Page 38 of Sigma
My phone pings.
Bailey: I just got back. Wonky is the whole vibe apparently because get this! Jason Creed identified me as his mate. No, I’m not celebrating. I’m mad as hell. He’s a jerk. I told him I reject him. Andhe thinks it’s all a big joke. I know the Youngs are trying to help you with your problem. I’m so sorry btw. If I wasn’t across the ocean in the biggest drama of my life I would have been here for you. But we’re having our dramas concurrently so there’s not much I can do for you and definitely nothing you can do for me. I would love nothing more than to come out there and offer you moral support if nothing else (not like you want me cooking meals) but the big jerk prob won’t let me anywhere near you because of your mate so if there’s anything I can do, please let me know and I’ll certainly try.
Jason and Bailey? Wow. I’m reeling. I read it a second time, floored. Jason and Bailey. Is this why the guys were acting mysterious yesterday? She followed him to Rome and sometime since then, he identified her as his?
And she’s pissed? She’s not doing cartwheels and throwing a party? He has to have done something pretty shitty for her to be anything but elated about this. I mean, I’ve watched her moon after him for years. For more than half our lives. Jason is hot. And Jason is a good guy. A sweetheart, really. Or he was until he recently started being a dick to her to try to scare her off, I guess. And I hated watching her unrequited crush on him, which meant she was constantly crushed because Jase was sowing his oats every chance he got.
He even tried eye-fucking me one night at Roxy’s a few years ago after one of those glorious sweaty alpha wrestling matches on the patio. The air was full of alpha pheromones, and it was a lunar event, so a lot of unattached folks were pairing up for a romp.
He made eye contact with me and shot me one of his signature panty-removing smiles. I looked away and when I looked back, he was still staring, still smiling, knowing I got his message, his unspoken invitation.
Bailey wasn’t there to see it, thankfully, and it was time for me to leave. You just don’t do that to your best friend, whether she’s watching or not and no matter how much you’ve had to drink and what the moon is telling you. Despite my willpower, one of those Jason Creed smiles was hot enough I had to jump in the river for a cold swim before I went home alone.
Me: I want to hug you and congratulate you. This is everything you’ve wanted. But … if he’s been shitty to you, I say make him grovel!
Bailey: I don’t even want a grovel. It’s hard to explain.
Me: Shit. I’m sorry Bailey. Very sorry.
Bailey: Sorry for what you’re going through, too. I can’t imagine…
Me: Maybe you can help me. Can you see what you can find out about a shifter pack in Utah near the Wyoming and Colorado borders? And specifically Jared Stone? And if there’s something I can help you with, let me know.
Bailey: I don’t think I can get to the library until tomorrow. But as soon as I do, I’ll see what I can find out. Thanks for the offer but I’ve got a little bit of help here. For the moment, at least. Shit. Gotta go.
Me: Good luck.
Bailey: Good luck to you, too. TTYL
***
I bring Jared a sports drink. He’s looking at me warily, reaching for the leather mask.
I set the drink down close and can feel the tension rolling off him. I pretend I don’t notice.
“You want the door left open?”
“I want you to leave. Go home so I can unlock the rest of this shit and get gone.”
“Not happening.”
“Fine. Just go home for an hour. Then I can take a shower.”
He’s full of shit.
“You want to take a shower, take one.” I move the keys to hang them on a nail within his reach and add, “But I’m not leaving.”
“Woman…” he grumbles and it’s almost a growl, but not quite. Probably because the last time he growled, he saturated my underwear. He doesn’t want the temptation.
An idea hits. I do my best to give him one of those Jason Creed smiles.
He doesn’t even flinch.
“Riley brought a big thing of water and hooked it up. You and I could take a shower together,” I suggest.
He’s frozen still, trying not to react. But his heartrate just shot up.
“Maybe your wolf doesn’t like water. Maybe he won’t show up and we could… you know… help one another get washed up.”
