Chapter 26 Delilah
TWENTY-SIX
Delilah
“Del!” As soon as I step into Stella House, Kady’s voice rings through to me from the kitchen. “In here!”
I enter to find her, Faye, and Sabs sitting around the breakfast bar, sipping cups of herbal tea. From the fact that Faye’s cup is empty and the other two girls’ cups look untouched, I’m guessing they’re not the biggest fans of Faye’s latest blend.
“Hi everyone,” I greet them meekly.
To my surprise, instead of being barraged by a series of questions, the girls seem relatively calm considering the circumstances. Though I don’t miss the way Sabs’s jaw twitches as if she’s restraining herself from talking—probably upon Kady or Faye’s request.
Faye looks coy as she gestures to the teapot. “Do you want a cup?” When she holds up the glass teapot, I can see various herbs floating in the bottom of it that don’t look very appetizing. “It’s my newest recipe. It’s supposed to produce a calming effect.”
Behind her, Sabs scrunches up her nose and shakes her head in warning.
“Thank you, but I’m not that thirsty right now,” I say as Sabs gives me a thumbs-up.
“Don’t worry, I’ll save some for you to try later.” Faye isn’t at all disheartened. “Although judging by the look on your face, you may not need it.”
“Well, I certainly need some calming down,” Kady butts in, grimacing as she takes a sip before slamming down the lid of her laptop.
She blows a strand of hair out of her face with a violent puff.
“But you don’t have to worry, Del. All traces of the photos of you and Jagger are gone.
Me and Calder made sure of it.” She sits up straighter.
“Although Jagger offered to help, I wanted to make sure the job was done properly.”
“Thank you.” I climb onto a stool. “And thanks for giving him a list of my favorite snacks.”
“It was sweet of him to call to ask,” Faye comments.
Kady shrugs. “Getting you good snacks is the least he could do.”
Before I remind myself why it was important to keep my distance, guilt stirs in my stomach, thinking of how Jagger was alone last night while the rest of us were together.
“I should have brought some home.” I look around at the barren countertops. “We’re definitely in need of something to eat. Would you like me to whip up something?”
“I have a craving for cheesecake…” Sabs muses.
Her usual upbeat energy seems a little duller today as her eyes stray to her teacup, swirling the suspicious liquid that looks to have a few shriveled petals floating in it.
I go to check the fridge. “I should have everything needed to make one.”
“You always have a craving for cheesecake,” Kady scoffs.
“And?” Sabs sticks out her tongue, seeming to perk up at the prospect of her favorite dessert. “Sue me!”
“How are you feeling now, Del?” Kady asks as I start laying out the ingredients.
“Oh, you know.” I shrug. “The usual side effects that come from using heat patches, but aside from that.” I plonk the cream cheese and butter on the counter. “Okay.”
“It sucks to be an omega sometimes,” Kady huffs. “Alphas would lose their minds if they had to deal with half the shit we do.”
“Thankfully, heat spikes get much more predictable after you’re bonded,” Faye chimes in. “Although I’m not suggesting that you’re going to bond, Del.”
“So what is the situation with you, Jagger, and his pack now?” Looking sheepish, Sabs wraps a red tendril around her finger.
“Okay.” I put down the berries. “You’re officially weirding me out.” I turn to Kady. “Aren’t you going to lecture me about spending the night with Jagger’s pack?” Then I turn to Sabs. “And since when do you not want to instantly know all the dirty details?”
“We trust your judgment, Del.” Faye leans across the island to squeeze my hand. “After listening to his song last night, I don’t think you can fake that level of emotion—”
“For the record, I haven’t forgiven him!” Sabs raises her chin in defiance. “But Nash and Tae sound like nice guys. And all we want is…” She looks at Faye and Kady for reassurance. “For you to be happy.”
Faye nods in satisfaction, like a director who is pleased that the actors have said the right lines.
“And you don’t think it’s a totally stupid idea that I’m thinking of maybe spending more time with them?” I cock my hip.
“Is that what you want?” Kady asks.
“I…” I exhale deeply as I set my trusty mixer on the counter. “I think so. Maybe? Things with Jagger are… messy, but I can’t deny my connection to him and the others.”
“You can’t fight a scent match.” Faye’s eyes twinkle. “Some things are just inevitable.”
Kady wrinkles her nose. “Inevitable or not, that playboy rockstar has a lot of groveling to do.”
“Hell yeah, he does!” Sabs nods. “You deserve the very best, Del, which has given me an idea.”
“What kind of idea?” I narrow my eyes on her warily. “The last time you had an idea, we ended up TPing Barbara House before passing out on the porch after drinking our body weight in margaritas, remember?”
“Not that kind of idea.” She flicks her wrist. “Although that was a fun night.”
“We want to meet them.” Kady crosses her arms. “Jagger and his pack. Officially.”
Sabs cracks her knuckles. From the looks on her and Kady’s faces, it’ll be more of an interrogation.
I gulp. “You do?”
“If they’re your scent matches, then we have to get to know them.” Kady’s gaze sharpens as she pulls up the calendar on her phone. “I’ll send you some dates to run by them. They all have to earn the Stella seal of approval.” She chuffs. “Not that I see Jagger meeting our high standards.”
Faye nudges her in the ribs. “Be nice.”
“I am being nice!” Kady snarls back at her.
“If you’re meant to be together, everything will work out,” Faye says dreamily. “Just look at me and Damon… And Kady and Calder. She stole his car, and he forgave her—”
“And he stole my editorship,” Kady reminds Faye before her expression softens. “But yes, you have a point.”
“Thank you. I’ll talk to them about it soon.” I beam at my friends. I fan my face to stop the tears from falling, their support meaning the world to me. “I better get on with this cheesecake.” I turn to Sabs. “Would you prefer black forest or New York today?”
Sabs is gazing out of the window, her vacant stare fixed on a tree outside.
“Sabs?” I prompt.
“Huh?” She flinches back to the present. “Did you say something?”
“Are you okay?” I study her features. Physically, she looks fine. “You seem a little off.” That and her sweet cherry scent smells slightly sour, which usually hints there’s something on her mind.
“I’m all good.” She plasters on a wide smile that doesn’t feel genuine. “Just tired from last night.” She yawns melodramatically. “A stressful volleyball game followed by a night out with one too many tequila shots.”
I won’t press if she doesn’t want to talk about it, turning my focus to the one thing that’s sure to improve her mood.
“Hmm.” I decant the ingredients into the mixer to start making the crumb. When I turn it on, an alarming rattle rings out, like multiple parts clunking around together before the noise cuts out completely. “Come on…”
I flick the switch on and off again. Another ear-piercing metallic screech echoes around the kitchen like a banshee, making Faye grimace before it lets out a dying wheeze.
“That doesn’t sound good.” Sabs peers at it. “Maybe the motor’s gone.”
“This is my favorite mixer. Mom bought it for me for my sixteenth birthday. The day I found out my designation.” Despite all the other fancy equipment I’ve saved for and acquired—many bought by Kady as Christmas gifts—this mixer has remained my constant.
The little dent on the side is from when I accidentally knocked it off the counter one Christmas while making sugar cookies, and it dons a faded sticker that my grandmother gave me.
It reminds me of home—hours spent cooking with Mom and us dancing around a steamy kitchen while singing.
“Although kitchen appliances aren’t exactly my area of expertise, I can see what I can do?” Sabs offers. She’s majoring in engineering, but I doubt mixer repair is part of the curriculum.
Frantic, I pull out my phone to start searching. “There must be a manual online with some instructions.”
“Maybe you’ll have to go without your cheesecake today,” Kady teases Sabs.
“Don’t worry, I can do it by hand,” I quickly assure Sabs when her face drops.
“I’m sure she can survive without the dopamine sugar hit.” Faye giggles.
Sabs pouts. “I don’t know about that.”
“I can make you all more tea while you wait?” Faye holds up her empty mug.
Sabs looks guiltily down at her still-full cup. “Uh…”
“You don’t like it, do you?” Faye groans. “Admittedly, it’s not my favorite either. I kinda think it tastes like dirt.”
Sabs gapes at her. “You do?”
“You said it was nice, so I thought it was just me who didn’t like it.” Faye takes her mug to the sink.
“Well, I might have been exaggerating when I said it was nice.” Sabs grimaces. “It tastes—”
“Like potpourri,” Kady interjects.
While they chatter, I’m hunting for the mixer manual when a text comes into my new group chat with the guys.
TAE
Home safe, cookie?
ME
Safe and sound! Although my favorite mixer is broken. The motor may have finally died…
I can’t find anything helpful online, and trying the switch again does nothing.
Nash
What’s the make and model number? I’ll take a look to see if I can find a motor that works.
I snap a picture then send him the details before deciding to whisk the ingredients by hand. It’ll take a little longer, but there’s something satisfying about beating everything together.
Twenty minutes later, Kady grins down at her cell phone. “Hale’s loving his new program.” She turns the phone around to show us a gaggle of puppies that the veterinary students are looking after today.
“They are so cute!” Faye croons. “Look at the cute little pink nose on that one! How is he adjusting to studying again?”
“He’s loving it,” Kady replies. “Although I think Calder is getting a little annoyed with the group chat being filled with animal pictures. He thinks Larry is getting jealous.”
My chuckle patches in my throat when there’s a knock at the door. “Are you expecting anyone?”
Everyone shakes their heads.
“I’ll get it.” Sabs jogs over to the door then returns seconds later, staggering under the weight of a huge box. “They said it was an urgent delivery.” She places it on the counter and looks at me. “It’s for you.”
I frown as I open it up.
“A new mixer?” Kady lets out a low whistle when she sees the bright box inside the packaging. “Your guys don’t mess around, huh?”
I swear, this model hasn’t even been released yet. It has so many settings and fancy knobs with a shiny red chrome exterior that almost blinds me. The loud color doesn’t match our cozy kitchen and makes my old mixer look like a faded relic side-by-side.
My heart sinks as I tear off the note attached to the box:
I hope this solves your problem. It’ll be faster than waiting for Nash to fix it! If you’d like to go on a date, I’ll be at Springflour Bakery at 8pm on Friday night. Jagger.
“What do all those buttons do?” Faye skeptically ogles the mixer. “I’d be afraid I’d break it.”
I shut the empty box while blowing out an exasperated sigh. I should be grateful for this gift, but seeing the glossy red mixer on the countertop only stirs up annoyance.
“It’s from Jagger.” My shoulder burn with satisfaction as I return to beating the ingredients, the wooden spoon hitting the sides of the bowl in a rhythmic fashion helping me expel my frustration.
Sabs inspects the now-crumpled note. “A hot date, huh?”
“Easy, Del.” Kady wipes a bit of batter from her laptop that went flying. “Or we’ll be cleaning up cheesecake mix for the next week.”
“Sorry.” I take a pause from my intense arm workout before there’s more on the counter than in the bowl. “The mixer is a generous gift. It must’ve cost a fortune, but…”
Sabs arches an eyebrow. “But?”
“But I don’t want Jagger to buy his way into my life.” I look at the scarlet monstrosity. “I’m not interested in Jagger Knight—the rockstar. He’s not the man I need.”
Or want. I want the real Jagger. The one I met last year.
And this new mixer only seems to highlight our differences—that we’re from two completely different worlds.
I’m looking for ways to fix what happened between us, but he’s fast to discard what’s broken and simply upgrade.
Is that what he’ll eventually do with me?
“Are you going to go on the date?” Kady asks me.
“I think so.”
Despite everything, I need to see if the guy I met last year is still in there… And whether we have a chance of a future.