Page 18 of Ready or Knot

“Is this a decent time?” she asks, biting her lip. “I can call back later.”

I shake my head. “Just trying to sort through some payment information the accountant sent me.”

She grimaces, and I laugh.

“What are you working on? I thought your finals were done,” I ask, closing out of the spreadsheets and pulling up my client schedule instead.

“I’m looking up quilting patterns,” she admits, her cheeks dark with a sudden blush. I raise an eyebrow. “I picked up the hobby about a year ago. I really enjoy it because you can have these super small pieces that can fit in your bag but they end up becoming intricate projects. It’s very satisfying.”

Her face lights up as she offers the explanation, her eyes brightening. It’s the same look she had at the gala when her and Jude were talking about literature. It makes me want to kiss her. Everything makes me want to kiss her.

Next week can’t come fast enough.

“Are you starting a new project then?” I ask.

She nods, turning the computer screen just enough that I can see a picture of a blanket with a wreath of flowers around the edge. “I’m going with Violet tomorrow to get some fabric for it. I was thinking about using all of your favorite colors, actually. I was going to ask the others tonight.”

She pauses, turning the computer back towards her, her eyebrow rising as I hesitate to respond.

“Do you not have a favorite color, Logan? I know some people don’t.”

I shake my head. “Not necessarily,” I say. Though that copper of her hair is quickly becoming one. “I tend to gravitate towards greens and wood tones, though.”

She nods. “Like your office,” she says, typing something before grinning.

“So what’s your favorite color then?” I ask.

“Blue.” Her answer is immediate.

My email chimes, and Faedra glances at me. “Do you need to go?”

I shake my head, opening the email. A moment later, I grin.

“What is it?” she asks.

“Remember that college contract I told you about a couple nights ago?”

She nods and leans forward.

“I just got offered it.”

* * *

FAEDRA

“Alright, Faedra Rose. Put the guys to work and then tell me about these Alphas.”

My mom stands on the threshold of my shared dorm, a bright smile lighting her face, her red hair pulled back into a no-nonsense braid, a large bag of Chinese takeout in one hand. Dad and Aiden stand just behind her, dressed down in cotton shorts and t-shirts. Aiden rolls his eyes at Mom’s comment, but Dad chuckles and steps around her to give me a hug. His lips brush over my hair, and I smile into his chest.

“How about we start with some lunch? We came straight from the airport, and Aiden has been cranky since we left Boston,” Dad offers, guiding me into the shared kitchenette and living room. Violet sits on the couch, scrolling through her phone, but glances up with a grin as we walk inside. “There she is! I was wondering if we’d get to see you or if you’d be out of here already.”

Violet laughs and gives my dad a hug. “I thought I told you two years ago that you’re stuck with me for life, Jay.”

He hums as he starts pulling food from takeout containers. Aiden stands next to me, and I smile, giving him the stereotypical sibling one arm hug. “How was your last semester of med school, then?”

“Fine,” Aiden offers. He stands at least six inches taller than me, but his voice has always been soft. “Settled into the new apartment and ready to start internship in July.”

He brushes by me to get to the food, clearly finished with the conversation. Anybody else, and I’d be halfway convinced they were upset with me. But Aiden has always been slow to words, absorbing the world around him before choosing to interact.

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