Chapter Ten
O ne month later
The sound of a phone ringing while we were at dinner was made even stranger by the fact that it wasn’t Everett’s. His was the only one that truly went off when someone had a question or was asking him to come in or something.
Atlas got up in a rush, trying to find his phone. “Not me,” he yelled.
That got Everett up and since we seemed to all be checking our phones, I did the same.
It wasn’t impossible for it to be me. Hannah could be calling to rant about something, or I might have finally been hearing back from that lawyer I’d reached out to.
I was requesting a meeting, and technically, they should be responding with an email, but my number was on the application.
Albeit it was after normal working hours.
I was just as shocked as the others when it was, indeed, my phone. My first thought was that it was Hannah, but as soon as I saw the name on the screen, I answered it without thinking. “Mama?”
“Yes, I’m calling her now, if she’ll pick up.”
“Mama, I’m here.”
“What was that?”
I had to fight the urge to roll my eyes.
She was literally answering me yet not actually answering me.
All of my alpha moms liked to take charge of everything, which usually meant a lot of eyes and hands and voices on a single project.
Even if that project was something as simple as calling one of their daughters. “Mama Mary! I’m here.”
“Oh, Eve, good. Why weren’t you answering?”
“I did answer.”
“After several rings. What were you doing?”
“Eating dinner. I didn’t have my phone nearby.”
“Ah, you’re so good, not eating with your phone. I’m glad you’re so comfortable with your own company.”
I leaned against the back of the couch, waving at the males to go back to their dinner.
I’d spent all day marinating sesame chicken and paired it with white rice, garlic broccoli, and an egg drop soup that was surprisingly good since I’d never made it before.
It was something I’d always ordered from a restaurant, but I was surprised to see how easy it was to make at home.
None of the males moved.
“Well, actually—”
I didn’t get to correct Mama Mary before the phone was taken from her and my other mom’s voice said, “Eve, you know what’s coming up, don’t you?”
“Hi, Momma Abigail. No, I don’t know.”
She gasped like I’d offended her, which quickly set me on alert. I thought she was going to tell me, not sincerely asking me.
“Wait, I have my planner, I’ll look.”
I didn’t even manage to turn around and dig through my purse before Momma Abigail sighed like I was the biggest disappointment. “It’s Chloe’s bonding anniversary this year. Ten years.”
“Right, yes, I knew that, but it isn’t for a few more months.”
“Yes, well, parties don’t happen overnight. You know this. You’re an expert at planning and organizing.”
I preened at that, my smile wide only to drop when I noticed none of pack Wilder was smiling.
They were all standing around, most likely waiting for me to tell them what was going on.
I tried to wave them off toward the dining room again but none of them moved.
Quickly putting Momma on mute, I told them, “It’s my parent pack. You all go eat before it gets cold.”
The three of them shared a look, and then Atlas and Oaks left, leaving just Everett and me.
“Are you listening to me, Eve?” Momma Abigail demanded.
Crap. Quickly unmuting the phone, I told her, “Sorry, I lost you for a second. I can hear you now.”
“Lost me? Where are you that your connection is no good? I thought you were still in that apartment downtown. Near the financial district?”
“I am. I mean I live there, but I’m not home right now.”
“Where is she, then?” someone in the background yelled.
“Where are you?” Momma Abigail repeated.
“I’m still at my boss’ place.” Glancing up at Everett who was looking at me with a single lifted eyebrow, I amended. “Well, it’s kind of confusing since he’s my boss but he’s also courting me—”
“Eve, sweetheart.”
“Hey, Deborah-Ma.”
“Yes, hi. Why didn’t you tell us you were still working? You made it sound like you were the one enjoying dinner. Are you a private chef now?”
“Don’t distract her if she’s working,” Dad called out in the back.
“No, you’re right. Eve, we need you to take care of your sister’s party. You’re so good with the decorations and organizing everything. You’ll do that, right? It’s the big one-oh celebration. It needs to be perfect.”
“Yeah, sure. I’ll get in touch with Chloe and see what she wants to do.”
“No, no, no. Reach out to her alphas. You have their numbers, right? This should be a surprise for Chloe. She deserves something special. Ten years all packed up. And she picked a good one. You know Toni got a raise? He tested for lieutenant last year and finally heard back.” She was still going on as I nodded, letting her brag about Chloe’s pack.
There was no denying that the prosperity and success of the pack alphas reflected on their omegas—at least in my parents’ opinions.
Eventually, Everett walked away, not that I blamed him. My moms loved to talk, all of them. Especially about my sisters and their packs.
As quickly as Everett left, he was back with my food in a bowl rather than on a plate and silently telling me to take it.
I pressed the phone between my cheek and shoulder, then grabbed the hem of his sweats, since he wasn’t wearing a shirt, and pulled him to me, kissing his pectoral muscles in thanks.
Of course, it was a little treat for me, too, since Everett’s chest, his whole upper body, was like a wet dream.
Large and thick, with enough muscle underneath to show that he was strong without making him look like he spent more time at the gym than at home.
I couldn’t stop myself from petting his chest, feeling the warmth of his skin as I leaned against him.
“Are you still on the phone with Eve?” one of my mom’s asked in the background.
“I wanted to tell her about the ideas I had for Chloe’s anniversary theme.
” I heard the phone be handed over before Mama Ruth just started talking.
“I’ve been looking at all sorts of interest boards and I think a little disco theme will be fun. Lots of mirrors and sparkling lights.”
“Sure, we can do that.”
“Good. Make sure you reach out to Chloe’s pack. They need to approve the date and the venue, and they need to do it soon so you can start ordering things. You know all the customizations will take a while.”
I took a few bites of my dinner as Mama Ruth reminded me of all the little things I’d need to order customized. The table runners, table signs, a welcome sign, the parting bags, maybe a balloon arch, and the decoration for the top of the cake.
I didn’t need her reminders. I had planned plenty of my family’s events over the years.
I had a well-structured list with plenty of notes about little decorations to fluff up a space as well as a list of different caterers that I’d worked with before.
Honestly, I planned all my family’s parties, so I wasn’t sure why I had to listen to them explain everything.
As much as my moms were alphas, and like to be in control, they never actually helped with the party.
Not beyond telling me their ideas. It worked out better this way since more people making the decisions and phone calls could get confusing.
If my moms had to call the bakery for the cake, each one of them would call, and four completely different cakes would show up, probably all at different times.
It was best if everything just went through me.
“I thought Eve was working?” Dad’s voice in the background had Mama Ruth pausing her rant about invitations.
“Are you working, Eve?” Mama Ruth asked.
“No, but I was doing dinner with—”
“Hear that? She’s not working.”
“She said she was,” Deborah-Ma said.
“No,” I corrected, even though they weren’t listening to me. “I said I was at my boss’ house. The pack and I—”
“Have you been writing down what I’ve said?” Mama Ruth asked.
“I got everything,” I assured her. “I promise. I can make this event great for Chloe and her pack. Right now, though, I would like to go finish dinner with my pack.”
“All right. But don’t forget to call Chloe’s alphas. And you need to start reserving dates for the venue and caterers. And—”
“Yep, I’ll get it all. I love you.” I hung up since I knew none of my moms would.
If you didn’t hit the little red button on your end, they’d never hit theirs.
Sometimes, it amazed me how anything in that house got done.
Five alphas. Sure, Dad was a little more relaxed, but that was simply because he was going to do whatever he wanted.
So long as their omega allowed it. For all the chaos the alphas caused, Mom Elizabet was a calm, decisive woman.
What she said was the last word. Her decisions were final.
I let out a loud breath as I finally finished with that call. Without the constant talking in my ear, I hadn’t realized how quiet the house was. Both Atlas and Oaks had already finished their dinner, and Everett hadn’t touched his since I took my call.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have answered,” I admitted. “I wasn’t thinking, but I know how they get once I’m on the phone with them.”
“When’s the last time you spoke with your family?” Everett asked.
“Uh, I’m not sure. We don’t talk on a regular basis, so maybe this last holiday?”
“You haven’t told them about us?” Atlas asked. “Or about your new job?”
“Like I said, we don’t talk all that much. My parents are busy.” I hadn’t even told Hannah about the pack courting me.
“I could tell,” Everett said. “So busy in fact that they didn’t even bother asking how you were.”