Page 220 of All Packed Up

Should have locked you two in a room together weeks ago. -Wendy

Chapter 48

WENDY

“Wendy, they’re here!”

As Nic’s voice rang throughout the apartment, Wendy’s heart did a somersault in her chest. Fuck.

Brushing a hand through her tangled strands, she soothed them into some sort of order, checking her outfit one last time before she slipped from her bedroom.

“Do I look okay?” she asked nervously, finding Nic on the couch with his laptop. He tossed the device aside and stood.

“You look fantastic,” he answered, crossing the floor in a few wide steps to stand before her.

Heat bloomed in her cheeks at his sincere words, at his appreciative gaze. The bruises on her neck had finally faded, and though the damned bite scar would always be there, Derek had blocked their connection off in only the way an alpha could. If she’d been attached to him at all, she would probably feel a little discombobulated from the shattered connection.

Instead, she felt lighter than she had since… since she could remember.

“Ready to get out of here?” Nic asked.

Wendy nodded, biting her lip.

“Don’t tell me you’re nervous,” Nic teased, and her cheeks flared brighter. “There’s literally nothing to be nervous about. They’re gonna treat you like a princess, and you’re gonna love every minute of it.”

Instinctually, Wendy knew Nic was right. There was no reason for her to be nervous to go on a date with Tate and Arlo. She’d already shared a heat with them, they’d already seen her at her worst, at her weakest.

And now she felt the total opposite. She felt damned good in her outfit, good about the alphas on the other side of the door, good about the beta in front of her offering endless encouragement, even when the nightmares got a little intense. Even when it was hard to believe things were this good for her.

“Thank you,” she said softly. “For, you know, everything.”

“No need to thank me. Now go answer the door before Arlo has a fit.”

Wendy laughed, leaning up and pecking Nic on the lips before she lowered back down and made her way to the door.

She grabbed a light sweater off the hook on the wall, and—

“Arlo’s gonna love those jeans,” Nic drawled.

Glancing over her shoulder, she found his gaze locked on her ass, before slowly rising to meet her gaze with a smirk.

“I know,” she answered with a wink.

Then she wrapped her hand around the knob and pulled the door open, revealing the handsome duo she’d been looking forward to seeing all day.

“Hi,” she said.

“Why hello there,” Tate greeted, gaze trailing up and down before meeting her gaze. “You look great.”

“What he said,” Arlo agreed, a little delayed. A smile curled her lips as he grinned down at her. “Ready to go?”

“Yes,” Nic called out behind her, giving her a little shove out the door with a gently placed hand on her back. “Get out of here. Play safe, kids.”

“Thanks, Dad,” Tate drawled, and Arlo and Wendy groaned.

“What did we say about calling him that?” she asked as they pulled her away from the door. Nic closed it behind her with a chuckle, and off she went.

Her date had officially started, and Tate led her toward the stairs with an excited hop to his step.