Chapter 26
Lucy
Horoscope Pisces
The tassels of my silver dress brushed against my thighs and my sequined cowboy boots clicked against the sidewalk as I crossed the dark parking lot to the post office, or rather, to the secret karaoke bar in the post office basement.
Our mailman, Salvatore, had proposed starting this karaoke bar several months ago at a town meeting.
Stanley had immediately shut down the idea, saying that a karaoke bar violated no fewer than thirty-seven town ordinances.
To no one’s surprise, the karaoke bar had still opened, in full defiance of our human mayor.
The real twist was which townsperson had secretly pushed through the appropriate paperwork: Harry O’Sullivan, Stanley’s husband.
Not only that, according to Summer, Harry had even given Sal the seed money he needed to open the bar.
Right now, the bar only opened a couple times a month.
A few days before karaoke night, we would all get a pink flyer advertising a gutter maintenance service, and the date and time of the next karaoke night was revealed in Gutter George’s phone number.
The subterfuge made it all the more thrilling, and for the first time, we didn’t have to drive to Briar’s Landing or Maple Grove for late-night entertainment.
It was usually a highlight of my week—a time to let loose and hang out with my friends—but tonight, I was dreading it.
And not because Easton had insisted tonight’s theme should be A Good Old-Fashioned Country Throw Down, but because my friends had been trying to pin me down and make me spill everything that had happened the past few days.
When I’d turned down their offer to meet for lunch today with the excuse that I was behind on custom orders, there were many threats of kidnapping if I didn’t tell them everything at karaoke.
I wanted to talk to them, to get their thoughts on everything, but I’d held back because I was embarrassed. I’d been rejected by two alphas back-to-back, and while Leo hadn’t rejected me, part of me was scared I’d jinx our relationship if I said out loud how happy I was.
I pushed the basement door open, revealing a large space with an eclectic blend of vintage armchairs, couches, and coffee tables facing the small stage at the front.
Dozens of disco balls hung from the ceiling, casting a glittering glow on the room, and Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” blasted from the speakers.
I turned toward the bar but stopped with a startled shriek. Olive and Felix blocked my way with matching stern expressions.
“Hello,” I said brightly. “You two look cute.” They were wearing matching cowboy hats, and Felix wore a belt with a large western buckle around his waist.
Olive wagged her finger. “Don’t even try to distract me.”
I scratched Felix under his chin and grinned. “I might be convinced to tell you everything if I get a drink or three in my system.”
“That can definitely be arranged.”
Olive adjusted her hold on Felix and linked arms with me. James was leaning against the bar, which meant Ivy must be close by. He waved when he saw us, but his smile transformed into a frown when he spotted Felix.
“Have you two been feeding him people food?” the vet asked, crossing his arms.
Images of the peanut butter and jelly sandwich I’d given him for lunch cha-cha’d through my mind.
Olive and I shook our heads.
“We would never do that,” she said.
“We were at the presentation,” I added. “The cat food versus people food one.”
James narrowed his eyes, and I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing. He made an I’m watching you gesture before grabbing the drinks Salvatore set down on the bar.
Once James was out of sight, I crouched down slightly to look Felix in the eye. “You’re going to get me in trouble.”
“Who are you in trouble with?”
I spun around to see Ivy leaning against the bar where her man had just been.
She raised an eyebrow in a move that would make any third grader fall in line. “Besides us, of course.”
I groaned and rested my head on the bar. “I just got here, and I’ve already been scolded by three people.”
“Make that four.” Summer squeezed in beside me and signaled to Salvatore. “We need a jumbo pitcher of frozen strawberry margaritas.”
I leaned against her shoulder. “You’re going to scold me, too?”
“Only if you withhold the dirty details of you and the beta,” she said. “Besides, you’re getting off easy. I wanted to follow you and Leo after the town meeting, but Ivy wouldn’t let me.”
“Stalking is not appropriate,” Ivy said.
“Tell that to Easton,” I said.
“What about Easton?” Olive hopped up on a stool, Felix perched on her lap.
“Summer wants to adopt his stalking tendencies,” I said.
Olive grinned. “I wouldn’t recommend it, but it did work out for us, so who knows?”
Ivy went to say something, but Summer waved her hand. “No, enough chitchat. I saved a table for us in the corner.” She grabbed the huge pitcher of margaritas and jerked her head toward the table.
We squeezed onto a plush velvet couch, and Summer filled our glasses to the brim. Felix hopped onto my lap and tried to stick his face into my drink.
“Absolutely not.” James swooped in out of thin air, grabbed Felix, and carried him away.
We burst out laughing at Felix’s dramatic meows as he extended his arms to us over his abductor’s shoulder.
“All right, we all have our drinks, so now you’re going to spill,” Summer said.
“You sure you don’t want to do some karaoke first?”
She scowled. “Stop stalling. On my way here, Marisol, Carmen, and Harry all stopped me to ask what’s going on with you and Leo. Do you know how hard it is for me to be out of the loop with town gossip, especially when it pertains to my friend?”
“Yes, so hard for you,” I deadpanned.
“You don’t have to tell us if you’re not ready,” Ivy said, except she spoke at the same time as Olive, who said, “If you don’t give us all the details right now, I’ll die.”
I almost choked on my drink. “Fine. But no telling the town gossips.”
“Start with the party you went to with the mystery alpha,” Summer demanded. It didn’t escape me that she hadn’t agreed not to gossip.
I told them how King had come into my shop and asked for my help to get him out of the auction, along with everything that happened afterward. I left out of a few of the more salacious details—including the whole Daddy thing—ending with our unceremonious parting.
Summer tenderly squeezed my hand. “How do you feel about not seeing him again?” She was bright and loud and didn’t take life too seriously, but I knew the side of her she rarely showed to others—the tender, sensitive side that felt responsible for those she loved.
I shrugged. “I knew he wasn’t offering a relationship and I did it anyway, so I only have myself to blame.”
“Lucy,” Olive said softly. “That’s not how it works. You’re allowed to be upset about it.”
“Yeah. I just…what’s wrong with me? Why does no one want to form a pack with me?” I kept my eyes fixed on my margarita glass. “First Wilder, now King?”
My friends wrapped their arms around me, squeezing tight and holding space for me to just feel. When we finally pulled apart, I dabbed my eyes with a cocktail napkin.
“Nothing is wrong with you,” Ivy said. “Nothing at all. Relationships are hard and complicated.”
“You’re one of my favorite people,” Olive said.
“What she said,” Summer said gruffly.
“Thanks.”
“Where’s King staying, by the way?” Olive asked, sounding suspiciously innocent.
“Why do you ask?”
“No reason,” she said.
“Uh-huh. You can’t TP his house.”
She just smiled.
I pursed my lips. “He’s renting Ms. Ito’s place.”
Summer’s eyes widened. “Did he say if she left any sock inventory? Tofu chewed a hole in my favorite dancing cupcake socks and I have to find a replacement pair.”
I could only imagine King’s reaction to four omegas showing up at his rental and demanding to look through the house to find possible hidden socks.
I took another long sip of my drink to soothe the lump in my throat. “Funny enough, I didn’t ask about sock inventory while we were fucking.”
Now it was Ivy’s turn to choke on her drink, and Summer slapped her on the back.
“Okay, let’s get back on track,” Olive said. “What’s going on with you and Leo?”
I chugged the rest of my margarita, and Ivy poured me another as I told them everything—Leo wrapping my ankle and asking me out, me standing him up, and our golf cart excursion.
“This is good, right?” Ivy asked. “It sounds like he’s interested in a relationship.”
“Yeah, I think so.” I’d felt so secure with Leo when we were on the cliff, in our own world. In the light of day, I struggled to believe he really wanted me after he’d given me mixed messages for months. “I guess I’ll just have to see how it goes.”
One of Ivy’s alphas, Rome, set a large platter of appetizers down on the table. “Make sure you girls have some food on the side of your alcohol.” He leaned down, gripped Ivy’s chin, and gave her a kiss worthy of the final scene of a romance movie. When he pulled back, Ivy’s cheeks were bright pink.
Rome gave his omega a final caress on her cheek before walking over to the booth where Logan was firmly holding Felix to his chest in air jail.
Summer fanned her face. “Whew. That was hot.”
“Wait,” I said, turning back to my friends. “Was I cheating on Leo by being with King?”
“Huh?” Olive cocked her head. “You and Leo weren’t officially together when King asked you to the gala. Besides, wouldn’t he assume that you have alphas courting you? Omegas need packs.”
I drummed my fingers against the table. She was right. Even now, I didn’t know where Leo and I stood. He hadn’t officially said he wanted to court me. Was this just fun for him? “His parents are betas, though. What if he doesn’t understand pack life?”
“Isn’t his sister an omega?” Ivy asked. “She has a pack, right?”
I let out a sigh of relief. “You’re right.”
“And you can just ask Leo the next time you see him. Have a little define-the-relationship chat,” Olive said.
Summer and I crinkled our noses, making Olive and Ivy roll their eyes. How nice it would be to feel that secure, all loved-up with their packs.
“I’ll talk to Leo,” I said. Eventually. In my experience, serious relationship talks always ended in disappointment.
Thankfully, our conversation shifted to plans for our upcoming events—the craft night I was planning, Summer’s grand opening, and the Easter Eggstravaganza—until we were interrupted by Easton hopping onstage to uproarious cheers.
The rest of the night unfolded in a margarita-induced haze, coming back to me in flashes the following morning as I nursed my coffee and aspirin.
Lucy
Did I really get up onstage and sing Jolene or did I dream that?
Summer
You and Felix sang an impassioned duet
Ivy
I slept until nine this morning. NINE. My guys thought I was dying
Also did Easton do a dramatic strip show to “I will always love you”?
Olive
I would say that was a fever dream except I woke up beside him this morning and he was completely naked except for a hot pink boa covering…well, things
Summer
tbh I don’t remember anything after Harry and I performed Devil went down to Georgia
Lucy
I’m pretty sure finding out that Harry plays the FIDDLE was what finally broke my brain and made me pass out
Ivy
I’m too old for karaoke night. I’m going to need five business months to recover
Summer
I can give you a week
I signed us up for next week’s karaoke night. The theme is boys vs. girls and we have to win
Lucy
I’ll practice my Spice Girls cover
Another message came in—this one from Leo.
Leo
Good morning, darling. How’re you doing?
Darling. I melted.
Lucy
Karaoke night tried to take me out
Leo
Was it the karaoke or the alcohol?
Lucy
I plead the fifth.
Do not expect me to look pretty this morning for our coffee date
Leo
You’re always beautiful, pretty girl
But that’s why I was texting. I have to cancel. A friend of mine is doing flowers for a wedding in Vermont today and their assistant is sick. They asked if I could drive down to help them
I’m sorry
My omega pouted, but this was not rejection.
Lucy
Don’t apologize! Will you be back tomorrow?
Leo
They need help with flowers at the after-wedding brunch too so I probably won’t be back until Monday or Tuesday. Could I take you out for dinner on Wednesday?
I glanced at my calendar app and chewed my lip.
Lucy
I’m actually hosting a craft night on Wednesday. This first one is invitation only as I work out the kinks.
Would you want to come?
I’d love having you there
I squealed and tossed my phone after the last text left me feeling flayed open, but when it vibrated, I couldn’t curb my curiosity.
Leo
I am honored to get an invitation to such an exclusive event!! I’ll be there
Warmth rushed through me as I smiled like a fool. I loved that neither of us were trying to play it cool.
Lucy
Yay!
I hope the wedding goes well
Are you going to be ok? Like with your knee?
The second I sent the text, I cringed. I didn’t want him to think I was questioning how capable he was. I just hated the idea of him hurting.
Lucy
I hope that’s ok to ask
I obviously know you’re an amazing florist. And you’re super strong.
Big arm muscles
Leo
Tell me more about these big arm muscles
Lucy
Don’t fish for compliments
I’m sure you own a mirror
Leo
I’m glad you like my big arm muscles, pretty girl.
And you can ask me anything. My friend knows about my knee so I’m sure they’ll yell at me to take it easy.
Thanks for your concern
Lucy
Always
My body might feel like I’d been run over, but my smile refused to leave my lips as I slowly rolled out of my nest, feeling wanted and cared for.
Lucy
Leo! I can’t believe you did this
Leo
Did what, pretty girl?
Lucy
Don’t even pretend. Pizza Pete ratted you out. Thank you for my dinner ?
Leo
I need to make sure my girl eats more than cake
Lucy
Cake is a perfectly acceptable dinner
But thank you. It means a lot