Page 63 of All Packed Up

Nic was hers. And he could want Griffith if he wanted to, but she wanted him to want her too.

She didn’t want Griffith to take him away from her.

What, like this beta was going to take care of her and protect her and do so much for her and expect her not to want to keep him around?

Stamping the panic down, she lined up her square and dragged the pencil across the last piece of wood.

You can process this like a calm, rational, adult omega.

“Wendy, you okay?” Arlo asked.

Startled at the closeness of his voice, Wendy turned to the alpha.

She realized she was pouting and wiped the ridiculousness away.

“Yes, yes, I’m fine. Lost in thought, sorry.”

“Do you want some hot chocolate?” Arlo asked. “To warm up since we’re done? I’ve been daydreaming about it for hours. Want to join me?”

The wind chose that very moment to blow, and she shuddered. “Holy shit, yes please.”

But before she could even take two steps, she turned to Tate.

His brow was furrowed as he lined up the wood on his station to saw. The pile he had left would be a little overwhelming for anyone. “Tate!” she called out before he could amp up the saw again. “Hot chocolate?”

“Hell yeah,” he responded, glancing up. The sun was setting fast so she raced in the house with Arlo so Tate could work in peace.

Her fingers were icy as she washed them off under the warm water in the sink. Upstairs, Nic and Griffith were moving around, the wood clacking as they presumably put together the bed. But all she could think about was the way Nic had looked at Griffith. And the way Griffith had looked at him too.

She wondered how long they were together. How did they meet? Why’d they end it?

“—got it?” Arlo asked.

Wendy turned her head to the side. “What?”

“Do you think you got it?” he teased, dipping his head at her hands.

“Got what?” Why was she so confused?

“Whatever was on your hands.”

Wendy’s cheeks flushed, realizing the hot water had been cascading over her hands longer than necessary. “Uh… probably,” she said, shutting the water off and drying her hands on the cloth hanging above the sink.

“If you want to talk about whatever’s got you in your head so much, I’m a great listener. If not, we can make hot chocolate and pretend I didn’t ask.”

Arlo’s smile was soft and genuine and understanding and so open. But even Wendy wasn’t ready to analyze her confusing thoughts. Not yet.

“Do you think we should make coffee instead?” There was a thump upstairs, followed by a curse. “We might be up for a while.”

Arlo’s smile was even softer than before. “That’s a great idea.”

A bubble of affection burst in her chest, and Wendy found herself wondering if Arlo’s lips tasted as sweet as they looked.

Chapter 16

WENDY

“Are you sure it’s ready?” she asked, eyes closed. Nic cupped his hands over her eyes, and his scent was thick around her. Light and floral and refreshing, while Griffith’s was deeper and honeyed, both lingering in the room from the work they’d done in the late hours of the night.