Chapter 35
BAILEY
My mom is being a helicopter parent, hovering while I apply my lipstick.
She’s been babying me for the past twenty-four hours, for sure. Trying to reassure me that it’s all going to work out. She even turned up at the library in the middle of the day to bring me lunch and sat for nearly an hour with me.
I’ve soaked it up because a) turning her away is hurtful, especially with what she’s been going through with Dad and b) it’s helping.
I’ve had numerous texts and voicemails from female friends in the pack, but I’ve left them all unread and un-listened to. Word has obviously gotten around that while my new law change request will be granted, I won’t benefit from it myself.
Audrey showed up this morning, ten minutes after I did, and I told her I didn’t need help today. She was sweet and said, “I won’t push you to talk, but if you want to, I’m here. Do you mind if I stay? I was gonna dust the bookshelves.”
She knows me pretty well and I’m glad she turned up because the library has been grand central station today with more than the usual amount of traffic, so she’s taken care of everything while I’ve been at my computer with my headphones on, pretty much ignoring all the looky-loos who want to catch an eyeful of me and see whether I’m crying or not. She took care of everything.
When my folks got back home yesterday, they’d already gotten the scoop from Greyson. Not having to tell them what happened definitely worked in my favor, because I didn’t want to talk about it.
But I did talk to one individual on the phone today.
And I unloaded there. Cicely phoned me and I took a walk and let loose a wicked case of verbal diarrhea.
I gave her it all - the story from start until now.
Except for the stuff I’m not allowed to talk about, which…
let’s just say I know there are often prices attached to witchcraft usage and I’ve heard tales of people paying hefty prices for crossing witches or not following their rules around a spell.
I told Sis what Lucinda said, though, and knew I picked the right person to unload on when she didn’t tell me I should forgive him.
She also didn’t tell me I shouldn’t. She did drop a “Fate knows what it’s doing” which I found irritating, but that’s our religion around here, I guess, so it’s a default reaction.
Cicely listened and she backed me up, said she totally understands how I could so epically malfunction after going through all of that heartache and stress.
When I told her I had a date with Jase tonight, whether I want it or not, she laughed and bet me ten bucks that I’ll let him get to third base.
“Watch out, girlie, you’re starting to melt,” she warned. “Unless you’re happy about it?”
I didn’t answer that. And she might be right, I’m not sure if the ice is thawing. It might be.
It was good to do a catch-up with her and it felt good to spew all my frustrations out to someone who would actually listen to me.
She’s smitten with Jared and though his wolf is still a danger to her, she’s hopeful. And she sounds beyond happy, which is good enough for me.
I did some more digging, too, into people from Jared’s pack and let Cicely know I sent those records to Joel who promptly called me to tell me he’ll reach out to his ex-girlfriend’s mate, Bryce, on behalf of Jared for a contact request with a beta named Jonathan in Bryce and Susan’s pack who grew up with Jared.
A conversation with him could shed further light on Jared’s first shift and the death of his family.
I think it’s huge that Joel is willing to reach out to Bryce for Cicely and Jared. It’s been over a decade since Susan was claimed by Bryce and with Joel’s mating likely being not too far off, it seems healthy that this could bring him closure ahead of that.
Sis already has a phone number for Jared’s cousin so with those leads and with the plans around Dr. Blakely and Cat running some tests on Jared’s wolf, progress is being made and Cicely sounds really happy with the mate Fate gave her.
My conversation with Sis reminded me that my drama isn’t the only one our council is observing at the moment.
Does there always have to be a big drama surrounding the mating of a super alpha?
I guess Jared isn’t a super alpha, but from what I’ve heard, he’s definitely on the extraordinary side of the equation.
***
“I wonder where he’s taking you,” Mom muses again.
She did this at lunch and now she’s doing it by hovering in the doorway of my bathroom.
“No idea.”
“He didn’t contact you today?”
“Nope.”
I did not wear the gold dress. Not to be contrary, either.
I felt so humiliated when I wore it. I wore it with that pheromone I bought online.
A pheromone that did nothing. A pheromone that I can still smell on the dress.
It’s in the very back of my closet inside a zippered garment bag.
And I still smell it every time I go in there.
I need to send it to the dry cleaners in Drowsy Hollow. Or maybe even burn it.
I did put effort in, though I wouldn’t want to admit it aloud.
To match my red manicure and pedicure, I’m wearing a short- sleeved red dress that’s got a fitted bodice and a full bouffant style skirt.
I’ve got it on with red and black polka dot shoes that have a kitten heel because I wanted to be fancy but also didn’t want to break an ankle and whenever I go higher than a kitten heel, it’s a struggle.
My hair is loose and smoothed, which might have something to do with efforts to hide my neck.
The day after tomorrow, Mimi Young arrives. We’re all hopeful this will mean Dad’s senses return to normal, Mom smells like she’s supposed to smell, and that Dad can try to forget what his ex-mate smelled like as well as put him through.
Mom lamented during lunch today on the fact that shifters are so affected by scent. And I know she’s trying to help with my mindset about Jason.
Dani popped by the library this morning for just two minutes with a little roller ball bottle, exactly the same as the pheromone bottle, telling me to roll it on my wrists, behind my ears, roll it where Jase would mark me, as well as behind my knees every four hours.
She warned that it won’t erase my scent and not to be too confident with it, but says it’ll help dull my scent to him a little, which may help with his self-control.
She hugged me goodbye, wishing me luck.
***
The doorbell rings. My heart skips a beat. My belly does a somersault. And I hear a yip that I know comes from inside my head.
Mom clasps her hands excitedly. “He’s here!” She rushes to answer the door.
I decide to roll on more of that stuff Dani gave me one more time before I finish putting on lipstick and chastise myself for wearing the same glossy red shade he seemed to fixate on the other day. I wipe it off with a tissue as I hear my mother calling my name.
My lips are still red, but nowhere near as glossy.
I blow out a sigh, grab my bag, and head down to face the music.
Who knew I’d feel so strangely numb about my first-ever date?
***
His face lights up when he sees me descending the stairs.
“Wow,” he mouths and says, “Even better than the gold one.”
He’s dressed in navy slacks, polished-to-a-gloss brown shoes, and a midnight blue button-down, though the sleeves are rolled, showing off his tattooed arms.
He didn’t shave today so he’s got stubble and as always, it looks good on him. Too good.
He’s holding an envelope in his right hand. He switches it to his left and takes my hand as I get to the bottom step.
“Have a good time, you two,” Mom says, beaming.
I drop my gaze and, saying nothing, follow Jase out of the house.
I’m super-aware of his hand, of how big it is, how warm. I’m also well aware that mine is clammy and trembling.
A bunch of whistles and calls startle me. Across the street at Leona’s house are a bunch of females, including Ivy, Amelia, Erica, and Stacy. Oh shit! And Jase’s sisters Gwen and Taylor! Some of these ladies have drinks in their hands. Leona waves enthusiastically.
Shit! Audrey’s recording this!
“Omigod,” I mutter. “Am I a circus freak now?”
A ‘watch Jase date Bailey’ party? This is so typical of our pack. But I can’t be too upset. If I wasn’t the female subject here, I’d definitely be one of the spectators.
Jase laughs and waves at them before he opens the passenger door to his truck for me.
I’ve never seen Jase’s truck this clean. It’s spotless inside and outside.
His hand lands on my lower back as I climb in and he lets out a little growl, which makes me startle.
“Nearly flashed me your little red panties, there, Bay. Careful now…”
“I’m not wearing red panties,” I tell him.
He laughs. “Dang. We’ll have to get you some. The exact shade as this dress.”
My face flames as I smooth my skirt out and clip my seatbelt on and state, “Mine are black today. But I have plenty of red pairs.”
He flashes me a look charged with 100% sexuality as he gets into the driver’s seat, looking uncomfortable as he backs out of the driveway. And with a quick glance it’s obvious his expression comes from the fact that he has an erection fighting the constraints of his well-fitting slacks.
And it occurs to me that I… Bailey Blackwood… finally have the power to give Jason Creed an erection. And a little voice inside me suggests something I try hard to shove away, but can’t. That voice tells me that I’ll be the only female going forward to give Jase an erection. Ever.
I bite my lip and fight the strange urge to smile about this while I stare straight ahead, avoiding direct eye contact with any of the faces across the street. Because it’s not actually funny. Hysteria is more likely what it is.
He sets the little envelope between us.
“Open that.”
“What is it?” I ask.
“Open it and see, silly.”
I frown.
“It’s not gonna bite ya, baby,” he says with humor.
As I lift the envelope, he tacks on, “Though I am.”
Our eyes meet.