“Solidarity sisters,” they told her.
She hated fancy food, shoes that pinched her toes together, and the dark atmosphere. When her alphas came home from their appointment, each looking worn down, she felt nervous when they said they all wanted to take her to dinner tonight to someplace nice. She did not pack clothes for a nice place.
She pulled out of her closet the only dress slightly acceptable to wear, and it was one she had sewn together herself. It had eight layers of different fabrics with floral prints in shades of pastel pinks, yellows, blues, and lavenders, with lace sewn in between to add texture. The top was well-fitted with spaghettistraps, and the skirt allowed for some flow. Summer called it her ‘elegant granny gown.’
“Granny me it’ll have to be.” She sighed and pulled on some sandals, fixed her curled hair by adding some mini butterfly claw clips, added many colorful necklaces and rings, and froze in the mirror. “Please,pleaselet this be okay.”
There was a knock at her door, and she jumped. Jude let himself in, wearing a comfortable, cream colored linen outfit; his shirt unbuttoned and sleeves rolled up.
He clutched his chest dramatically when he saw her and pretended to swoon. “Hang on. I need to catch my breath for a minute.”
She laughed. “You think it’s okay to wear to dinner?”
He shamelessly hugged her waist and kissed her cheek. “I think you look beautiful.”
“But” she bit her bottom lip, “do I look good enough for dinner?”
“Good enough?” Jude shook his head. “Sonnet. You look DEVINE!” He shouted, twirling her around, warranting a few laughs, before placing her back on her feet and tilting her chin towards him. “Zayden picked out a restaurant down the coast. It’s nice, but it’s supposed to be relaxing, too. None of us wanted something too serious.”
“Thank goodness.” She finally took a long inhale and relaxed her hand into Jude’s as they left the master bedroom. “Are you all okay? When you came back, you all seemed…” She bit her tongue. She didn’t have a word for how terrible they all looked.
Jude squeezed her hand. “I think we’re going to be okay.”
She smiled. That’s all she could ask for. Whatever was happening between her alphas in her pack, she had hoped that it would resolve itself just like the disconnect between her and her omega. She had trust, faith, and above all, growing fondness and affection for all her men.
Love, even. Lots of it.
“Can’t we bring Goose with us?” She heard Kai holding the wiggling puppy in his arms. Even he was dressed up in clothes similar to Jude, but in darker shades.
“We won’t be gone for very long. He’ll be fine, and he has to learn. Besides,” Zayden scratched Goose under his chin, trying to look nonchalant about the puppy, “I already called. They don’t allow dogs.”
“Is he growing on you?” Sonnet teased.
Zayden pulled his hand away quickly. “No. Absolutely not.”
“Well, he’s growing on me,” Felix admitted, taking Goose from Kai and giving him a few pets before placing him in his overly large carrier with water, a bed, and toys. “Let’s go. I’m ready for a cocktail.”
They all piled into the car, Zayden placing his hand on Sonnet’s thigh as he drove a few miles down the coast into another town, where they parked in front of a beautiful restaurant right on the cliffs of the ocean. It was a coastal modern mix, made of white wood, with its signage in coastal blue and large seashells decorating the trim.
The waitress seated them outside on the patio, where they could overlook all the boats on the water and the sunset. The chairs were made from white wood, with upholstered seats in a vintage, muted blue fabric that matched the napkins, shaped like a swan.
Now this was the type of fancy restaurant Sonnet could dine in every night.
The menu wasn’t overwhelming, either. Felix ordered tropical fruit skewers with lime tajin, caprese skewers, and coconut shrimp bites for the table to share.
He leaned into her, showing her the cocktail menu. “Would you want to try something?”
“Hm, a Bloody Mary sounds good.”
“Really?” He raised his eyebrows. “I’m surprised. I figured you’d go for something fruitier.”
“Well, there’s still a lot you need to learn about me.”
Kai looked over the main course menu and smirked. “I think I know one thing, and that’s that Sonnet is going to order chicken tenders off of the kid’s menu.”
Sonnet huffed. “Just because I don’t like seafood doesn’t mean I’mthatpicky. I’m going to get their Mediterranean stuffed peppers, for your information.”
Kai held up his hands in surrender. Their drinks and appetizers arrived quickly, and after ordering their main course, Jude, who sat on the other side of her, looked her over like a puzzle piece.
