12. Easy to love
CHAPTER 12
EASY TO LOVE
Cameron
S adie looks amazing covered in a sheen of sweat. Her cheeks are all pink as the gloves she’s wearing in the gym, ready to box. Her hands are held all wrong and it’s clear that she is clueless about what to do.
But she does look excited and that makes me excited.
I had to order these gloves because we only have standard sized gloves that we sell. I thought she’d get a kick out of the pastel color and having something that was her size, ready for her.
There is this need that makes me want to make her comfortable. Give her little things that show my affection for her. Spoil my omega.
Alpha instincts or whatever. Maybe it’s a courting gift in a way. Something for her that shows we’re making room for her in our lives.
Her eyes are on me, waiting to see if I will make a move but this is about her, not me.
I’m going to let her get in a few hits. I don’t want to really hit her anyway. I’m sure Paxton would beat the fuck out of me if I even pretended to.
I know Ant, who has no problem talking shit, will give her directions because he is on her side and wants her to be successful. He can see her like I do. He knows that she needs a boost in her confidence that we’re hoping she can find here in the ring .
“You’re going to work out all those feelings for me, Sadie love. Show me how strong you are. Okay? Show me-”
We’re in a ring and yet I didn't see it coming.
Her pink clad fist in the kid sized boxing gloves delivers an uppercut so hard with her left hand that my teeth bite down on the mouth guard, snapping it in place as I go to meet her eyes but Sadie is already swinging, and her right hand collides perfectly with my nose which instantly breaks open and starts pouring blood.
Well, shit .
“CAM!” Sadie is crying, sobbing as she tries to rip off her gloves.
Her blue eyes filled with tears as I sat on my ass wiping at my nose and trying to console her as she landed in my lap, tears falling down her face.
She’s acting like she’s the one bleeding.
Her concern is so genuine as she tries to touch me but the gloves on her hand stop her. Her sobs get so loud that all I can do is stare at her, wondering how she is making such heartbreaking sounds come from her pretty lips.
Omega distress scents around me and I hate that she is upset.
The guys are all around us in the ring now.
Paxton is trying to get Sadie up and off me but my arm wraps around her, the need to comfort her overtaking everything else.
“Hey,” her eyes are on me, “I’m okay. Look at me, Sadie love.” She sniffles hard as I tug off my gloves so I can touch her skin. I’m cupping her wet cheek in my hand as Jace moves closer with a towel for the blood flowing down my face, “You’re so strong. I’m proud of you.” And that just sends her off on a further sobbing fit.
Anthony manages to get her up and in his arms. He is scoping her up as she clings to him like a hysterical koala. It gives me a second to press the towel to my nose, looking at Jace with a nod to let him know that I’m okay.
On my feet, towel to my nose I rub Sadie’s back, watching her look up with puffy apologetic eyes. I go to. Her gloves, undoing them for her. Once her fingers are free she gently touches my face, checking in with me.
Sweet omega .
“I am so-”
“Sadie, relax. I am fine. I just didn’t expect it.” She looks miserable. Her eyes peeking out to look at me as her forehead rests against Anthony’s neck.
She’s breathing him in to try and calm herself. Her nose running up and down over it as she takes in the scent of chocolate cherries and coffee.
Her mouth parts and I watch her suckle on his scent mark.
We’re all just looking at her as she sniffles again, looking at me before her head gets buried in Anthony’s shoulder again. Her fingers slide into his hair like she is telling him to not let her go. It's both heartbreaking and endearing to see her like this.
I wonder if he is going to have a mark from where our omega is sucking on him. It makes me jealous it’s not me settling her down.
He rubs against her as he purrs. Scent marking her as she breathes him in and wants to calm down with him. The way he is purring makes her start melting against him.
Sadie obviously trusts him enough to hold her when she is at her most vulnerable.
“Why don’t we get you home, Sadie girl? Get you showered and napped. Gotta have our girl rested for dinner tonight.” Jace is trying to fix everything because he can see Paxton reeling from the way Sadie is crying.
He looks like he is losing his mind as he hears her distress.
If anyone can’t handle tears it would be Paxton. He wants to fix things and having Sadie upset is so out of his control. Where Jace can see that she is upset, know that she needs to process it, and can create a plan for that to happen.
That soothes him and me.
I’m okay with her being uncomfortable because it’s real. It’s needed. And I’m here. Anthony is here. We can handle this mess without worrying about cleaning it up.
Sometimes life’s messy and you just have to accept it.
“I want to go back to my apartment.” Her voice sniffles out the words that are a dagger to my heart.
She hates this date. I ruined everything. I pushed her too much .
I lost our omega for us.
“No.” Paxton finally talks.
Stepping forwards looking like the neanderthal that he is but he gets a look from Anthony that stops him in place. It’s not common for Ant to defy or go against Pax. Him doing it now makes our pack lead pause.
I’m thankful at the moment that Anthony has her in his arms and that he is on the same wavelength that I am.
Paxton glares and if Anthony wasn’t holding Sadie I’m sure that he would be getting punched in the face. It would have been a double bloody nose day for us. Sadie sniffles and I move over, laying my hand on her cheek as she looks at me with her sad blue eyes.
She wants me but she feels guilty. I can work with this. I can fix this for all of us.
“Let's get you back to your apartment. Anthony and I will take you. Okay, brat?” She nods her head at me, pushing her cheek against my hand as I lean in, stealing a soft kiss before she nestles into Anthony again. At least she is clinging to us.
Jace is looking at Paxton probably trying to figure out how to avoid him losing his ever loving mind but that ship has already sailed. He’s going to be a horror to deal with for a few hours.
“Why don’t we drop them off at Sadie’s place andthen head to the office for a little bit?” Jace is trying to compromise with Paxtonbut he is in one of his moods where sense doesn’t exist.
His eyes are on Sadie’s back as her crying starts to soothe out thanks to the purrs. Anthony’s fingers tracing up and down her spine as he whispers to her. He is good at soothing our omega. Understands something about her that hasn’t clicked yet for me.
I’m thankful.
No one would think that Ant would be the one that would calm her down but I can see how Sadie trusts him. Anthony never tries to be anyone but who he is. He doesn’t try to fit in, like I do. He doesn’t try to make peace like Jace does. He doesn’t try to have control like Paxton does.
Anthony is just him. For better or for worse.
Sadie’s fingers are in the back of his head, running through his hair before she tugs off his hat, sitting up as she puts it on and giving him a cheeky smile.
That’s our girl.
She is on her feet, slipping her hand into Anthony’s as she looks up at him smirking when he squeezes her hand before she reaches for mine.
I weave our fingers, stroking my thumb over hers as she calms down, her eyes looking at my face again, making sure I’m okay.
“Fine.” the one word comes out harsh. Sadie flinches before looking as Paxton storms from the gym. His bad mood is apparent as the smell of him comes out like bitter tea.
“It’s okay, Sadie girl. He just-”
“Is a knothead.” She mutters but her eyes still are on where he went and I know she understands it’s more.
Because Sadie is perfect for all of us. She accepts our moods just like we accept hers.