I did as told, letting my eyelids flutter shut and breathing steadily. His presence was nice, but when one hand rested on my thigh and the other brushed the mask onto my face, I couldn’t help breathing him in, indulging silently.
When I dared to peek, his eyes darkened as they met mine. The heat was obvious. He wanted me just as much as I wanted him, but he didn’t give in.
“Your brother would kill me.” It was a whisper, a plea for me to understand.
“He’d kill us both,” I agreed.
Instead of leaning in and closing the minuscule distance between us, he sighed and continued applying the mask. When he was done, he looked over my shoulder into the mirror and did the same to himself.
We both looked like we’d dipped our faces into a swamp. Green clay covered everything but our eyes and mouths.
“I know we can’t post pictures yet,” he said. “But I need to commemorate this.”
He pulled out his phone, pressing his head to mine as we smiled.
Even with the mask, I could see how much I’d changed. My eyes were alive again, not hollow. The dark circles were fading. I’d gained a little weight so I looked healthy.
But more importantly, I looked happy. Settled.
In that moment, I knew I was going to be just fine.
Chapter
Ten
Lana
The guys were off to another early morning practice. I was starting to get used to being in my own company again. It didn’t feel as heavy anymore because I knew, without a doubt, that someone would be home soon. It was temporary.
Stifling a yawn, I made my way to the kitchen, ready to conjure up some caffeine and food to start my day.
After making soup with Lennon, the guys hadn’t given me much time in the kitchen. Conrad was still hellbent on making me rest.
That also meant I’d been eating far more takeout than I wanted to. Time to whip this house into shape.
Not able to handle the quiet, I set my phone on the counter, pulling up one of my favorite morning playlists and getting it started as the beat filled the space. I danced over to the fridge, opening it and then freezing.
I had clearly not been paying enough attention. What fresh food they’d had, we used. Now all that was left were takeout containers piled high in every available space.
I pulled one out, opening it up and gagging at the fuzz growing inside.
Gross. I was definitely not hungry anymore.
My eyes landed on the two rows of drinks at the bottom. They were awful pre-made protein shakes geared toward alphas, and my eyes widened as I read the label. It expired months ago. Thank God the omega ones Conrad got for me were fresh.
The more I dug through the back of the fridge, the worse it got. I was genuinely horrified that I’d eaten anything in this house. Reaching under the sink where they kept the trash bags, I started filling them one by one until everything expired, spoiled, or questionable was out of the fridge.
The only things left were condiments and coffee creamer.
It wasn’t my place to manage their house or baby them, but I liked taking care of people. Cooking for others gave me joy, and giving my brother and his team food that made them feel good, that fueled their games… that was my happy place.
Somebody had to do it before one of them got food poisoning and had to miss a game for eating old takeout. I couldn’t let them fail before they faced off with my asshole exes.
Since the creamer was safe, I made my coffee. I snagged my laptop and a notebook, focusing my attention on a meal plan. I’d start with a week then go from there.
The grocery list was growing bigger, but I also felt more in control than I had in a long time. I had more than enough money to buy it all, so I didn’t hesitate as I made a bulk order, paying extra on the tip for them to deliver it here, since I was still without a car. That was another thing I’d have to fix pretty soon.
I lost myself for hours, making plans and looking into more delta-specific meals. It had been a while since I’d had the chance. Sutton, my old delta, didn’t buy into that ‘nutrition mumbo-jumbo’ as he called it. He thought all hockey players deserved the same treatment, and that wasn’t realistic. There was a reasonthe league required blood work from everyone, and wanted each person to follow specific regimens.
