chest.
"Oh god, you saw it?"
"Everyone's seen it. You're famous."
"I'm mortified."
"You looked happy."
She pauses in her rolling. "I was. Am. It's complicated."
"Three Alphas would complicate anyone's life."
"It's not just that." She turns to face me fully. "You all want something from me, but I don't know what. A mate? A girlfriend? A shared omega? I don't even know if you're a pack or just friends who happen to?—"
"Want you," I finish. "We want you. However you'll have us."
