Page 51 of Knot Her Beta

“Ha! I was right.” Paper rustles on her end of the line, followed by the scrape of a chair. “I told the guys they probably locked you in a boardroom and were force-feeding you spreadsheets.”

“They’re easing me in.”

“That wasn’t a denial.”

I glance toward the bedroom door, listening to ensure the hallway outside is still quiet. “It’s been... busy.”

“I figured.” Her voice softens. “I wasn’t really mad that you hadn’t answered. Just worried.”

Guilt settles heavier on my shoulders. “I kept meaning to call.”

“I know.”

“You did?”

“You’re you.” I can practically hear her shrug. “You would’ve convinced yourself you needed to finish one more meeting, then one more dinner, then one more conversation. By the time you got back to your room, you’d have fallen asleep with your glasses still on.”

I blink. “You’re annoying.”

“So I’ve been told.”

Silence stretches between us, comfortable in a way nothing has felt since arriving in Connecticut.

“So, what plot bunnies are keeping you awake?”

“Indigestion and minotaurs.”

I chuckle. “Please tell me that’s only a working title.”

“No. The baby is shoving my stomach acid up my throat, so I can’t lie down.” A click of the keyboard comes over the line. “Figurd I’d get some work done.”

I fold one arm behind my head. “What happened to the smuty orcs?”

“They’re staging a rebellion, so I’m working on my side-side-side project.” She hums to herself as she taps a few keys. “Do you think I can give my minotaurs knotting penises?”

“Don’t those have the head of a bull and the body of a man?” At her hum of agreement, I say, “Is it an Alpha minotaur?”

“He…could be.” The tapping of keys quickens. “This is why you’re the best.”

“Because I can give your knotting penises a valid reason to exist on a minotaur?”

“Yep.” She gives an evil cackle. “This is going to be so good.”

“How is everybody?” I ask.

“Oh, where do I start?” I hear footsteps, then a door opening. “Quinn informed Holden this morning that she plans to marry Sprinkles because he’s ‘the handsomest boy on the island.’ Nathaniel spent half an hour trying to explain that dogs can’t get married.”

A laugh escapes before I can stop it. “How’d that go?”

“She asked if we can move to Canada.”

“That sounds about right.”

“She also wanted me to tell you she found another frog.”

“Alive?”

“…Mostly.”