Page 97 of All Packed Up

“Yep,” Wendy said, popping the P and extending her hand for Tate’s pass. He exhaled toward the fireplace and watched the smoke swirl in the air before shooting up the chimney.

“Hope you guys don’t mind snoring,” Tate said.

Four sets of glares turned to him, and he couldn’t help the laugh that cracked out of him. “I’m kidding. I’m kidding, jeez, don’t throw me overboard! I don’t snore, and Arlo can attest to that.”

Arlo looked like he had half a mind to throw him to the wolves, but gave in at the last second.

“No snoring. I would have suffocated him at this point,” he drawled.

Tate gasped, totally offended, and the sound of Wendy’s giggle made him continue the act. “That’s truly hurtful, man.”

Tate really leaned into the stoner stereotype sometimes, but it was just so natural! Not much got to him, but that was because he’d curated his life with people who complimented his good vibes. No assholes allowed.

Nic had always struck Tate as a cool guy, and well, shit. Now here they were. As for Griffith… Tate slid his gaze to the alpha. He seemed pretty chill about this whole situation, what with four strangers crashing in and all. He was serious too, like he’d seen some shit, or maybe he was just mature.

Tate hoped to exude the… unflappability of that alpha one day.

When Arlo passed him the joint, shaking his head at Tate’s antics, he inhaled around the end, smooth earthy smoke filled his lungs. After his second hit, he passed it to his right out of habit, but shook his head when he realized Nic was there.

“Sorry, habit,” he mumbled, pulling his hand away. He watched the way Nic’s gaze followed the glow. “Do you want any?” he asked, swinging his hand back in his direction.

And that was how they all ended up buzzed with a mellow high and cackling at the dumbest things. Wendy relaxed into the nest, and her worries from earlier seemed to dissolve with every smile. Nic got a little more talkative, but it wasn’t lost on Tate how any time he skirted near a topic that had to do with him and Griffith, he derailed quickly.

So of course Tate had to get them on the right track again.

“Nic.” He got the beta’s attention as the latest bout of giggles settled. “How well do you know this hunk here to get him to open the door to us hooligans?”

The beta cleared his throat and was probably questioning why he’d let Tate tag along in the first place. “Well, I guess we’ve known each other for several years now. Uh… shit.” He frowned, let his gaze drift to the alpha beside Tate. “Seven?”

“Something like that,” Griffith offered with a wave of his hand.

Damn. That’s some history.

“Oh, so Griffith,” Wendy interjected. “You have to know the dirt on Nic then?”

Griffith arched a brow as his gaze flicked between the two. Covering his face, Nic shook his head as Griffith answered. “I know a few good stories.”

Nic looked positively green around the gills, but Tate never had to jump in and save the guy. Arlo did it for him. “Tate and I have known each other for seven too.”

Wendy’s curious gaze slid to him and maybe the buzz was making him loose lipped. “Together for three and bonded for four,” he shared.

Arlo’s grin was a little lopsided, and a tug of affection echoed in Tate’s chest.

“How did you meet?” Wendy asked, and Nic nudged his knee in Tate’s side in thanks. Wendy had to have seen, but she didn’t say anything, holding onto the bait they’d dangled in front of her.

Tate loved telling this story, and sat up a little straighter. It made him laugh every time, and even now a laugh was building behind his lips. Swallowing it down, he met Arlo’s gaze and totally ignored the warning there.

But that bitch stole his spotlight.

“Tate was my dealer,” he blurted.

Everyone’s head turned in his direction, exactly like out of a sitcom. Tate’s lips curled wider as the seconds ticked by.

“No fucking way,” Wendy hissed, and Nic planted his elbows on his knees to lean closer. Even Griffith tilted his head around to see Tate.

“It’s true,” Tate said with a chuckle, holding out his hands in a ta-da fashion. “He makes it sound so dramatic, but I just did deliveries for the dispensary. It was all totally legal, no law breaking,” he warned with a playful glare at Arlo.

He remembered the first time he’d delivered to Arlo, what a trip it had been to ride through campus the first time.