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“It’s all yours whenever you want it. I’ll stock up on more bath bombs and bubble bath, too.”
“Indulgent.” My purr came out as I relaxed against him. We soaked and cuddled until the water lost its warmth, and afterward Sidney toweled us both off and watched me blow-dry my hair. He kept looking at me like he found the process endearing, and while it made me a tiny bit self-conscious to be observed so closely, it was also sweet.
Stray strands whipped out of place, and I tucked them back over and over until my curls were dry and fluffy. “Remind me to grab my diffuser attachment next time so I don’t look like a pom-pom,” I said, setting down the blow dryer.
“You look cute. Voluminous, like when a cat gets startled.”
I rolled my eyes. “You shush. It’ll calm down by morning.”
Sidney checked on the pups before climbing into bed and spooning me. “Good night, kitten.”
“Sweet dreams.”
I didn’t fall asleep immediately, staring at the wall in front of me. It would be so easy to settle into forever with him if this was how it was going to be. I didn’t personally know any ideal mates, but I knew a fair few people in my mom’s generation who had bonded, though none of my friends had yet.
Was it supposed to be this easy?
We hadn’t experienced much for interpersonal conflict yet, but maybe that would come in time. It had only been a few days, after all. Soon I would have to meet his family, and he would have to properly meet Mom, Meg, and Luna. There was nothing any of them could do at this point if someone decided they were against the match, but hopefully that wouldn’t be an issue.
I snuggled closer and his arm tightened around me automatically. I was ridiculously comfortable and I could only hope we stayed this way.
I held fast under the scrutinizing gaze of Allie’s best friends. I would be meeting her mother later this evening, but she hadn’t wanted me to be overwhelmed with all three women descending on me at once.
“How old are you?” Luna asked.
The petite blonde omega sat rigid, arms crossed over her chest, eyes narrowed in my direction. The dark-haired alpha was more relaxed, but stayed quiet, simply observing me while Luna handled the questioning. I didn’t mind being grilled. I’d appeared out of nowhere to them and bonded their best friend, so it was natural they’d have some feelings about it.
“Twenty-eight,” I responded.
“Tell us about your job,” Luna demanded.
“I have a nursing degree with a specialty in omega care. I work full-time at the clinic, primarily days unless they’re short-staffed.”
“How long did you work as a heat helper?”
“About six years on my own, and a few years extra as a support.”
I told them about my siblings, Nicky and Luca; my parents; and the extensive Marino clan. Luna grilled me about my past and previous relationships—few that there were—while we devoured a charcuterie board and cocktails.
It wasn’t all focused on me, though. Once they were satisfied I was a decent human, they started to let me in. I knew it wasn’t so simple to gain their trust, but I had no nefarious intentions, and they would accept that in time as long as I took care of Allie.
In return for my candor, I learned that Meg and Allie had become best friends during college, and she and Luna had become best friends when they’d started at the same firm—Luna in finance, Allie in architecture—as interns. Meg was a perpetual student pursuing her PhD, and Luna was a finance whiz who also taught yoga.
Whenever Allie seemed stressed, I reached over and took her hand, stroking my thumb on the back of her hand until she relaxed again.
“So, what’s the plan going forward?” Luna asked.
“Basically, we’re treating this like dating with a lot more sleepovers, at least until the initial bond calms down.”
“What about Allie’s apartment?”
“What about it?”
“I’m keeping it,” Allie interjected. “I only signed the lease on it a few weeks ago, so I’ll keep it until that’s over, and then we can figure out if we’re ready to live together full-time.”
That seemed like a relief to Luna, if the drop of her shoulders was any indication. Meg nodded thoughtfully, apparently pleased by that as well. I could easily accept that Allie came as a package deal with her friends, and I was glad that she had people who loved her so much. It made me realize how much I had neglected all of the relationships in my life, save very few. I was friends with people at work, but I hadn’t strived to maintain anything in my years as a heat helper, where tending to an omega and recovering afterward meant that I was off the map for two weeks at a time. I should let Carla know what happened with Allie…
The best I had maintained was my family, and while that wasn’t out of obligation, I knew that that relationship had thrived because of how we were connected and not because of the effort I put in.
