That wiped the smile from my lips. If I were in their shoes, I’d be losing it, too.
“Is she okay?” Corvin asked when I stopped in front of them.
“Fine, but didn’t say a word to me. Avoided it, actually.”
“Why didn’t you scoop her up and bring her with you?” Apollo grumbled, even though we all knew that would never work on an omega like ours.
“Because if I did that, it may scare her and we are trying not to do that,” I reminded him.
He sighed and Corvin spoke up, voice angry, but words firm. “You did the right thing.”
“It wasn’t easy. We might see her tomorrow, though,” I said as we loaded up into the truck.
“Really?” Apollo asked hopefully.
“Her friends are bringing us lunch. They volunteered her to bring some food, too. So, I’m hopeful but not going to count on it,” I said as I settled into my seat.
“Why are they bringing us food?” Corvin asked as he backed up the truck and headed back to our little station.
“A welcome to the town a few years too late. But how can we turn down a free steak?” I countered.
“Protein, I’ll always take that,” Apollo muttered as he flexed like the dork he was.
Corvin didn’t speak again as he drove us back, and the silence unsettled me. I could only hope that if she didn’t come, he wouldn’t sink any deeper into the despair already pulling him under.
Icould have throat-punched Taryn for getting involved and volunteering me to make food for the firehouse.
The other part of me was grateful.
I’d been working up the courage to message, and I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. It felt too monumental, like I was finally giving in and moving past my trauma, and that scared me too much.
Could it really be that easy? That I simply give in to these guys and everything would be fine?
No. It couldn’t be. I’d learned that the hard way.
Shaking the thoughts off, I sprinkled paprika over the top of the deviled eggs, then sealed the container. I’d finished the potato salad earlier this morning. I may have even gone the extra mile and made my best extra-fudgy brownies.
My hands shook as I applied my makeup and ran some curl cream through my still-wet hair from my shower. I dressed for myself more than them, putting on a cute outfit that made me feel confident before I faced the pack I had avoided.
With no more excuses, and knowing I needed to swing by to join Holt, I finally headed out.
When I reached the shop downtown, I instinctively went to grab my phone, only to find it missing. Shit. I’d left it in my apartment…because, of fucking course I had.
It was going to be one of those days.
Oh, well. I’d just have to run home and get it after this.
I forced myself to climb out of my car, gathering my containers as I did. Holt was parked in front of the shop already, cowboy hat on and arms crossed as he leaned against his truck.
The alpha raised an eyebrow at me as I approached. “Are you ready to deliver this?”
“No,” I grumbled. “Of course, not.”
“Where is that brave omega we all know?” he teased.
I shot him a look as he took my dishes and loaded them into the car. We drove across town in silence, but it was a short trip.
The large, brick building loomed ahead of us and I wanted to throw up. I was so nervous.
