Chapter 22 Clover
Clover
“Idid something dumb.” I flopped into Meadow’s nest, where I’d found her having a cuddle with Forest. The gifts Parker had bought him were scattered about here and in the nursery, though I’d just told Meadow I’d gotten excited and not that one of the alphas I was sleeping with had dumped all this generosity on my sapling.
I’d been wallowing and mostly avoiding the outside world. What had started off as simple fun had gotten infinitely more complicated, and the easiest way to deal with it all had been to not.
Except, I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about any of the men who’d rocked my world, and it was getting annoying.
“What happened?” Meadow asked, offering me her baby, who I readily gathered into my arms.
“I slept with a pack.”
Meadow blinked. “And that’s bad? You don’t like them?”
“It wasn’t on purpose,” I clarified. “I mean, the fucking was on purpose, but I didn’t know they were a pack for most of them. Turns out, all my one-night stands live in the same damn house.”
Meadow cackled, sprawling next to me. “That’s some pretty intense serendipity. I’m still not seeing what the problem is, though.”
“Because it’s dumb. Now I can’t have a fun, casual time with any of them.”
“Why not?”
“You really think a pack that’s all into the same omega is going to be chill about keeping it casual? I have to manage everyone’s expectations.”
“And the expectations are…?”
“Doesn’t matter. I could be gone in a few months. What would be the point in letting anything evolve?”
“Long distance exists.”
“Girl, I’m barely going to have time to breathe, let alone date during law school. They weed out the weak, and I refuse to let anything distract me.”
Meadow hummed thoughtfully. “Okay, but it’s pretty nice having a pack. Even a part-time one could still be enjoyable.”
“Meadow…”
“I’m just saying. I want you to be happy, and prior to you becoming a hermit after your last date, it seemed like you were. Why are you hermiting, anyway? I was trying to give you space, but since you’re here…”
“I haven’t been feeling that great. Pretty sure some asshole was sick at one of the places Parker took me to, and my body is taking its sweet time recovering.
Nothing contagious at this point. I’ve been denying myself baby time to make sure I wouldn’t make any of you sick, but I’m confident enough at this point to get in my cuddles.
If he gets a little baby cold, feel free to put me outside with the rest of the trash. ”
“You’d put yourself out there if you got Forest sick.” Meadow collected her son, and I pouted, but I didn’t stop her.
“Too true.”
“What are your symptoms?”
“I’m fucking exhausted. I’ve been asleep more than I’ve been awake.”
“You should probably make an appointment at the omega clinic. To be safe.”
“Okay, Mom,” I joked. “Let me check which ones are close by.” While I was hunting down an appropriate clinic, a call from one of my dads came through. “Hey, Daddy. What’s up?”
“Hey, peanut. I don’t want you to worry, but—”
I sat bolt upright, panic pouring over me like a bucket of ice water. “But what? What’s wrong and with who?”
“Mike”—the oldest of my dads—“is in the hospital.”
My lip instantly wobbled, and Meadow lay a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Is he okay? What happened?”
“He’s in surgery right now for a broken femur. They said there’s little risk to life, only to limb.” He let out a shaky breath, and I was already searching the recovery time for a broken femur. “You don’t have to come home—”
“Fuck that. I’m looking up flights when I get off this call.
That’s an intense recovery time, and you can’t put the company on hold for six months or more.
” My throat was tight with tears. My dads were the best parents a girl could ask for, and I wasn’t going to turn my nose up at the chance to support them.
They needed it, even if they weren’t willing to admit it.
“Peanut, you just moved to help Meadow. You can’t derail your life again for us.”
“Watch me. Meadow has a whole pack of millionaires to help her out. You guys don’t have that. You have me, so please, let me help, even if it’s only for a little while.”
“I think we both know that once you get an idea into your head, there’s no stopping you.” The mix of fondness and exasperation in his voice had tears sliding down my cheeks.
“You’re so correct. Freight Train Clover will be pulling into the Seattle station soon. Let me know which hospital, and I’ll meet you there.”
“All right. I have to go make sure Pete doesn’t wear a trail in the linoleum with his pacing. I love you so much.”
“I love you too.” I sniffled as I ended the call and Meadow curled up to me.
“I was eavesdropping,” she told me. “I’m so sorry. I’ll book you a flight, and we’ll drive you to the airport.”
“Thanks,” I squeaked, trying to hold myself together. I extracted myself from her embrace and walked in a daze to the guesthouse, where I immediately collected essentials, tossing them into one of my suitcases.
I wasn’t sure how long I would be gone, so I packed whatever I might need for at least a week.
Best case, I could organize at-home care while they were all busy fretting, and worst case, I would become the at-home care.
I couldn’t manage the physical care for an alpha who wouldn’t be able to stand, but I could handle a lot of what needed doing.
The world slowed to a blur. I pulled on the hoodie I had stolen out of Logan’s room, the earthy sandalwood grounding me, making my body forget how miserable it was.
With a sigh, I dragged my zipped suitcase off the bed and turned to see Arlo about to knock. I let him in, keeping myself together for about half a second before I started sobbing.
He awkwardly pulled me into a hug. “Meadow told us what happened. I’ll drive you, and we can take your princess mobile so you can give her a proper goodbye at the airport.”
I laughed through my tears and Arlo squeezed me tight.
“It’ll be okay. Are you telling Hunter and Logan you’re going out of town?”
I froze and shoved away from him. “Sa-say that again.”
“Hunter and Logan, the alphas who are obviously obsessed with you and thought you were Forest’s mom.”
“How—”
Arlo told me about his visit to the studio where Logan had recognized Forest and everything had spilled out.
“Why would you assume either of them are interested in me?”
Arlo barked a laugh. “Because I have fucking eyeballs. Logan said it outright, and Hunter can be as subtle as he wants, but him wanting you is not something he’s capable of hiding from me.”
I sighed, pressing a hand to my forehead where a headache was rapidly making itself known. “Please don’t tell Meadow. I don’t want anything to be weird.”
Arlo looked like I’d handed him a chocolate lava cake filled with gossip, but given my current state, he wisely kept his mouth shut. “Lips are zipped. The pack is waiting to see you off, and then we can head out. Meadow booked your flight.”
He plucked my suitcase out of my hand, already walking away so I was forced to follow. I slung my purse and carry-on over my shoulder, and held onto my composure until I saw Meadow and the rest of her pack.
A group hug didn’t help my emotional situation, but I appreciated them caring. Forest gave me a cheek pat for the road, his little nails like razors on my skin.
“Don’t you dare grow up too much while I’m gone. You’re obligated to still be a sapling when I get back.”
“I’ll send you so many updates,” Meadow promised.
“You’d better.”
Arlo put my suitcase in the trunk and I melted into the passenger seat. This was one hell of a way to get my mind off the pack who had wormed their way under my skin.
Once we were on the road, Arlo swept his gaze over me. “So, was that a yes or no on telling the alphas you’re leaving town? I can tell them for you.”
“You can if you really want to.”
“Any others in the pack you’re sweet on?”
I shrugged. “I’ve slept with all of them, if that counts.”
“I was going to make a comment, but then you might hit me, and we’d plunge over the cliff into the sea.”
“Seems likely.” I stared out the window, since that seemed to help keep my lip from wobbling too much.
“They’d probably appreciate knowing something big is happening with you. I know I would if I were in their shoes.”
“I don’t think they need to know what’s going on with a random fuck buddy.”
Arlo’s confusion was tangible in the air. “You don’t want to be more? At all?”
“It’s not that.” I swallowed hard, licking the chapped sensation from my lips. “It’s complicated. Remember how weird you got when it came to Meadow because Hendrix had already had her?”
“Meadow was a scent match.”
“And I’ve slept with all four pack members. You can’t tell me someone’s not going to get weird about it.”
“It’s only weird if it’s not something you want. That’s kind of how most things work.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t know what I want, and the drive to the airport to go see my dad in the hospital is not when I’m going to figure it out.”
“Okay, okay,” Arlo surrendered. “I won’t breathe a word about the potential for these guys to be your scent matches. I thought you might like a distraction.”
I wrapped my arms around myself as a surge of self-pity swept through me. “I do, I’m just tired. Too tired to consider any scent match nonsense, but I appreciate you being cool about all of this.”
“I’m always cool.” Arlo beamed.
“Agree to disagree.”
He squawked, immediately offended, and I couldn’t help but smile.
I dozed most of the drive, and Arlo woke me with a gentle head scratch. “We’re here. Do you want me to go in with you?”
“No, it’s fine. Can’t leave the princess mobile unguarded for too long. Don’t miss me too much.”
“Won’t be a problem.” The edge of humor in his tone and the shine of his eyes assured me it would be a problem, and I was relieved by that. They had chosen a life with Meadow, not me, and it helped knowing I wasn’t quite the invasive force I worried about.
Arlo helped me with my suitcase and waited until I was safely inside the airport to drive away.
I could do this. I had to focus on what was in front of me: tasks I could complete, people I could console, anything except the ache in my chest over the people I was about to leave behind.