Page 23 of Traded

Benji doesn’t leave. “Rosie?”

Liam grows tenser, and I feel myself shrinking again. “I’m fine, Benj. Thank you.”

I can’t look at him. I keep my face buried in Liam’s chest instead, wishing that everything about the last fifteen minutes—about my whole day—would vanish.

Including Lauren Delacorte.

“We need to talk about this,” I mumble eventually.

Liam inhales. “I know. Not here, though.”

Not with everyone watching me fall to pieces. Jonas shifts again, his bulk hiding me from the room, and I lean back gratefully. Swallowing a few times to try to rid my mouth of that floral scent, I peek up at Liam. “Where’s Carter? Is his shoulder okay?”

His expression is tight enough that I know he’s really not happy with me.

My teeth find the inside of my cheek as the smallest hint of self-awareness filters in.

I snatched a drink off my new boss because I thought my pack was flirting with her.

Way to bring your whole self to work, Johnson.

Oh, mygod.

And his face is still like stone.

On their opening night.

My hands press over my eyes. “Maybe I… overreacted.”

Neither of them speak. But I can feel their exchange over my head, the loaded looks that I’m normally part of.

I’m normally part of whatever solution they need.

But not tonight. Tonight I’m the problem they need to fix.

I want my nest more with every second that passes. My voice is a croak. “Carter.”

I need Carter. I need to go home. I need to bury myself in blankets and them and wait for my humiliation to pass sometime between now and the next fucking ice age.

I peer up at Liam again.

It’s already the next ice age.

Shit. His face is giving me nothing. But his hands are gentle, still holding me. I focus on that instead of trying to meet his eyes, keeping mine low.

He sighs. “Carter’s looking for you.”

I stiffen. “What? But I looked—”

“He’s probably blowing up your phone.” Jonas’s hand slips into the back pocket of my jeans and tugs it free, showing me the illuminated screen.

Twelve missed calls.

Messages. Several, but one sticks out.

In the family room. Where are you? xx

“Shall we go find him?” I almost wish Jonas was as stern as Liam, because the softness there makes my eyes burn. He traces his hand down my back. “Then we’ll get you home, yeah?”