Page 53 of Knotty, Nice, & Holiday Lights
“Why?”
Why, indeed?
Do I tell him that the B&B was never what I wanted? That I’ve only kept it running this long for the sake of my parents’ memory? That I’m a total weirdo who wanted a life of office work and boardroom meetings?
“Honestly, this place was my parents’ dream, not mine.”
Matthew’s expression grows soft, and Asher swoops into the kitchen, heads for the fridge.
“Will, mate, are you really doing right by your parents or yourself by keeping this place open but not using it for its intended purpose?”
I guess he overheard what we were talking about. And as much as it pains me to hear, and I want very badly to argue with him, Asher may be right.
Matthew’s brow pinches when he looks at me. “You should think about it over Christmas and the New Year. Think about whatyourdream is, and how you can make that a reality.” He leans his palms on the counter. “You’re young. There’s still plenty of time. Besides, we’re all here for you now.”
They really are.
“Are you sure this is safe?”
I can’t stop my laughter at Matthew’s utterly pale face while Izzy pats his arm with a placating smile. “You don’t have to skate, you know.”
“What fun would it be to just watch?”
Asher pops one of his brows. “Watching can be just as entertaining.”
And he’s definitely not talking about ice skating on the frozen lake.
Then, he adds, “But if you don’t know how to skate, just say so.”
Izzy rolls her lips between her teeth with big eyes, pretends to whistle, and scratches her temple as Matthew glares at Asher. “I know how to skate,” he says with gritted teeth. “I played RightWinger at university in New York.” Matthew’s jaw juts out. “I’ve just… never skated on a frozen lake.”
“If it makes you feel any better, you see those people with the reflective vests?” I gesture around at the four people spread out on and off the ice with flashlights. “They’re the safety inspectors. We always have people on duty when the lake is open to skate.”
This seems to appease Matthew a bit, who looks back over the ice with less scrutiny.
We stay at the lake for a couple of hours, then return our rented skates, and slip into Cuppa on the way home to warm up with coffee and tea at Izzy’s favorite table at the front windows.
I sip my plain cappuccino, while Izzy drinks her mocha, Matthew grips his fancy Americano, and Asher, as usual, nurses Earl Grey with a splash of milk, something he only does when the weather is really cold.
Izzy clears her throat, and all three of us Alphas’ gazes snap to her immediately. She looks a bit shy.
“I was thinking that after the New Year, I should go to L.A. and pack my stuff. Move here officially.”
The joy that bursts through my body leaves me grinning like an idiot across from her. “That’s a wonderful idea.”
She smiles at me. “I don’t have a lot of stuff, so I can probably just rent a little van. And we’ll have to figure out our living arrangements. We can work out the details soon enough.”
The living arrangements. Obviously, the four of us would live together, but she’s not assuming it would be at the B&B. And I guess I can’t blame her. As we’re all living now, it’s a together-but-separate feeling, and I definitely want to rectify that.
My gaze whips to Matthew, and he blinks at me over his coffee. “Okay,” he says on a sigh, like I’m putting him out or something. “I signed a lease with Lilly, though. It’s up at the end of January, but dammit if I love that old lady.” He grumbles somethingunder his breath that I don’t understand, then nods at me. “I’ll work it out with her and move in with you guys.”
Asher is smiling almost as big as Izzy and me.
Our pack is finally coming together. Maybe even literally, soon enough.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Will’s arm tightens around me while I lean into his body on the couch.
