Chapter 13 #2
“No. I just needed to vent,” I say with a sigh as we pull off the main road into a neighborhood. Benson nods, and I take the next few moments to just breathe and compose myself.
I am not ready for this dinner or the way it makes my heart ache. Not at all.
“Is everything okay, Plum?” Kai asks when we get out of the car.
I glance up at the massive two-story house before me. He better have something that helps Bee up the damn stairs that are no doubt in there. She walks with a cane most days.
“She’s fine,” Nick grumbles, stepping up to my side.
I don’t see Kai’s reaction, because I’m too busy admiring the Christmas decorations Bee already has up. Now, I like Halloween as much as the next girl, but I’ve always loved Christmas. There’s just something so magical about the season that’s missing from the rest of the year.
Bee is honestly a big part of that love. She decorates the day after Halloween, ready to start off the holiday season as soon as possible. She’s always been that way, and I adore her for it.
Apparently we’ve been standing out here for long enough, because Bee’s front door swings open. I snort when I see her standing there with a green elf hat on and her walking cane wrapped with red ribbon. Yeah, she’s definitely feeling as festive as always.
“Well, get in here!” Bee says half-chidingly as she ushers us in from the cold.
The second we’re inside, she turns and pulls me in for a hug.
Bee gives really good hugs, some of the best. It’s comforting, putting me at ease in seconds, and I relax into her arms as she squeezes me tight.
She’s never been one for words, preferring actions, and somehow, this hug feels like it says all the things she doesn’t.
As she holds me extra tight, I sniff, trying to hold back my emotions.
“I missed you,” I murmur softly, and Bee nods, patting my back before releasing me.
She hugged me before even greeting Kai, the boy she raised. The man she now shoots a little glare at before accepting the hug he offers her. I can’t be certain, but I swear I also hear her mumble, 'pain in my ass,' quietly as they hug.
“Mom, you know Nick and Benson, Plum’s boyfriends,” Kai says, as both alphas hold their hands out for Bee to shake.
“Nice to see you again. We’ve kind of met at the pumpkin patch, and I’ve seen you around town over the years. Plum and Sable have said a lot of nice things about you, too,” Benson says as she takes his hand first, looking up at him with a little bit of judgment. Like she’s assessing his character.
“Boyfriends, huh? You didn’t mention that on Halloween, Plum," she says, eyes locked on Benson.
“Slipped my mind…” I mumble.
“Hmm.” She grunts, watching him for a long moment. “How old are you?” Bee asks, lifting her brow before sending me a bit of a judgy side-eye.
“Rhian is a year older than me. I’m twenty-two, Mrs. Berrywill,” Benson answers, and Bee drops his hand, nodding once.
“Good. Young and full of hormones, but not so young you’re dumb. And call me Bee, kid,” she says, turning to Nick next. “You, I know well. You’re ten years older than Rhian, Sable’s mate. Helped raise him and the others.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Nick nods as she takes his hand in hers.
"That's good for her," she decides, releasing him before turning away from us and heading further into the house. We follow, and despite my anxiety about coming here, seeing Bee has helped a lot. Even after that little interrogation.
“Dinner should be ready soon,” Bee says as we take our seats at the table. She’s at the head of it, with me at her left and Kai on her right, sitting directly across from me. Benson takes the chair to my left, and Nick takes the one to his, leaving the space next to Kai empty.
The silence stretches on for an uncomfortable amount of time as we all just sit, awkwardly looking at each other. Thankfully, the food is quickly brought out, and everyone focuses on eating, dissolving some of the tension.
It’s awkward but bearable, at least until Bee excuses herself for a restroom break, and Kai opens his damn mouth again.
“So, alphas. What are your intentions with Plum?” Kai asks casually, glancing between the three of us, like he has any right to ask that kind of thing.
“Long term, or just tonight? Because our intentions for tonight are to make Plum scream our names so many times she forgets every man that’s ever touched her before us,” Benson says with a straight face, never looking away from Kai.
For the first time since he returned, I really see Kai react. His muscles flex, and he grips his fork harder, his eyes narrowing slightly. It doesn’t make me think he’s hurting, though. He’s just possessive of things he thinks are his.
“Long term?” Kai grunts, keeping his eyes locked on Benson.
“We’ve been taking things slow. Just enjoying each other, but I’m not going anywhere,” Benson tells him, and he’s so convincing that if I didn’t know better, I’d believe him.
“And you?” Kai directs the question to Nick.
“Plum is the first omega to make me think about things like marriage and mate bonds. Something I didn’t think I wanted until her.”
Nick’s words land like a cold bucket of water down my spine, and I have to remind myself it’s all just to get Kai to stop pursuing me.
It doesn’t help that Bee’s timing is terrible as she walks in to retake her seat while Nick is speaking.
She glances around the table, but I don’t meet her eyes, focusing instead on my plate as Nick continues to answer.
“Plum’s the kind of omega who deserves two devoted alphas, ready to give her the pack she’s always wanted.”
The beta’s reaction to Nick’s words is surprising, as his fork clatters to his plate and he sits back in his chair. He looks half-shocked, half-dazed. Bee is much more positive about it.
“Well, that’s lovely to hear. Plum deserves happiness. I wasn’t sure what your relationship was like, since she didn’t mention dating anyone, but I’m glad to see how much you care for her.” Bee then stuffs a forkful of food into her mouth, thankfully soon distracted by the tasty meal.
“I couldn’t agree more, Bee. Plum deserves all the happiness.” Benson nods, nearly finished with his food already.
He and Nick both look completely unfazed by the beta’s reaction; meanwhile, Kai looks slightly ill, and I’m stuck somewhere between surprised and horrified. Horrified that Bee heard the fake confession and surprised that it seems to affect Kai so much.
Maybe the alphas were right about him hurting?
“Someone shit in your Cheerios?” Bee asks after a long silence, watching Kai with that motherly look she gets when she senses he’s upset. Her confusion morphs into understanding as she sighs. “I tried to tell you, Kai.”
“Tell him what?” I interrupt, frowning. I finally look over at her and meet her eyes.
“Well, for starters, I told him to leave you be. I warned him that he could come back to town early if that’s what he wanted, but to give you your space.
You’re both going to be in Stella’s wedding.
You’ll be forced to be around one another then.
” Bee shakes her head, turning back to Kai.
“You don’t get to be wounded that she’s moving on after what you did,” Bee says gently, firm but kind, reaching over to pat her son's hand.
He nods, and I can’t figure out why he’s reacting the way he is.
“Come on, Plum. I’ve got something I want to give you,” Bee murmurs as she turns to me.
I get up silently, dazed by her words, and follow her out of the formal dining room.
She leads me to her stairs, and not only does she have a single-level elevator, but she also has a staircase seat lift.
I like that she has options, that she isn’t going to be stuck on one floor if something breaks.
Once we’re on the second floor, I follow her out of the elevator and down the hall. I’m thankful she gives me time to process as we walk.
“I knew the day I met you that these would be yours,” Bee says gently as she opens the last door on the left and steps inside.
I don’t feel the least bit awkward as I walk into her bedroom behind her.
When I was a kid, she would let us into her room to play dress-up all the time, and I guess I got used to it.
Being in her space makes me wonder if she still has the picture of Kai dressed as a fairy princess bride.
He tried to convince me to dress as his soon-to-be husband, but I refused.
I wanted to be Santa Claus. An odd choice, but it was pretty on brand for me back then.
“I want you to have something very special to me, Plum,” she says, lifting a box out of a locked safe. I watch her as she walks back over and then hands it to me. It’s dark blue, velvet, and shaped like a large flat square. I stare at it where it rests in my open palms.
“Why?” I ask, my voice barely more than a whisper as I meet her eyes.
“Because I love you. No matter what happens between you and my son, nothing has ever changed that, and I miss you. I already miss my best friend.” Bee swallows thickly, placing her hand on top of the jewelry box.
“And I don’t want to miss anyone else while they’re still here.
” Her words are a gentle whisper, surprising me with her vulnerability.
She’s done that to me twice now, and I sniff, remembering her confession on Halloween.
“This is a good night. It’s good to have you girls here.” Bee glances over at Sable, pointing to her Gram’s witches hat that she always wore for passing out candy to trick-or-treaters. “I sure fucking miss my best friend, though.”
Sable’s scent fills with her sorrow, and I take a deep breath, letting the pain fill my chest. As much as I miss her, it’s nothing compared to Sable and Bee’s heartache. One lost a grandmother, and the other lost her lifelong best friend.
Sable nods, her eyes filling with tears.
“I really miss her too. I think this is the first time you’ve said that,” Sable says, sniffling as I reach over to squeeze her hand, offering her as much comfort as I can in a moment like this.
“Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
I guess it’s just nice to know someone else misses her as badly as I do. ”
“She’s my best friend. We won’t be apart long, dear. I’ll be reunited with her again soon enough,” Bee says with a gentle smile that slowly turns playful. “But moments like this make me miss that old bitch.”
Her teasing insult breaks through the cloud of sadness that had descended, but I see the way the pain clings to her as we clink our glasses of margaritas together.
Sable has been my best friend since I was seven, and at twenty-three, we’ve only shared sixteen years, not seventy. And six of those years were spent as long-distance besties, while Sable was off chasing her dreams.
What would happen to me if I spent seventy years with Sable in my life basically daily, only for her to one day be gone forever? Fuck. I swallow hard as I nod, and Bee drops her hand, waiting for me to open the box.
I don’t mean to cry. I want to be strong for Bee, but there aren’t many people in this world who I love dearly. That would choose me the way that I choose them. Five years is too long to spend hiding from pain.
I lift the lid of the jewelry box and gasp.
“Oh, wow, Bee…” I stare at the stunning jewelry set. There’s a beautiful emerald on a delicate gold necklace and a matching bracelet lined with smaller square emeralds. The earrings are two more emeralds on gold studs. “They’re beautiful.”
“They were my mother’s. They’ll look stunning with your silver eyes.” Her smile has brightened, and I close the box, holding it to my chest.
“Before we go back down there, I just need to say something,” Bee says, taking one of my hands in hers. “If you don’t want anything to do with Kai, no one can blame you for that. But if you decide that you’re willing to hear him out, then no one who matters will judge you.”
“I don’t know if I can…” I whisper, but Bee shakes her head.
“I’m not done. He knows the mistake he made and regrets it more deeply than anything else.
If you do give him a chance and he can prove himself to you, and that's a big if, then there is no one who will be as loyal or as devoted.” She smiles sadly, pausing as she tilts her head side to side.
“Except maybe those two alphas downstairs. They look at you with nothing but pure admiration in their eyes.” She winks, then nods toward the door and ushers me into the hall.
I’m lost in my thoughts, replaying her words over and over in my mind as we say our goodbyes. I promise to return for dinner soon. Alone. Then allow the alphas to lead me to the truck. Kai doesn’t say much more than a quiet goodnight as I climb in, leaving him behind.
“I’m sorry,” Nick murmurs when we’re both buckled in, and I turn to him, frowning.
“For?”
“Snapping at Kai. It was impulsive, and I should have had more self-control, even if he was baiting us,” Benson answers, and Nick nods in agreement.
“The idea that he thinks he can just trick you into wanting him again pissed me off. Then his mom heard me, and… I’m just sorry,” Nick adds, yet after that emotional rollercoaster of a dinner, I’m not sure how I feel.
“Apology accepted, and thank you.” I shrug. “At least you got him to shut up,” I tease, glancing between them. “We still have to get through an evening of baking pies with Sable and her mates.”
“We have to get through forty-eight hours of pies, Omega. Tonight was a breeze compared to what's coming.” Benson chuckles.
“I hope you’re ready to see a very serious side of Benson,” Nick adds.
“Bring it on,” I say with a smile.
Feeling more at ease, I relax in my seat. Kai riled me up, but these two calmed me down again.