Page 191 of All Packed Up

Nic swallowed, watched the warmth dilate her eyes at the memories of their time in the heat hut.

“And besides,” she whispered, and he found himself swaying toward her to hear her better. “You can make it up to me next time.”

Nic’s heart flipped over itself at the implication of her words. “Next time,” he repeated.

“Don’t sound so surprised,” she teased, leaning up on her toes and pressing her lips against his. “I want to share more with you, more than just a heat. Once this is all over, and I put the Sterling Pack behind me, we can do just that.”

“Are you sure?” he asked, cupping his hands around her face, searching her bluish gray gaze for something other than the utter adoration she projected.

“I have never been more sure of something. You’re a good one, Nic. I’m lucky to have you.”

Lucky, huh?

Nic didn’t consider himself lucky in many circumstances.

He might have lost his gym in this awful twist of drama, but his heart was daring him to accept that he might have gained a whole lot more than he realized.

And maybe, just maybe, he was luckier than he thought.

Chapter 42

GRIFFITH

Griffith was waiting by the kitchen door, his fully packed bag shoved to the side and hidden from view.

“So, Tate’s first. Will you send me the address?” Nic announced, setting his and Wendy’s bags down by the front door. He grabbed his keys off the hook.

“Listen—” Tate tried.

“My gym is already gone,” Nic reminded them. Grif heard the pain in his voice and it made his chest tight. He’d never heard such a sound from Nic. “There’s nothing I can do there, but we can check on The Big Stretch, make sure the cats are okay.”

“Listen, man, checking on the cats won’t take more than like ten minutes. We can split up and meet you at the gym when we’re done,” Tate said. “You should go where you’re needed.”

“And what about me?” Wendy asked, drawing their attention.

They paused, turned on the omega standing in the middle of the living room with her hands on her hips. “You’re not just leaving me here,” she stated, a threat in her tone.

“Of course not, that’s too dangerous,” Tate agreed. He glanced over at Nic before speaking again. “Go with Nic, he needs you right now.”

“I can drive, and you can sleep,” Wendy announced, reaching for the keys, but Nic was already shaking his head. He held them out of her reach, his hand straight above his head.

Grif wondered if Arlo would even be able to reach them, and felt a grin curl his lips.

Wendy pouted up at the beta. “Rude.”

“Absolutely not,” he said. “You just finished your heat, I am not letting you drive across state lines. If anyone needs sleep, it’s you.”

Good point. But Grif had a better idea.

“Listen here, knotwits,” Grif interjected, sliding between the two and nicking the keys from Nic’s hand effortlessly. “I’m the one driving, so you both can zip it and get in the backseat.”

Nic blinked up at him, as if this was news. Whether Nic believed him or not, Griffith had been dead serious when he said he wasn’t letting Nic face this alone.

“That insult doesn’t even make sense,” Wendy retorted, crossing her arms. “We don’t have a knot.”

“I know,” Grif said, spreading his lips in a tease shaped grin. “But from experience, I know you both get a little stupid when they’re involved.”

Wendy and Nic gaped at him before sharing a look. “Do you think the trunk circulates air well?” Wendy asked with a glare.