THIRTY
Sabs
After applying a deep red lipstick, I smack my lips together, admiring my liner. I’m ready to start a video call to the girls ahead of my date. Though I’m wearing my pink bathrobe, I spent over an hour styling my hair and fine-tuning my makeup, going for a soft, vintage glam with smoky silver eyes and loose, voluminous curls.
“Woah.” Delilah lets out a low whistle as soon as she logs in. Her oversized hoodie is practically drowning her—one I suspect belongs to Nash—as she cradles an iced matcha latte, probably courtesy of Tae. “Where areyougoing?”
Faye signs in next. I can only see half her face as she fumbles with her phone, giving me a great view of a leafy canopy and the greenhouse panes above. Finally, she comes into frame fully, mud dusted along her cheek.
“Sorry, I was just gathering… Hang on! Ren, help get these vines off me!” She returns a second later, slightly breathless with mussed hair. “Sorry, I’m back.”
“You’re at the greenhouse now?” Kady’s square pops up. From what I can see, she’s at the Valen Pack’s apartment, and I can hear Ezra’s voice in the background.
“You’re the last person who can give anyone a lecture about doing extra work on a Saturday night,” I point out.
Kady pouts. “Well, I’m not in the library now. Am I?”
“I won’t be late,” Faye says dismissively. “Ren and I are just gathering some yarrow. Ezra said we could help ourselves. My gram needs some for her tinctures.”
“Tell Faye she can take as much as she likes,” Ezra calls out, his face appearing behind Kady before she swats him away. “So?” She peers at us. “What’s the emergency?”
“I can’t decide on an outfit.” I pan the camera around my nest, where I’ve laid out two of my favorites. “I needed opinions. You know I love getting ready together.”
“Ohhh!” Delilah shifts really close to the screen so she can check out the options.
One is a green sequin dress, and the other is a classic, skimpy black dress. Both are unapologetically fabulous and figure-hugging.
“Are your guys taking you somewhere nice?” Faye asks, batting a branch out of her face as she weaves through the indoor jungle. “Those don’t look like Netflix and chill outfits to me.”
“Orin’s taking me out.” My heart does a little jump at saying his name. “It was kinda unexpected, but he said he got invited to the opening of an exclusive, new cocktail bar in Forestville. It’s the first night off he’s had in…” I roll in my lips, searching my memory. He’s pretty much been working nonstop since I moved in. “Well, forever.”
Nervous excitement curls in my stomach. After my outdoor date with Luca, Orin is the only alpha I’ve yet to spend any real quality time alone with, unless you count our new nightly rituals of eating junk food while watching an episode ofDesperate Housewives. Last night, before he turned in, he stunned me when he announced that he was taking me out on a real date.
“The Velvet Room?” Kady’s eyes sparkle. There’s little that happens around here that she doesn’t know about. “It’s super classy. Not exactly Club Knotty vibes.”
“As long as there’s music and a dance floor, I’m sold.” I turn my camera back to the dresses. “So? Thoughts?”
“The black one,” Kady answers.
“I like the green,” Delilah replies.
Faye’s face is still scrunched in concentration. “It’s too hard to pick. I like them both.”
A laugh bursts from me when Larry’s squashed orange face suddenly fills Kady’s screen, giving us a close-up of his pink nose as he sniffs.
“You’re blocking my view, Larry!” Kady wrangles her cat into a better spot on her lap. Larry peers at us, producing what sounds like a judgmental harrumph.
“Larry doesn’t seem to be a fan of the black.” I laugh. “I was actually thinking the green one. I love the way the sequins catch the light.”
Larry meows in what I imagine is agreement, sealing the deal.
“You’ll look fabulous in whatever you wear,” Faye proclaims. “You’ll blow Orin away.”
“I hope he knows what he’s getting himself into, taking you to a bar.” Delilah puts her hand to her mouth, giggling. “Stay away from the tequila this time, okay?”
I shudder at the memory. “Never again.”
Delilah tilts her head to the side. “How are you feeling about tonight?”
