Page 25 of All Packed Up

Nic paused. It sounded like there was one right answer to that question, and Nic only had the wrong one.

“Maybe,” he said, tucking his hands in his pockets. “She’s craving snacks.”

Tate scoffed. “Where are you going to get snacks at this time of night?”

“I don’t know!” Nic hissed and threw his hands wide. “I have no idea. I was just going to drive until I found what she wanted.”

They shared another look and nodded once.

Whatever silent conversation they’d just had was lost on Nic as they both turned to him.

“Did she say what she was craving?”

Nic swallowed. “Yeah. She wants cheese. But not the bagged kind. It’s the stuff they serve with wine and all that.”

“She wants a charcuterie board, dude,” Tate told him, blue eyes locked on him as if he was stupid.

Nic blinked. “A shark what?”

Arlo groaned. “He’s hopeless.”

“I am not!” Nic argued. “I changed the sheets and then let her have all these new blankets and pillows so she could nest again. I even bought her cat a bed!”

Nic snapped his mouth shut. That was way more information than the pair of stoners needed, but they both seemed so serious. More serious than Nic thought the two could get.

“Go back upstairs.”

Nic blinked. “What? But she wants—”

“A charcuterie board of cheese. Tell me, do you know what fruit pairs best with a Honeyed Whiskey Brie?” Arlo asked him, almost accusatory.

Nic hadn’t even understood the fucking cheese name. “I don’t even know what you just said.”

“Exactly. Go upstairs and cuddle your omega, and we’ll be back. We’re going to go get your girl some cheese,” Tate decided.

Both the alphas stood and tapped the ashes out. “You can claim all the credit, don’t worry. But after watching you finally find someone…” Arlo shook his head.

“We can’t just watch you crash and burn, my guy,” Tate continued. “We’ll help.”

“But I don’t need—”

“Whatever gas station you just googled on that phone of yours is not going to have what that omega wants. So just do what we say, and we’ll text you when we get back.”

“What? I can’t ask you—” Nic shook his head, but the two had already made up their minds.

“You didn’t ask us, we offered,” Tate pointed out.

Nic floundered. He didn’t know how to turn down the alphas’ help, and at the moment, he wasn’t sure he even wanted to.

“Don’t make us tell you twice,” Arlo teased, the arch of his brow portraying his mirth despite his words.

“Fine, fine,” Nic agreed, lifting his hands. “At least let me pay then.”

“You can pay us back later. I’ll keep the receipt.” Arlo nodded.

For some reason, he trusted Arlo’s word.

“Well thanks, guys. I appreciate it more than you know.” He held his hand out, and Arlo gripped his hand tight.