“I can’t,” I rasp out and Greer slides me back to a position where he’s holding me.
“I won’t bring it up again for now, but just think about it, okay? Take the weekend with your sister, see how she’s feeling. She’s getting rather close to the guys at the cow farm, so maybe she feels the same way.”
“I’m not a spontaneous person.”
Greer laughs, jostling me on his lap. “Good. I want this to be a decision you’re sure of.”
He holds me again for a long time as the sun goes down. There’s nothing sexual about this moment, and it just makes my heart ache even more. What would a life in Chicago look like after getting to know Lain and Greer? Even more so, what if Birdie wants to stay?
We can only stay here unbonded for six months at a time.
Fuck.
Bonding.
I’d genuinely never considered it. I wasn’t the type of Omega who daydreamed of a pack doting on her, or the connection that a bond could bring, but as Greer holds me with no intention other than to show me affection and calm my nerves, I let myself truly consider it for the first time.
What could a life with Lain and Greer look like? Would I ruin their pack with Callum? Or could it be amazing, and could I really leave my whole life behind like it didn’t exist?
“Don’t stress, okay? I’ve got you.”
The crazy thing? I believe him wholeheartedly.
24
maisie
Birdie and Grahamare picking me up. While I wait, I scroll through Effie and Lain’s profiles. As I suspected, Lain’s kilt was enough to gain him some traction.
Part of me wants to comment back on some of the thirsty comments, but engagement is engagement, even if it pisses me off.
Callum doesn’t leave any more comments on the Heather Beag page, and we’ve actually gotten some followers, most of whom are travel agents, which is great.
There’s a honk outside, and I grab my roller bag and head down the drive. When I get there, however, someone else is loading a bag into the trunk.
My gaze quickly moves from Callum to Birdie in the front seat, who’s grimacing.
What the fuck?I mouth to her, and she smiles, getting out of the car.
“So it appears that we’re being extremely environmentally conscious by all carpooling together. The guys also had a siblings’ trip planned. Graham has gotta see about a cow. It’s justriding together,” Birdie says, and I put on the best fake smile I can as I head to the back of the car.
“I’ll take your bag,” Callum says, and I hand it to him.
Birdie gets back in the front seat and I take a deep breath. Callum also seems to glare at his brother as we both slide into the back. The large Alpha has to shove himself in, nearly hunching in the back, and I have to cover a laugh with my hand.
He grunts as Graham cheerfully puts music on, all the while not seeming to mind the tension in the back seat. Even in doing my best to give him space, he’s still smooshed. Usually I would be surmising about the manspreading epidemic and how it’s further perpetrating the patriarchy. However, in this case, Callum seriously has nowhere to put his legs.
That’s how his knee is touching my knee, and I guess neither of us is going to bring up the fact that we’re touching. We’re just ignoring it. Cool, cool, cool.
“Maybe I should pass. There’s no way I can sit back here for over two fucking hours,” Callum finally says, doing his absolute damnest to move his knee so he isn’t touching me.
“It’s not that long of a drive. Seriously, you can still be in Chicago basically in a two-hour drive. But we can switch,” Birdie says, not giving him any time to argue as she unbuckles and opens her door.
Callum looks at me, but he isn’t given an opportunity to say anything as Birdie opens his door and motions for him to get out.
When my sister takes his place and I’m blessedly not touching the Alphas knee I glare at my sister.
What the fuck, Birdie?I mouth it to her and she gives me a grimacing smile.
