Chapter Eighteen
Evan
“You’re making the right decision, Rose,” I assured, as we made bracelets together at a table in the rec room at the Omega Center.
“As nice as my dad’s offer is to move in with him, I want to stay at Finchley for the rest of high school.
I only have one year left. I’m looking forward to my visit this summer so that I can get to know them.
Maybe I can be closer when I go to the university.
” Today, she was braiding strings with beads on them.
“Exactly. Also, you’re not that far as it is. You can visit on weekends and holidays.” While there wasn’t an ultra-bullet to where her dad’s pack lived, there was still a pretty fast regional train that would get her close.
The pack that had been after her was in jail. She was now safe. It looked like everyone would be mostly okay.
We finished our visit. I grabbed my things, signed out, and left the Center for the day. My shoulders wiggled with happiness as I drove home. Grace had her date with Brennan, and I got Jett all to myself tonight. It had been way too long since we’d had quality time in the playroom together.
Yes, I wanted to be suspended from the ceiling and smacked and railed until I was an enormous pile of omega goo. While I loved Brennan, and my time with just him–and both of them–I enjoyed being with only Jett, too.
Grace needed a little time with Brennan. Would it be too much to hope that we could all spend the night together? Last night, after her book club meeting, she’d spent all night with just me. Which was delightful, but I really did sleep better with one of my alphas.
When I got home, a mauve pickup truck, with dark green detailing, and a bow on it, sat in the driveway. It wasn’t a big, rugged pickup like Wes had, but a cute little one.
Please let that be something Brennan got for Grace.
The kitchen sat empty, though some ingredients littered the counter. I went upstairs to find Jett and Brennan.
Their bedroom smelled like pine, soap, and anxiety as I discovered a mostly naked Brennan shaving in the bathroom.
“You got Grace a truck?” I laughed.
“Who do you think had the truck delivered? It was Spencer. Now what I got her isn’t going to seem like anything. I mean, it’s not a courting gift. Because I’m not courting her. But, ugh. Okay, I can understand why Wes was so annoyed when I got you a car.” Brennan examined himself in the mirror.
Wait. What did he get her?
My car had been a piece of shit held together with twine and duct tape. Wes was annoyed because he planned on using his signing bonus with Compass BioTek to get me a new vehicle. He was just waiting for a particular one to be in stock.
“We’ll be home late. There's dinner first, then the concert. Jett said that you’re having some quality alone time.” He gave me a look as he combed his hair.
That was code for using the playroom.
“Yep. We’ll probably be done by the time you get home. He can send you pictures.” I waggled my eyebrows.
“I’m a little jealous, but I really want to hear Kari play. Also, it will be nice to spend time with just Grace. She’s doing okay with them being gone? She was a little grumpy when I picked her up from work.” Brennan left the bathroom and went into the bedroom.
I followed him. “She wanted to drive Wes’ truck to and from work by herself, not to be dropped off and picked up every day.”
“Well, I suppose that she can take her truck tomorrow. Where are we going to park it? The driveway until we can extend the garage?” Brennan’s tux was laid out on the neatly made bed.
“I guess?” While we had an enormous garage, we also already had four cars, several motorcycles, and dirt bikes. “And yes, spend all the time with her.”
“Will you go check on her?” he added, combing his hair. “We need to get going.”
“Okay.” With one last glance at my mostly naked mate, I went upstairs to find Grace. She was doing her makeup in my bathroom.
“Hi.” She smiled as she applied lipstick. Tiny music note earrings hung in her ears.
“That dress is stunning.” It was a black and white dress, with a ruffle.
“Thanks. You picked well.” She twirled around.
I shook my head. “Not me.”
“Oh. You didn’t get it and put it out for me?” Frowning, she fluffed her hair.
“Wait, come here.” Pulling her to me, I checked the tag. Vecci was one of Brennan’s favorite designers, and most of his suits were from there.
“My guess is that it’s Brennan.” Awww. Was that the gift he mentioned?
She paused. “Oh. How kind of him. Is this necklace okay? It’s something Spencer gave me.”
“It’s perfect. You look great. Speaking of great, you have a pink truck,” I teased.
Grace ducked her head. “It’s so sweet. It needs stickers.”
“I’m sure Riley can help you with that. Are you almost ready?” I bundled her into my arms. She didn’t smell quite right.
“Yes.” She sighed. “I miss them.”
“They’ll be back tomorrow night. Wes’ panel went well,” I told her.
“Spencer sent me a video. He said that his panel went well, too.” Grace struck a pose.
“Perfect.” Really, she looked so cute and fuckable. Was Brennan going to fuck her tonight?
Could I watch?
“Are you nervous?” I asked.
“A little.”
“Don’t be. He’ll be sweet with you. Also, you might get some in-the-dark snuggles during the concert.” Really, it wasn’t that bad. We just liked to tease Brennan because the music wasn’t really to our tastes.
“You’ll be okay with Jett. Date night in?” Grace got her purse and her shoes.
“Yep. I’m excited for some quality alone time with him. You know, if you want them to spend the night with us, we can ask. I’d love to watch Bren and Jett make a Grace sandwich.” I grinned.
“Evan.” She smacked me with her purse as she went downstairs.
“You know you want to,” I laughed.
Grace paused as we got to the area on the second floor with the piano.
Brennan looked ultra fuckable in a black tux with white accents that matched her dress. A box with a bow sat on the piano.
Oh. That was the present.
“You look amazing.” His eyes were on her.
Jett joined us, in only shorts.
“You too.” She tugged on his white tie, straightening it. “Did you get me this dress? Thank you. I appreciate it.”
“If you ever don’t like my suggestions, it’s okay. I know you’re not used to all this, so I was just trying to be helpful. Also, apologies for going into your room without permission.” His look went bashful.
“I don’t mind. No really, thank you.”
Jett chuckled. “I almost want to tag along just to watch those two act like they’re at a school dance. Almost.”
She pulled Brennan down and kissed him on the cheek.
“Oh, I got you something.” He handed her the gift.
She unwrapped it and sucked in a breath. “You really got me the Theodosia doll?”
The doll wore a stunning dress straight out of the Golden France era. Oh wow.
He beamed. “I found one with a working piano. It doesn’t have a box. But it’s new. It was a store display.” Reaching out, he tapped one key of the doll’s ornate grand piano.
I put a hand to my face. “Jett, can you imagine when the triplets come?”
“We’re so fucked,” Jett whispered, grinning.
“I love her.” She clutched the doll to her chest, sheer joy on her face.
“We’re going to make you a creepy doll room. Wes and I figured it could also double as a guest room for people we don’t want to stay for long.” Brennan chuckled. “I’m happy you like her.”
Gently, he set the tiny piano and the doll on his piano.
“She is. I love her little piano.” Grace touched one of the tiny keys and it plinked a little note.
He offered her his arm. “We should get going.”
“Bye.” Grace kissed me, then hugged Jett.
They went down the stairs.
“Is he taking her on his motorcycle?” I asked. Usually, Jett drove us in his sports car, because Brennan was okay with the top down. When it was snowing, we could make my 4x4 work.
“In that dress? No, he’s going to take my car.”
We went downstairs, and I helped him chop up the ingredients for dinner.
“Are you okay with whatever this is between them? He says they’re not courting. Which I believe, because he’d talk to us first before courting her. But clearly his inner alpha has other ideas.” Jett grated some ginger into the sauce he was making.
“I’m here for it. Also, I think we should all sleep together tonight, even if we actually just sleep. Do you think we could do that?” I glanced over at him as I chopped vegetables.
“I don’t have a problem with that. You know I like her.
When I was getting some new things for tonight, I found some rope in a really pretty color that she’d like.
Maybe one day she’ll let me use it on her.
I know it’ll be a process for her. If she never gets there, it’s fine.
I just want to be prepared if she ever wants to try.
” He crushed up some garlic and added it.
Leaning in, I kissed him. “Thank you. You got things for me?”
Could we skip dinner and go right to it?
“Of course I did.” Jett kissed me back.
Yeah, they could have their concert. I couldn’t wait.