Candice is nowhere to be seen, but Jacks wraps his arms around Xan.
“I love you, but you suck at talking to people,” He croons in Xan’s ear, but loud enough for all of us. “Still, I appreciate it…I know you’ve been super frustrated all day…remember?” He rubs his face along the inside of Xan’s neck, over their bonding bite.
“And I talked to Candice. She is…upset,” he turns a flat look at both Leo and I, “that the three of you would think she was shallow enough not to care about me just because I have…issues.”
“Now wait just a minute!” Leo starts before Jacks’ stare turns hard. “We just…we want her here, but you’re family. We were just trying to make sure she had all the facts…fuck, I can’t get my fucking words right.” Jacks reaches up and slaps him lightly on the cheek.
“Yeah, big man, you suck at this.” He turns towards the kitchen leaving us all watching him from the other side of the bar.
“Luckily for you, I ammuchbetter at talking, and I know from how messed up Xan has been all day, that you guys are just really terrible at saying what you mean. So, while you spent your Saturday cleaning…” He pauses long enough to eyeball each one of us, and then pinches his nose, “Iwas convincing our omega not to leave all your asses behind, and just keep me. You’re welcome…now go take a shower, you stink. I’ll finish dinner and wake up my Little Lion.” As he talks, he starts shiftingthe takeout boxes around, taking down plates, and pulling out silverware. He gives one more parting glare before heading into the pantry to fill the rice maker pot, effectively dismissing the lot of us.
I turn to plod up the stairs, thankful that Xan talked us into doing a tankless water heater when we replaced the old one, but also dreading the lack of pressure from three of us showering at once. Ahh well…maybe we can add in a second one if Candice decides not to leave, and put in a bigger tub in the downstairs bathroom.
If we didn’t fuck this up too much.
Girls like bubble baths right?
Chapter 32
Iwake up with Jacks’ hand stroking my hair.
“Hey, Little Lion, you ready for some dinner?” he says, kissing me on the forehead.
Ugh, the pre-heat exhaustion is hitting harder than normal, and I wonder if it’s because I’m around so many alphas–as opposed to my usual solitary existence. Whatever it is, it’s kicking my ass, hard.
I lean into Jacks’ warm hand, just enjoying how good it feels to touch him, before stretching my back and arms, trying to get my back to pop. I’ve been so used to sitting at a desk for most of the day and having scheduled times to make myself get up and move around that it’s harder to acclimate to not being on a schedule. Add in the extra hours I’m sleeping this week, and I feel stiff and uncomfortable in my own skin.
“So, do you prefer steamed or fried rice?” Normally conversations with Jacks flow pretty easily from one topic to another, so this random question stops me short and I actually have to think about it.
“Um…probably steamed, it kind of depends on how it’s cooked, I guess. I’ve had some really good fried rice, but it can be kind of heavy and greasy at times.”
“Fair enough.” He says, taking my hands and pulling me up from the bed. “I made steamed, but I ordered 2 cartons of fried, and I know that’s the go to for Gabe and Xan, but there should still be plenty…or they can just not have any if you want it all.” He smiles at me, tugging me against his chest. He has been really clingy since we woke up this morning, and I don’t hate it.
We had a long talk while the guys were all gone. He said Xan has been miserable since last night, and he finally left their bedroom when he wouldn’t stop tossing and turning. But if he had known how upset I was, he would have been here sooner. I don’t give a shit what the others say about him being normal, at least he can talk to me about feelings, and make sure I understand instead of just accusing me of things.
He told me they weren’t trying to accuse me of anything, and that they pretty much all have the emotional intelligence of a rock. He asked that I give them another chance–at least to explain themselves better. But also, that he is mine, for as long as I’ll have him, and they can all fuck off if they don’t apologize properly.
The irony of his threatening to leave them–because of how they think I might react to him–is not lost on me. In truth, I don’t want to go anywhere, I like being with these alphas. Not just for sex, though that is so much more than I ever could have imagined, but just being around them.
When we're together, I don’t feel as anxious–and while my depression can rear its ugly head at any time, I’m hoping it will also improve with soothing interaction. I love Iggy, but she is not great for holding a conversation. And I miss Sunny, even his horrible cat breath yawns.
If I start down this path there will be a lot of tears, so it's better to stop now. I don’t want to be weepy when I have to deal with the rest of the pack, I need to have my head on straight and my mind open. I want Jacks, and if he happens to come with some emotionally constipated packmates, well, we need to work on that.
Still in my pajamas, I go downstairs. Jacks is setting out food, some of it on serving platters, other items still in the takeout foam. I haven’t had Chinese in a few years; it’s always hard to order for just one person.
After he’s done, he leads me over to the head of the table–Gabe’s usual spot–and insists I sit there, sitting himself beside me. I hate being in the spotlight, and it feels even more awkward a few minutes later when Gabe comes downstairs in his pajama pants and tank top. He stares at me for a minute before moving one of the other chairs to the opposite end of thetable. But of course, Jacks put all the food at our end, just out of reach of Gabe’s new spot.
I don’t want to be a part of whatever power play is going on here, so I try to leave, but Jacks just puts his hand on my shoulder, gently, but firmly keeping me in my chair, and glaring at Gabe. The two alphas are still locked in a battle of wills when Xan and then Leo come downstairs and join us at the table--Leo on my left side, and Xan beside Jacks.
No one reaches for food, no one moves, no one says anything, other than Gabe’s grumbling. He never even looks at me, just staring intently at Jacks. After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence Jacks breaks eye contact, fills a plate for me, and sits it in front of me, prompting Xan and Leo to fill their own plates.
Leo looks longingly at all of the crab rangoons that Jacks has piled on my plate…I don’t want the damned things…whoever thought cream cheese and crab was a great taste sensation clearly had defective taste buds, but Jacks loads me down and I have to wonder if this is supposed to be a punishment for me or the alphas.
I eat a few bites of the steamed rice and choke down a piece of sweet and sour chicken, before Gabe gets up, glaring at Jacks, and moves to Leo’s other side. Leo is stealing glances at my plate as he finishes off a giant pile of steamed rice, two servings of General Tso’s Chicken, and three spring rolls. He continues staring at my plate while reaching for the container with the orange chicken. I sigh, not really feeling up to eating with all this tension, and push my plate towards him.
“I don’t really like those, I mean, I can eat ‘em, but you are more than welcome to them if you like.”
He reaches over, taking all six off my plate. I am not sure how Jacks thought I could eat that many anyway. Leo offers one to Xan, who shakes his head, and then puts two on Gabe’s plate before crunching down on the rest himself.
