2. Coffee
CHAPTER 2
COFFEE
Jace
N ow that our pack house is done you’d think we wouldn’t have to argue about coffee runs because we had a kitchen with new appliances. But after moving in this past weekend no one seems to be thinking of our pack.
Paxton went straight into business mode, Cameron locked himself in his room to play video games, and Ant had gone out to see what sort of vibe the town had. I had worked on some wood working projects in the new garage workshop that had been built into the house because we were all workaholics.
That’s what happens when a pack doesn’t have an omega to reign them in.
None of us had thought about grocery shopping so it’s me at Starbucks at seven in the morning so that we can all survive the day.
People are wandering in, like zombies as they grab their coffees off the counter and head out to work without looking at anyone. I’ve been the only one who came in and ordered in person. No one likes to interact with people anymore, thinking it’s easier not to have one on one conversations.
One of the many things wrong with the world we live in nowadays .
Or maybe I’m just getting old. That is a terrifying thought. Don’t love that.
The door opens up and I got a hit of the same peach musk from yesterday. And yet again the smell, so soft and feminine, yet tangy and unique went right to my cock and I was uncomfortable in my jeans before even getting my first sip of coffee.
It was light enough that it could be a beta wearing perfume or an omega that is trying to mask their scent.
And there was Sadie.
She was pushing her straight brown hair behind her ears, white earbuds in, making me curious what song she was listening to as she moved towards the counter for mobile orders, scanning for her name.
Of course she was the type to order ahead and avoid any human contact. She hadn’t been able to properly thank me when she had gone and nearly fell down the stairs. Of course she wasn’t going to come in and order food.
Maybe I should get my thank you now.
Moments like this I was thankful for my height.
Reaching over her I picked up the extra large coffee as her glare turned upward, her nose scrunching up in the cutest little annoyed look as her dagger eyes stabbed at me with false hostility. Her hands fisted at her sides and I waited for that foot to stomp down but she didn’t give in.
She was really trying to reign in her brat.
It was adorable.
“Give me.”
“Now, now. Say please, darlin’.” Her lips pursed in annoyance, eyes darting to the clock on the wall like she was trying to see how much time she had to waste talking to me.
Sadie was maybe all of five feet and a couple inches. So much bad attitude in such a small frame. Round hips and thick thighs, blue eyes that had knocked me right on my ass when she had looked up at me yesterday.
Was she an omega?
She very well could be but I couldn’t catch her scent fully to figure out what she was .
Today she was in a brown corduroy dress with those same damn flats as yesterday. They had no grip and probably made it so she was falling down those stairs. Her hair is pulled up in a ponytail and glasses perched on her nose that she pushed up as she glared at me like I was an enemy.
“Listen-”
“Jace, darlin’.” She frowned as I gave her my name before rolling her eyes at me like knowing it was an inconvenience, “Rolling your eyes is rude, Sadie girl. Didn’t anyone teach you any manners?” Her eyes are locked on me as her head tilts to the side.
The way her lips purse and her anger flares in her eyes makes me wish Paxton was here. He’d love to see her being a brat like this and showing her how to be a good girl for him.
I don’t know why the idea of seeing her with my friend turns me on. That’s definitely a new thing and I don’t know how to unpack that.
She snatches her coffee, jamming a straw she had grabbed into the lid and taking a sip like she can’t handle another second of this conversation without a hit of caffeine.
“All anyone ever taught me was how to swallow every last drop.” She takes another gulp of her drink, turning and walking out of the coffee shop leaving me with now a very stiff cock instead of half mast.
Shit .
Looks like I was going to do coffee pickups all week.
“I’m going to ask Sadie out.” Paxton looks up as I set down the coffees on the counter for everyone.
Cameron had left his room, headphones on as he grabbed for his iced coffee from the tray with a nod of his head in appreciation and Anthony grabbed his iced espresso, not that he needed any more caffeine in his system.
Sadie would fit right in with all these thankless assholes.
“Can’t.” I looked at Ant with a raised eyebrow, “Already said I was going to ask her out yesterday. I called dibs.” My eyes narrow, looking towards Paxton who is back to typing something up on the laptop and acting like he is too good for this conversation.
But I saw how he looked at her yesterday.
He could pretend all he wanted but he felt the same way we all did about her.
“I found her on social media and sent her a message.” Cameron pipes up as we all look at him. He is looking down at his phone as if he didn’t just drop a bomb.
Because Cameron hasn’t dated since before we all went on the last tour together. He had some small flings before that but an actual date? I couldn’t remember him asking a girl out ever .
Paxton’s eyebrow raises as Anthony curses. He isn’t going to call out Cameron because the fact Cameron is interested in something other than video games and the projects we’re working on is huge.
“So we’re all into the same girl.”
“I’m not interested.” Paxton lies through his teeth as I scoff. He looks up at me, a look on his face that makes it clear he is done with this topic, “And we have to go to a property today for a walk through. I have the plans here-”
“She responded.”
We all look at Cameron. Even the uninterested Paxton is watching as Cameron raises a thumb to his lips, pressing it against his lips as he hides a smirk.
Oh shit.
We’re all waiting for him to tell us what she said but his thumbs are flying typing before he clues us in. He waits a second then lets out a laugh, setting down his phone and taking a sip of coffee.
It takes him a second, his eyes looking around as we all stare at him, still waiting for him to tell us about her.
“What?”
The clueless idiot doesn’t understand we’re all invested in this now.
“What did she say?” Ant is moving to where his phone is but we all know better than to touch Cameron’s electronics.
He picks up his phone and smirks because he’s messaging her. I’d be smiling too .
“I asked her to dinner. Told her there would be Scooby snacks. She told me no. So I asked her to go to a movie with me. She said no again. And then I asked her what she would say yes to."He seems pleased with himself now and we’re all so invested in this story, like teenage girls talking about prom.
Paxton starts tapping his fingers on the counter. He’s agitated over her, which makes sense. She’s different from the girls any of us usually go for. Plus as pack alpha having every member of his pack interested in someone is a big deal.
Packs haven’t been taking one omega like the past. Now most packs are made up of four couples. Usually with beta partners for each alphas. Sometimes one alpha will have an omega but sharing isn’t as common.
Alphas can be a protective bunch. Definitely territorial. It takes a strong pack to share one person and it’s a lot different if they’re sharing a beta. An omega naturally eases an alpha but a beta doesn’t have the same traits. Sure, people make it work but we can.
Paxton must be thinking of all this as he glares at the phone and then Cameron waiting to hear about Sadie.
So much for him not being interested in her.
“Sadie said ask me to do something worthwhile and I might say yes. So I asked her to go for a bike ride. She asked for a picture of my bike. When I sent it she said I can pick her up after work Friday.” Cameron looks happy.
So happy that I can’t even be mad at him for getting her to say yes to him.
Can’t say the same for the two assholes who are glaring at him like he did something wrong instead of just getting to her first.
“I’m coming too.” Ant invites himself on the date and I expect Cameron to tell him to fuck off but he just shrugs his shoulder like he doesn’t care who comes.
He doesn’t really trust himself one on one with her and I can see him relaxing at having a buffer to help along the conversation. Cam is so used to being quiet, maybe he thinks that it will be better if someone will talk for him.
I should have invited myself too. I’d be a great help. I’m the calmness to those two and their chaos storm.
Paxton slams his hand down on the counter, his face a mask of annoyance as he looks at us.
He’s jealous.
Barely restrained because he doesn’t want to talk about the pouty princess who fell into my arms yesterday. Paxton was hurt once by his ex and that was enough for him to swear off serious relationships after that.
Some nights he would take a girl home but he was strict with no sleepovers. Never fucked in his bed and he didn’t do dates.
And Cameron was absolutely going on a date.
“Now that Cameron’s going out with the princess can we get to business?” Paxton’s irritation is taking up all the space in the room.
His annoyance at Sadie coming in and suddenly becoming something else for us worrying him with.
He hates change and Sadie would shake up and change everything when we’re just getting settled in.
I choose to diffuse the situation instead of instigating him more.
“Of course.” I smack his shoulder, giving it a slight squeeze, showing him that I’m on his side.
He’s too tense for someone his age. He’s about to be 40 and seems to carry the entire world on his shoulders. He relaxes for a second before I let him go.
Looking at Cameron as something comes into my mind, “Do you have a helmet that will fit her? Make sure that she knows what to wear if she’s going on a ride with you.” He nods, thumbs flying over his phone screen as Paxton curses, walking out of the room.
Things are already starting to change. It’s happening and I hope he embraces it.