Knot Her Reality (Heated Book 3)

Chapter Twenty-one

I’m currently getting ready for my third date of week three. On Monday, I went out with Evander and Gavin. We’d grabbed dinner at one of the local restaurants and spent the rest of our time just walking around town. Turns out both men actually enjoy shopping—or at least that’s what they told me, and who I am to question their words? It was nice to spend time with them but also get to do something I don’t always have a lot of time for. Most of my shopping gets done online because of how busy I am.

That’ll have to change now, I guess, since I’ll be leaving this show with a pack. They’re not going to allow me to bury myself in work like I’ve done all these years, and I’m honestly looking forward to it. I love what I’ve built and how far I’ve come in the fashion design world, but it’s definitely time for the next step in my life. It’s time for love, a pack, and gods willing, a family.

Yesterday, I spent most of the day with Lillian, again confirming that she’s the kind of sunshine I need in my life. Even kissing her is the sweetest thing I’ve ever felt. It helps that she seems to get along with almost all the suitors—the only exception being Viktor.

I asked her about it yesterday, and all she would tell me was that she didn’t like him and that he gave her a bad feeling before quickly changing the subject. I’m unsure if she is one of the ones who believes that Viktor attempted to hurt me on purpose or not, but it’s clear that he’s not a favorite among the suitors. Something I’ll need to consider when making my decision at this week’s rose ceremony.

Shaking my head, I finish pulling my blonde hair up into a messy bun and give myself one last once over before deciding I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. Today’s date is much more laid back than the others, as we’re not even leaving the compound. When I woke up this morning, I didn’t feel like leaving and doing the date I’d planned. When I suggested to the group that we stay in for a date, they all readily agreed.

Sometimes we just need to not go out. Today is one of those days, but I think the date I have planned will be even better than the original one. We spend the morning and afternoon hanging out with the rest of the suitors, but in just a few minutes, we’ll be taking over the back deck area by the pool.

I had each of the suitors joining me tonight—Tessa, Koda, Ronan, and Natalie—give their favorite meal to Mille. We’ll all be served someone else’s favorite, and then we’ll be guessing whose favorite it is. The plan is to do that with our favorite drinks as well and maybe a few other things. It’s about getting to know one another better.

This is the biggest group date of the week as I have another individual date with Jagger tomorrow, then another group date with Conrad and Alejandro on Friday. I knew when I invited Koda and Tessa for a group date that it would be together because I want to see how the two of them are together.

After all, male omegas are technically made for female alphas. But female alphas are even more rare than male omegas. It’s possible that the two of them might pair off and want nothing to do with me, and it’s something I’d rather find out now versus later after I’ve fallen for both of them.

Though, it’s hard for me to imagine Koda not being a part of my pack. Sure, I’ve really only known him for all of a week, but the pull between us is definitely there. I know he feels it, considering that he was having breakthrough heat symptoms when he was unable to see me following my injury.

I just don’t know how much of that is just because he’s hot as hell and how much of it is just sexual chemistry. Or a desire to be a part of a bonded pair.

Koda also seems rather attached to Jagger, Alejandro, and Lillian. It’s fascinating to me how the suitors have grouped together thus far. But that’s not something for me to worry about now. I have a date to get to that I’m more than a little excited for.

Running my hands over the pink cap sleeve wrap dress I chose for today. It’s casual but looks amazing against my curves, with a good amount of cleavage showing. Add in the messy bun and dangly earrings, and it’s the perfect look for date night in.

A knock on the door to my suite has me leaving the bathroom and hurrying over to said door. I don’t bother sliding on shoes, wanting to keep the look even more casual. Throwing open the door, I find Koda standing there with a smile on his face that only grows as he takes me in.

“Hello, Evangeline, you look exquisite.”

Allowing myself to take the time to run my eyes over him, I can’t help returning his grin. He looks good enough to eat with his hair flopping in his face, a tank top that reveals more of his tattoos than usual, and a pair of tight black jeans.

“And you look yummy.”

I hear laughter behind him and peer around him to see the others standing there with smiles on their faces. It was Ronan’s laughter that I heard as he doesn’t attempt to hide it, but Natalie and Tessa at least try to hide theirs behind their hands.

I wave at them before shrugging my shoulders. He does look yummy—why wouldn’t I tell him? I don’t care who heard me. “Are we ready, then?”

“Sure are.” Koda offers me his arm, and I take it while my eyes find the others once more.

“Excellent. We’ll be eating by the pool. Everyone provided their favorite dinners to the kitchen, right?” Everyone nods or gives a verbal yes, and I nod. “Good. I think tonight is going to be fun. Lots of learning about one another.”

Koda leads me away from my room, the others trailing behind us as we head for the back deck.

“Remind me how tonight’s going to go?” Natalie asks as she appears at my side.

“Everyone’s favorite meals were prepared—enough for each of us to have a taste, or probably a whole serving. We’ll eat what we want of them, and then everyone will guess who they think the meal belongs to.” I shoot Ronan a grin as he moves around us, sliding the door to the deck open and gesturing for us to go ahead. “Why thank you, kind sir. After that, we have a bartender making each of our favorite drinks and the game will go the same. Honestly, we can play guessing games all night. We can do our favorite colors, favorite movies, whatever we want. But dinner and drinks are what’s on the schedule.”

Tessa pulls out my chair, and I let go of Koda’s arm to sit. I don’t bother fighting back my smile when she does the same for Koda. He thanks her as he sinks into his seat. Ronan does the same for Natalie before the two alphas find their own seats. Before any of us can speak, the staff bustles out of the house and begin laying food on the table. Millie follows them out, a smile on her face as she moves over to us.

“Good evening, everyone. We have prepared each of your favorite meals at Evangeline’s request. Your first option for the night is chicken and dumplings, cinnamon sugar apples, and cornbread. Your second option for the night is surf and turf—ribeye and lobster tail with grilled asparagus. Next, we have beef stroganoff served over noodles with buttery garlic green beans. After that, we have homemade macaroni and cheese and braised short ribs. Lastly, we have country-fried steak, mashed potatoes, and rolls.” Millie smiles as she looks around the table. “Now, what would each of you like to drink?”

I decide on water as my eyes wander over the feast that’s been prepared for us. I don’t even know where to begin. Everything looks amazing. Maybe getting five meals for us to eat wasn’t the way to go. They’re going to have to roll me out of here when we’re done.

Once we have our drinks, the staff disappears and Koda picks up my plate. “Would you like to try a little of everything, Evangeline?”

“I would, but you don’t have to make my plate. I’m perfectly capable of doing it myself.” My attention is locked on him as I fight back a laugh. This is the behavior I would’ve expected from the alphas, not Koda.

He starts piling food onto my plate, his eyes cutting to me for just a moment. “Just because you’re capable of doing something doesn’t mean you have to do it.”

“Ro, does this mean you’re going to make my plate?” Natalie asks, fluttering her eyelashes at her alpha. Laughter spills from my lips as he shakes his head, but he picks up her plate and begins to pile it with food.

“Guess I’ll just make my own plate since Koda beat me to making Evangeline’s,” Tessa says with a laugh. She doesn’t look even remotely put out, and her amusement seems genuine, allowing me to breathe a sigh of relief. Not all alphas like what they consider being their role to be taken over by others. Not that I thought Tessa was like that, but you just never know with people.

Koda sets my plate in front of me and as the scents rise to my nose, I let out a small moan as my stomach lets out a loud growl. All eyes turn to me while I just shrug. “I’m hungry.”

“Then you should go ahead and eat, omega.” Ronan grins as he sets Natalie’s plate in front of her. “You too, beta. I know you’re starving.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice,” she says before digging in. With a shrug, I follow suit. All around the table, moans and groans spill from everyone as we eat. Everything tastes amazing, and I make a mental note to thank Millie for her hard work. Well, her and the rest of the cooking staff.

I eat more than I should, but eventually have to push my plate away. Leaning back in my chair, I rub a hand over my very full stomach. “Damn, that was good.”

“It really was,” Natalie agrees from her chair where she’s in a similar position to me. Ronan, Tessa, and Koda are still eating, and all I can do is shake my head.

“Where do you put all that food?” I can’t help asking, and the three of them laugh together.

“Two of us are alphas,” Tessa reminds us. “I’m not sure about Koda.”

Koda shrugs. “I’ve always eaten like this. Maybe it’s a male omega thing. Plus, I like to work out, so that means extra calories.”

Running my eyes over his body, I hum. Even though he’s not as built, as say Ronan, it’s clear he takes care of himself. As an omega, he’ll never be able to match an alpha’s build, but having seen him without a shirt, I know just how fit he is.

A cloth napkin flies across the table and hits me in the face. I grab it with a frown, turning my attention to a giggling Natalie. “You were drooling. I thought you might like something to clean it up with.”

“Whatever. Ronan’s right. You are a brat.” My cheeks flush, but I return her smile. She’s not wrong. I absolutely was drooling. How can I not?

“That’s okay, babe. You can drool over me anytime you want,” Koda is quick to assure me. “Because I guarantee I’m doing the same thing to you.”

I don’t know why his words have me ducking my head, my flush deepening. This man really does something to me that I don’t fully understand. I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to keep fighting it—or if I even want to.

Tessa clears her throat. “Since we’re all done, I guess that means we need to guess which meal is whose favorite. How are we planning to do this? Just shout them out?”

“Nope, because I’m sure Natalie and Ronan know each other’s favorites, so that would be an unfair advantage. We’d just guess whatever they did.” I push myself to my feet and walk over to the bar where I left pens and notecards before returning to our table. “Write your name at the top of your card. You’ll find that each meal has already been written on the card, so all you have to do is write the name of the person whose favorite you think it is.”

Handing everyone a pen and card, I realize I haven’t even begun to think about which meal could be anyone’s favorite. I know mine, so I quickly add my name next to surf and turf. I’m currently hating myself for planning this. How am I supposed to know this? I snort because I’m sure the others are feeling the same way right now.

Glancing at Koda, I decide to put his name down for the macaroni and cheese with the braised ribs. That seems like something he’d like. Now, which one for the others? I decide on chicken and dumplings for Natalie and the beef stroganoff for Ronan. That just leaves the country-fried steak for Tessa. I’m not sure if that’s hers or not, but seeing as it’s the only option left, I have to choose it.

I flip the card over before setting it and the pen on the table. As the others finish, they do the same—Koda being the last one to finish.

“Okay, to make sure we keep it fair, we’ll pass our cards to the person on our right. Then we’ll go one at a time and announce our favorites, marking correct or incorrect on the card in our hand. After that, we’ll declare a winner.” I glance around the table before passing my card to Tessa and taking Koda’s. “Any questions?”

“Pretty self-explanatory,” Ronan says as he picks up his pen and glances down at Natalie’s card. “Who’s going first?”

No one speaks up, and I’m just about to say I’ll go first when Koda clears his throat. “I will. My favorite meal is the chicken and dumplings.”

“Damn it,” I hiss, wrinkling my nose as I check off Koda’s correct answer. “I definitely got that wrong. My favorite is the surf and turf.”

Looking at Koda’s card, I see he got that correct as well. Tessa goes next, telling us her favorite is the country-fried steak. Natalie’s turns out to be the macaroni and cheese with the braised ribs. Ronan’s is the beef stroganoff. Well, at least I got two of them right. But Koda somehow got every single one correct.

“How did you do it? You got everyone’s right!” I wave his card in the air as he laughs. “Did anyone else get all of them right?”

Everyone shakes their heads as I turn my attention back to Koda. “Well?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know what you want me to tell you. I pay attention, and I made educated guesses. Plus, some of you gave it away while you were eating your favorites. It was just easy to see.”

“I’m jealous that you got them all right.” Laughing, I glance up to signal to the bartender that we’re ready for the next part.

Once again, Koda guesses everyone’s drinks correctly, and I manage to get all of them wrong. But this time, Natalie also gets all of them right. We move into the living room after that and just chat. We talk about everything from our favorite childhood memories to our hopes and dreams. It’s lowkey one of the best dates I’ve ever been on. Not only do I get to know all of them so much better, but we do end up doing more guessing games about people’s favorite things.

But as the night goes on, everyone moves in closer and starts touching me more—not that I don’t return the favor. No one mentions it, but both Koda and I are perfuming like crazy.

Glancing over at the vase of roses on the coffee table as the four of them continue talking, I consider my options. I knew going into this date that I was attracted to all four of them, and getting to know them has only made that attraction grow. Since there was a possibility of inviting someone back to my room for the night, I had them put the roses here. I’d been fairly certain I would be inviting Koda back to my room—even if it’s just to find out if this chemistry between us was a one–and-done thing. What I hadn’t expected was to want to invite all four of them back to my suite.

Is that crazy? Is it too soon? What will the others think?

Shaking my head, I push away that thought. It doesn’t matter what the other suitors or the viewers think. This is about me and how I feel—what I want. And I know that I want the four of them to spend the night with me.

Reaching over, I grab four white roses before turning my attention to the four of them, who have fallen silent. Taking a deep breath, I force a smile to my lips. “I know it might seem like it’s too soon or whatever, but I don’t care. I’d like the four of you to join me in my suite for the night.”

Turning to Koda, I offer him the first rose. He takes it with a grin, leaning over to press a kiss to my lips. “I was hoping that was how the night would end.”

Natalie, Ronan, and Tessa don’t say anything as they each accept their roses, and it’s making me nervous.

“If that’s what you want, of course. I would never try to force—“

Tessa’s suddenly hovering over me, her lips just millimeters from mine. “Hush, omega. Of course, we all want to join you in your suite. We just don’t want to overwhelm you.”

“Oh. Okay. Great. Then we should do that.”

Tessa pulls away with a smirk, offering me her hand. “Yes, I think we should.”