Chapter 46
Lucy
Horoscope Pisces
Pisces! Today is the perfect day to hop hop hop into the life you want. Also, a great day for the town to claim a decisive victory over Claude Fumble for all time!
The Easter Eggstravaganza was well underway. As usual, I’d been fighting against time to finish not only Felix’s and Blossom’s costumes but also all the bunny ear headbands for the kids taking part in the egg hunt.
Well, all the kids plus Easton, who was currently leading the charge.
“Into the breach! We must catch every last egg!” He pointed his blow-up sword in the air and a swarm of children cheered and ran into the field by the lighthouse, followed by Stanley shouting about the proper decorum for official town events.
I’d gotten here early to hand out the headbands, which was why I knew that King, Leo, and Wilder had helped Stanley set up before being assigned booths to run. I pointedly ignored them, even though my omega was practically whining in desperation to get to them.
She needed to pull her shit together.
At least there was one perk of getting here early—I was one of the first people to go through the food line. Summer had made bánh mì and Vietnamese coffee cookies, Harry was representing his Iowan culture with his famous Snickers salad, and Carmen brought a variety of Dominican dishes.
I spread out my quilt on the edge of the field.
Olive and Ivy were tucked away with their packs and Summer was busy with the food, so Felix and Blossom were keeping me company.
I’d done a photoshoot with them earlier and the post already had a hundred thousand likes.
People were flipping out over Blossom’s debut on the social media account, and I’d already gained a lot of new followers.
The only drawback was that the larger my account grew, the more likely it was that people in my real life would stumble upon it.
I needed to get over my anxiety and just tell people.
Felix batted at his floppy brown bunny ears while Blossom sat serenely with her pink bow.
“Leave your ears alone, Felix. You look amazing.”
He let out a sassy meow, snagged an entire bánh mì from my plate, and trotted off.
I shook my head. “Boys, am I right?” Blossom twitched her nose and I leaned down to kiss her forehead. “It’s okay. I was prepared.” I pulled out the secret bánh mì I’d slipped into my dress pocket.
After I’d eaten, I laid back on the blanket with Blossom curled up beside me. The sun danced across my closed eyelids until everything went dark. I opened my eyes and let out a startled scream when I found Parisa looming over me.
“Well, that was quite a welcome.”
I clutched my pounding chest. “Sorry. I wasn’t expecting someone to practically fall out of the sky on top of me.”
She grinned and sat down on the blanket. Her hair was pulled up in two curly space buns, and her beautiful maroon jumpsuit reminded me of one I’d designed for my currently imaginary clothing line, except mine was fall-themed with velvet material and long sleeves.
I propped myself up on my elbows. “I didn’t know you were coming.”
“I wasn’t sure I’d be able to because my heat ended just a couple days ago and my alphas are always super protective post-heat.” She rolled her eyes, but her smile gave her away. My heart ached with longing—to be cared for, even fussed over—and my gaze wandered to my guys.
No. Not my guys.
The guys.
“But I finally convinced them I’m not a fragile little flower, so here I am and ready for gossip,” she continued.
“Hmm? What gossip?”
“What gossip, she asks.” Parisa pointed at Blossom and then gestured at Wilder, King, and Leo at their respective booths. I bit my lip.
“Well, this is Blossom. She’s an omega.”
Parisa gasped. “We come in bunny, too?” She reached out and stroked Blossom’s ears. “Oh my goodness, you are the sweetest little baby. I love you so much already, yes I do.”
Blossom yawned and flopped on her side, immediately falling asleep. Parisa laughed. “How do you get anything done? I would stare at her all day.”
I grinned. “That pretty much sums it up.”
A loud cheer across the field pulled my attention. I had to purse my lips to keep from laughing once I saw the source of the commotion. James had wandered over to King’s booth, and now they were both surrounded by a group of children chanting “Fish James! Fish King!”
Parisa snorted. “Okay, spill. What’s going on with you and them?”
I aggressively plucked blades of grass. “I don’t know. We’re not together, but they want to be. Except, they weren’t interested in me until I stopped being interested in them. It’s just about the chase. I’m sure they’ll lose interest soon.”
“You really believe that?”
I shrugged.
“Lucy.” Her tone was full of the familiar reproach I frequently heard from my friends when I said something they didn’t like.
“That’s not true. Leo has had a crush on you from day one.
Obviously I can’t speak for the alphas, except that Bibi told me Leo brought an alpha home because they had a goat’s milk emergency.
I thought she was having a stroke because what the hell does that mean? ”
My lips twitched in a smile. Okay, that was pretty funny. “They were getting goat’s milk for Blossom. Thank Bibi for me.”
“I don’t think goat’s milk delivery is the behavior of people who are just in it for the chase.”
I hated how hopeful her words made me feel. I didn’t want to be hopeful—it just led to me being disappointed. “Maybe I’m just meant to be single forever.” Oh god, that sounded extra pathetic even to my ears. “Sorry, I’m just in a weird mood.”
She squeezed my hand. “Courting is hard. I’m here for you if you want to talk about it, and don’t feel like you have to hold back on complaints about Leo, either.”
I grinned because I had told Olive the same thing after she bonded with Lars. “I might take you up on that.” I glanced down to check on Blossom, and my heart stopped when I didn’t see her.
“Do you see her? Blossom?” I scanned the blanket and surrounding area. Panic drenched my voice. I was scared to move in case I crushed her.
“She was right here.” Parisa stood and carefully walked the perimeter of the blanket while I got on my hands and knees and ran my hands over the material. When we still didn’t find her, Parisa and I lifted the blanket to check underneath it.
Still nothing.
Nausea churned in my stomach and I felt dizzy with fear as I looked out into the crowded field. Her leg had only just gotten better. What if she got hurt again?
Parisa gripped my shoulder and squeezed. “We’ll find her.”
Just then Stanley walked by, megaphone in hand. Acting on pure instinct, I grabbed it from him. “Attention everyone!” My voice emerged from the speaker tinny and crackly but loud enough to grab everyone’s attention. “Blossom the bunny is missing. Look down when you walk so you don’t step on her.”
Everyone froze and looked at the ground except for Wilder, whose eyes went straight to me. Waves of his alpha protectiveness reached me from across the field, and seconds later, he abandoned his booth and carefully made his way over.
He pulled me into his arms without hesitation and I half collapsed into his chest, my fingers clutching his flannel shirt.
“We’ll find her, sweetheart.” He gently pried the megaphone from my hand. “Everyone gather round. We’ll section off the field in a grid pattern, and everyone will be responsible for one section.”
I sniffed and pulled away from his chest, taking in the small crowd gathering around us.
Summer and Olive squished me between them, King’s concerned gaze was fixed on my face, and Leo was speed-walking toward us, the tip of his cane sinking into the field with each step.
There was a pang in my chest. He shouldn’t do anything to aggravate his knee.
Wilder divided the field, assigning each section to a pair of searchers.
“King, come with me,” he said. “Leo, stay here with Lucy.”
My fingers dug into his arm. “Wait, what area should I search?”
He leaned down and cupped my face with both hands. “You and Leo stay here. There’s a good chance Blossom hasn’t gone far and will come back here.”
I wanted to argue, but he didn’t give me a chance. He pressed a firm kiss to my forehead and took off with King.
“Come here, darling.” Leo held out his arm to me.
I shook my head. “I need to look for her.”
He snagged my hand and pulled me close. “Where did you last see her?”
“She was right here.” I dropped to my knees and gently unfolded the quilt for the millionth time.
Leo lowered himself to the ground beside me with a low groan.
I grabbed his arm. “Be careful of your knee.”
“I’m fine, but I won’t say no to your hands on me.” He threaded his fingers with mine and squeezed.
“What if we can’t find her?” I whispered. “Omega bunnies can’t survive on their own.”
“Come here.” He pulled me to his side and stroked my hair as I rested my head on his shoulder. “She’s off having a little adventure, but I’m sure she’ll be back in your arms soon.”
I shook my head. “I’m a bad bunny mom.”
His hold on me tightened. “Don’t say that. You’re the one who saved her. I saw Felix over by the fruit stand earlier. I’m assuming his outfit is your doing?”
I appreciated Leo trying to distract me from the clawing panic making me feel like I was going to crawl out of my skin.
“Yeah. He’s a good sport to put up with me.”
“He’s lucky to have such an incredible personal dresser. Did you make Blossom an outfit?”
I sniffed. “I just sewed her a bow because I didn’t know how she’d feel about wearing clothes. She seemed to like it, but maybe I should have made her something more elaborate.”
Leo pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “I’m sure she loves her bow. She’s already Easter themed, anyway. I bet if you posted your Felix outfits online, people would be obsessed.”
I froze. Did he know? I pulled away so I could see his face but found nothing but sincerity there.