Did.
Fuck, Jude, I’m so sorry.
“Thanks for bringing me my food.”
Their eyes met, and suddenly Jude’s scent began to burn, too. Jude was trying to hold back his tears as he stood up, shoving his hands in his pockets to keep himself from peeling at the skin around his nails. Kai knew this. He knew all about Jude, and yet he didn’t even consider trying. He was too tired to try anymore.
Jude’s heavy feet walked to the door before pausing. His voice was rough and raw. “I know how much you wanted a mate, Kai. You were the one who was pushing us to find her, and I know Zayden messed up, and I know Juliana did a lot of damage, but we did find her. She’s here in this house, and she’s perfect. Sonnet is perfect, and if you…” He choked back on a sob. “If you leave or push her away, I think you’re going to hate yourself more than you already do. And I’m going to, too.”
The slam of the door to the gym was the only sound that registered in Kai’s mind. He fell back onto his yoga mat and stayed there, staring at the ceiling, unable to turn off the thoughts that had made him run away from his problems in the first place.
Chapter 16
“WE’RE GOING ON VACATION!” Jude, arms raised, raced down the staircase with his eyes on the best prize in the whole freaking world. His girl. “We’re going on vacation!” He shouted again, lifting Sonnet into his arms and twirling her around.
Zayden didnotapprove, but Sonnet’s giggles countered his glares.
“Put her down and help with the bags.”
“What does helping with the bags have to do with putting down our omega?”
“Jude.”
Jude huffed. “Fine. But I call dibs on sitting with her in the car!Andon the plane. And—”
Zayden threw one of the travel pillows directly into Jude’s face before shoving some luggage close to him. Message clearand received. Even though Jude was still adamant about getting to sit next to his girl and they could all fight him to the death for it, he would, at the very least, be helpful before being a clingy boyfriend.
Hmm. Does Sonnet know we’re boyfriend and girlfriend? Or is she stuck on this just being a trial run?
That was an easy fix. He’d make a romantic confession of love at the beach and ask her to be his girlfriend flat out! Maybe he could even get the other guys in on it, too.
This really was going to be the best trip ever.
“He looks like the sun is shining out of his ass,” Kai grumbled and dramatically threw his luggage into the car. He said nothing else and stole shotgun. That meant Jude’s spot next to Sonnet was secured.
“At least he got into the car,” Felix joked.
All three of them helplessly watched as Kai put in his Bluetooth headphones and a face mask over his eyes, completely unbothered by his petty attitude, and disappeared into himself.
Zayden briefly pinched the bridge of his nose, dark circles under his eyes. “I thought I was going to wring his neck these last three days to convince him he was coming. I—shit, Felix. How many books did you pack into your suitcase?”
“Just the right amount needed.”
“No way our jet is going to be able to take off with how heavy your bags are.”
“Maybe you just need to up your workout routine,” Felix gruffed, taking his bag from Zayden and throwing it into the trunk.
Jude never understood the love of reading. Comics, manga, webtoons? Now that was where the real action was at. Butbooks? No.
“You have a private jet?” Sonnet asked.
She looked adorable, wearing heart-shaped pink sunglasses and carrying one of her prized stuffed animals to pack into the car. It was a pale green stuffed bunny she told Jude she named Matcha, the first gift Summer ever gave her. She said she couldn’t sleep somewhere new without it, which only made Jude fall for her all the more. He even felt comfortable enough to reveal to her that he was afraid of the dark and brought a nightlight with himeverywhere.He’d bring his fairy lights if he could, too, but he didn’t want to be a big baby.
Jude couldn’t help it. He stood behind her, wrapping his hands around Sonnet’s waist and watching as her ears blushed pink. She stiffened awkwardly and released a little giggle.
This was his plan. Overwhelm her with love so that she knew how important she was.
Not overwhelm in a bad way, though.
