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It wasn’t just about Luke. He was on board. That wasn’t a problem anymore. We had to make sure she knew that—and also undo some long-held beliefs, convince her this was real.
I didn’t need the guys glaring at me to feel that shame again for walking out on her so many years ago. The idea that I had contributed to her sense of rejection made me feel like a piece of shit.
We loved her. All of us wanted to bond with her. It was fast, but we were united in our instincts, and none of us questioned it.
I’d been thinking about her for years even though I didn’t really know her, while Jonah had fallen for her instantly. Luke’s feelings had swung from skeptical to convinced in a way that gave me whiplash, but now he was all in. Toby, ever the analytical one, felt like she was his soulmate based on their intellectual and sexual compatibility. Whatever. She was the omega for us, the woman for us. It was on me to start to show her that.
I remembered Edward talking about the struggles of the parents of his young patients, how they so often needed help but didn’t ask for it. He told us we should always take the initiative and offer aid when we knew someone was in need. After his accident, I experienced it firsthand. The best friends we had were the ones who did things without our having to ask, who made our lives easier while we were coping with his loss.
This wasn’t exactly the same, but Sylvie needed us to step up, and we needed to be present for her to accept us. So here I was, standing outside her building in the rain while I rang her unit.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Sylvie. It’s Will. I brought food. Can I come up?”
Silence.
“The food is getting wet.” So was I, but she didn’t need to worry about me. Although, if pity got me in the door… “I don’t have an umbrella.”
A sigh. “Okay.”
The door buzzed and I pushed it open with relief. First step accomplished, getting in the building. Next, her apartment.
Sylvie was standing in the open doorway when I got up the stairs. She was in her pj’s, sexy without even trying. But I didn’t take much notice after I saw her face.
It was the first time I’d seen her since the fall. Only Luke had managed to get into her hospital room. I felt a growl rumble in my chest at her bruises and the bandage at her temple.
“I’m okay. You didn’t need to come.” She gave me a weak smile to placate me, likely a response to my growling. It was something she did, putting the comfort of others before her own.
“I did, actually. Kat told us about the concussion recovery, how you can’t do much for a while. We’re going to help you.”
“We?” Her eyes darted to the hall as though the rest of the guys might suddenly jump out from behind me.
“One at a time.” I smiled. “You get me today, Jonah tomorrow, Luke, and then Toby.”
She didn’t move from the doorway, so I gently nudged her to the side as I walked in with the groceries and some takeout. I went right to the kitchen and started unpacking the bags. From there, I could hear her sigh and close the front door before she padded in, wearing adorable bunny slippers.
“I heard you can’t even watch TV,” I said, opening the fridge to put away some snacks.
“Ugh, yeah. It hurts to focus on anything for long. I can’t read books or get on my computer either.”
“Well, let me entertain you. I can read to you if you want.”
She let out a little laugh that made my heart soar. I wanted to make her happy, always. It felt like my mission in life.
“I might take you up on that.”
“Good. Are you hungry?”
“You don’t have to—”
“I’m making you a plate of food. Go sit down, make yourself comfortable.”
I ignored her and went through her cabinets, looking for dishes. She continued to stand there, silently watching, probably with a frown on her face. Eventually, she turned and went to the living room.
It wasn’t easy to accept help. I totally got that. But she needed it, and so far it seemed like she was going to allow me to do things for her. Begrudgingly. I’d take it.
In between assembling samosas and spring rolls with dips on a platter, I stirred a pot of hot milk with gourmet chocolate. Something needed to be homemade. When it was all mixed, I poured the hot cocoa into a mug and set it on a tray with the food, then carried it out.
