27. Phineas
Chapter 27
Phineas
August, Los Angeles
“ D amn, this place is swanky.” Meadow stood in our driveway, her gaze flicking over our pack house in Los Angeles. It wasn’t the biggest or fanciest house in the city, and, in fact, by comparison, it was downright modest, but it had enough space for all of us to have our own room, with an untouched omega suite and additional bedrooms for guests, plus a pool, which Meadow would probably appreciate as the baby grew.
“We’re going to have to buy a lot of stuff to fill up your room here,” I told her. “You have an entire suite with a nest inside.”
“How do I already have a room?”
“Wishful thinking?” I replied.
Her cheeks turned sweetly pink, though that could’ve been from the heat and not from my words.
Hendrix and Arlo flanked her on both sides. Arlo grinned at her. “Ready to go in?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
The entire place was cleaned top to bottom while we were on tour, and our housekeeper had come by that morning to make sure everything was fresh and aired out. We only had a week here, but I was pretty sure we all intended to make the absolute most of it and get in our Meadow time while the opportunity was there. We would still look at purchasing a property in Seattle, so she could be close to home if she wanted to, but for right now, our house in LA was a much more comfortable alternative to the bus.
“You’ve already had so many chances to hog our omega,” I argued. “Let Beckett and me give her the tour. You two can get our luggage from the bus.”
They both pouted, but when Meadow didn’t say anything to negate my request, they traded off places with Beckett and me.
I looped my arm with hers. “Let’s go, sweets. Once you see everything, I want you to buy whatever you think we need. This place is more house than home with how often we’re on the road, so it probably needs some cozying up.”
Meadow nodded, like she was taking the duty seriously. Her head swiveled as we walked, marveling at the high ceilings in the foyer with the marble floors, taking in the beautiful granite kitchen we basically never touched, our giant living room with a projector screen covering most of the wall, the sparkling pool in our backyard, and the multitude of bedrooms we kept upstairs.
“Feel free to snoop,” I told her.
“Which ones are yours?” she asked.
“I’m at the end of the hall on the right,” answered Beckett.
“I’m across from him.”
Meadow trotted excitedly down the hall and peeked into Beckett’s room. “It’s like something out of a magazine.”
“We hired a designer,” he replied. “None of us are particularly decoratively inclined.”
“The green is really nice. Like a classy forest.” She crossed the hall to look into mine. “Whoa.”
“Nice, right?” My room was beach themed, with sand-colored walls, blue fabrics, and a display of seashells I’d been collecting for the last several years.
“I love themed rooms. Feels like I’m right by the ocean.”
“We can do up the omega suite the same way, if you want,” I offered.
“Let me see it first before I go deciding on changes.”
We took her to the opposite end of the pack house and opened up the room we hadn’t touched since moving in. The walls were a bright cream, the windows letting the natural light stream in.
“Holy sunlight, Batman! Did the designer know this was an omega suite?”
“We thought of that.” Beckett reached out to flick a set of switches by the door. Blackout blinds slid down over the windows, plunging the room into darkness.
“That’s so efficient. Definitely needs a lot more soft things in here, but being able to darken it helps.”
“This room has its own air-conditioning system,” Beckett told her. “We didn’t want any future omega to melt when they were snuggled in.”
“That’s a good plan. We do get a little bit toasty.” Her head turned, and she caught sight of the en suite bathroom and let out a squeal of delight before racing over to it. “Oh my god, this bathtub is fucking huge! And the shower!”
It was unfair how cute she was, checking out every nook and cranny of her new space. We wanted her to be excited to stay here, however temporary our time in LA would actually be. A lot of discussions needed to happen about the future, but I was half-certain Meadow wouldn’t be that comfortable with those conversations until we had sorted out our pack relationships.
She had gotten close to Arlo, and closer to Hendrix, but Beckett and I hadn’t yet had the opportunity to try building something with her. She might stay if only those two were involved, and we could be a support system, but after spending time with her, I was eager to see what we could be. Beckett hadn’t said anything out loud, but I could tell by the way he looked at her that he was curious too. Hendrix and Arlo were both completely besotted, and the more that I watched, the more I could see how easy it would be to fall for her.
Meadow bounded over to me, throwing her arms around my chest with a happy squeak. “I’ve never been in a bathroom that fancy in my entire life. I love it!”
I held her like the treasure she was, breathing in her sweet floral scent.
“We can have the room painted,” said Beckett. “Whatever you want done, we can arrange it for while we’re gone, and our housekeeper can make sure all of it gets finished by the time we get back.”
“I am not very designer-y either. Could I just pick a few colors and let them go to town?”
“Of course you can.” Beckett was already on his phone, scrolling away before turning the screen to her. “These are the best omega specialty designers in the city. Why don’t you have a look and see if they have anything you like?”
Meadow scooped up his phone and plunked herself down on the bed, curling up while she searched through the plethora of options. Beckett simply stared after her, like he hadn’t been expecting her to snatch the device and look immediately. I whacked him on the butt and went to go sit down next to her, the impact prompting him to join us.
“What’s your favorite color?” I asked.
“Green,” replied Meadow.
“That basically goes with everything.”
Her whole face brightened when she scrolled past a design I could only describe as goth spring, with dark green walls, pops of delicate white florals, innumerable plants, and gold accents. “Oh god, that price tag.”
I laughed and bent down to kiss her cheek. “Sweets, I don’t think it’s escaped your notice that you bonded into a pack of millionaires. Whatever you want, we’re going to get for you.”
She looked up at me with shiny eyes. “It’s too much.”
Beckett tsked. “Nothing is too much for our omega.”
That got the fine line of tears along her lashes to spill over, and Beckett’s eyes widened.
“Fuck, I’m sorry. Please don’t cry.”
Meadow swiped at her cheeks, and I pulled her onto my lap, purring for her.
“It’s the pregnancy hormones. I got overwhelmed by you guys being sweet.”
“You’re going to have to hydrate extra because we’re not going to tone that down. Make sure you look at what you want for a nursery too,” I insisted. We had already bought several nursery items, but we still wanted her to choose some for herself.
“Is it bad if I say I almost forgot about that part?”
“There’s been a lot going on.” Beckett shrugged. “The baby won’t notice if the nursery is a little incomplete.”
“But I’ll notice.”
“We’ll make sure it’s finished in time,” I promised. “Now, could I tempt you with some ice cream, or would you prefer to settle in for a while?”
Meadow perked up. “Ice cream is my weakness.”
“Then I guess we’d better get you some. If you tell Beck your favorites, he’ll make sure the freezer is stocked.”
“Rocky road and brownie fudge swirl. With extra chocolate chips, and chocolate syrup, and strawberry syrup. Oooh, maybe some caramel syrup, too.”
“That’s the most omega ice cream order I’ve ever heard.”
He might have made quiet fun of her ice cream preferences, but I saw him add all of those to a grocery cart, anyway.
We led Meadow out to our ratty-ass station wagon that I’d bought as my first car. The thing had already been old as fuck when I’d bought it, but it had served us well.
“Um…” Meadow turned to me for some explanation.
“It lets us travel incognito.”
“Oh, that makes sense.”
With the bench seating, we were all able to sit up front, and Meadow was safely tucked between Beckett and me while I told her about this incredible little hole-in-the-wall gelateria that made the best gelato outside of Italy. I knew, because the nonna who ran it told me every time, and I’ve eaten a lot of gelato in my day.
“I know it’s not traditional ice cream,” I said, “but I need it to grace your tongue.”
“If it’s delicious, I’m more than happy to put it in my mouth,” Meadow promised.
Beckett’s oakmoss and new leaves scent filled the car, setting off Meadow’s florals. I took my time looking at her when we stopped at a red light. She took what I’m sure she hoped was an inconspicuous deep breath, but it made her pupils dilate and she wiggled in her seat. She had never commented on my scent before, or Beckett’s, but they were probably constantly overshadowed by Arlo and Hendrix being in her face at all hours. Did she like ours?
“Camping,” she said quietly.
Beckett tilted his head, examining her. “Camping?”
“That’s what your scents remind me of. My mom was a tea drinker growing up, never coffee, and when you wake up in the misty forest to the scent of freshly brewed tea staying warm near the fire, it’s just perfect. That’s what the two of you remind me of.”
“I guess Hen fits into that, too,” I added, “since he’s woodsmoke. Not sure how the citrus fits in, though.”
“Vanilla Earl Grey,” she replied. “That’s what I always brought when I got old enough to make my own treat choices. You haven’t lived until you’ve made a London Fog fireside. Hmm, Arlo still fits, too. When I was younger, I was an apple cider packet girly.”
“That’s sweet. Not the sexiest comparison for a rock band,” Beckett said with an amused smile, “but I’ll take it.”
He slipped his fingers into Meadow’s, and she held on, giving him a tentative smile in return. At times like this, I wished I was comfortable using only one hand to drive. I wanted to hold her hand, too, but it would have to wait.
Once we arrived, we hustled her inside, where Nonna Russo waved to us. “I was beginning to think you had been kidnapped.”
“Just on tour,” I replied, delivering an air kiss to each of her cheeks.
“You brought a friend?”
Beckett lifted a finger to his lips and Nonna nodded, her eyes gleaming.
“Nonna, this is Meadow. Meadow, this is Nonna Russo, gelato goddess. Can I please get a scoop of hazelnut and a scoop of dark chocolate?”
Nonna nodded and got it ready before turning to Beckett. “For you?”
“Nocciola and amarena, please.”
“And your secret friend?”
“What should I get?” she asked me.
“Definitely stracciatella and the chocolate.”
Nonna dished us up accordingly, and we sat tucked away in her tiny gelateria, inhaling our treats. We talked about nothing of consequence, learning little facts about one another: Beckett loved videos of dogs singing (which I knew but didn’t realize how often he watched them); I had a secret food blog, detailing the best spots everywhere we traveled; and Meadow once accidentally drank something questionable at a college party and tried to convince Clover that fairies were real.
Every time Meadow mentioned loving something, Beckett discreetly added it to a list on his phone.
By the time we got back to the pack house, Meadow was exhausted and climbed into bed with Hendrix and Arlo. Part of me had hoped she might stay with me tonight, but I understood wanting to sleep with more familiarity around her. Besides, Beckett and I had work to do with all of the things he’d stealth ordered to the pack house. Come morning, Meadow would know exactly how serious we were about her.