Chapter Eight
Grady takes me back to campus so I can shower and change clothes, apologizing several times on the ride over about his teasing at breakfast. Says it just comes out when he’s trying to break the ice with new people around. Plus, he tells me that it happens when he’s comfortable like he is with his pack, and I fit right into it.
I tell him it’s okay, and it truly is. I don’t want him beating himself up over a joke. I end up apologizing, too, since I’m the one that freaked out.
“You don’t have to be sorry for that,” he tells me, reaching out to stroke the back of my neck. “It’s all a part of getting to know one another and figuring out the do’s and the don’t’s.”
“Besides,” he adds, “it was nice to see Jameson squirming in his seat for once. Before he got taken down a peg by an ex-girlfriend, he used to think he was God’s gift to women.”
I scrunch my nose at him just like I did Raine about shopping. “Please don’t tell me if he was with a lot of girls. I don’t need to hear that.”
Grady laughs. “Okay I won’t say it then. He used to act a little different before he got humbled by a crazy stalker fan.”
My head whips to him. “What do you mean?”
“He had a crazy fan that stalked him everywhere he went,” he tells me. “Got to the point of threats, and come to find out, it was the girl he was dating at the time. She was jealous of his fame and the fact that he wouldn't take her with him on jobs.”
“Jeez, people are crazy,” I say, shaking my head.
He agrees, “That they can be.”
“What about Emerson?” I ask curiously.
Smiling, Grady answers, “Believe it, or not. He is completely opposite his twin. They may look exactly the same, but they’re way different in personality.”
“They don’t look exactly the same,” I argue, glancing out the front window of his car.
“Oh yeah?” he asks. “You can already tell them apart?”
I shrug. “Can’t everyone?”
“No,” he admits. “They can’t. So color me impressed. He's more on the quiet side. Probably wouldn't even be modeling if it wasn't for Jameson. Signed up as a package deal to get his brother's foot in the door, and hasn't been able to stop yet. They keep booking gigs as twins."
"Were they on TV or something?" I ask before explaining. "Because, I swear that I’ve seen them on something. Not like we watched much television in the compound."
He doesn't even so much as flinch at mention of the compound, earning him a few brownie points. "They did do this one thing forever ago, back before we formed our pack. Come to think of it, I do believe it was some religious show or something. You should ask them about it."
I shake my head. "I don't want to have to explain how I saw it."
"That's fair," he says, reaching across to my seat to take my hand. "Please don't be afraid to be open with us like you were last night. We want to know every part of you. Even the darkest places."
His words choke me up, and I can't respond to it.
He switches subjects to trivial stuff the rest of the way. Him asking at one point if I was okay doing my laundry lately, making me laugh like he’s good at. When we make it to campus, he goes to give me a kiss on the cheek, but I turn my head at the last minute and his lips catch my mouth instead. The fire that Kinkaid started last night, I realize, wasn’t ever extinguished. The embers were there waiting to be fanned again, and Grady does just that.
I can taste his warm-vanilla scent on my tongue and it seems to seep down my throat and into my belly. An image of Kinkaid’s proposal last night pops into my head, and I have to stop myself from the whine that wants to come out.
As our kiss ends, and I put a little space between us, I stare into his eyes and become even more brazen than I was last night. "If I end up staying again tonight..."
Well, I thought I was brave enough to get it out. My words fall off as I stare into his dark-blue eyes.
A smile creeps up on his face as he answers the question I didn't ask. "Yes. Come stay with me."
I bite my bottom lip, a small movement his eyes track before he gently grabs my chin and pulls my lips back to his. By the time that I'm finally stepping out of his car, my face is likely as red as it can get. Not just from the blood pumping twice as hard in excitement but also from the slight burn from the stubble lining his jaw and top lip.
I'm still smiling when I run up the stairs and take out my key to unlock my room. Of course, it dies quickly when I see all three of my roommates scattered around the room doing classwork. Well, Whitney and Nichole are. Laura has her stuff spread out, but her phone is in front of her face.
Whitney is the first one to look up. Her expression of disgust is all I need to know before she even opens her mouth to speak. "Decided not to come back last night, huh? Where've you been? Whoring around with those alphas?"
Laura snorts, not glancing away from her phone. Nichole ignores us all completely. Just like I ignore Whitney and go into my room, shutting the door behind me.
Jameson said he was going to sleep for a little while and would text when he's on his way to pick me up. That means that I had to give his twin my number, too. Not that I hate Jameson. I understand where he was coming from. I just wish that we could've gotten off to a better start this morning.
Since I ended up getting a good night’s sleep with Kinkaid, I decide to take a super long shower, taking the time to shave everything before sitting down at my desk to get some work done for my classes. There's an email from one of my professors saying that I need to pick a book from his list for our final paper. I end up having to send him five choices. From what I'm assuming to cut down on him having to read every paper on the same book, he gave us a ton of different options. We've still got months until the end of the semester, but that doesn't mean that I can't get started on it. I set a reminder on my phone that's now on the charger with the names of the books I chose. I'll probably buy all five of them to read. That's just one more thing that we weren't allowed to do on the compound. All reading material had to be approved by The Reverend. Let's just say that the fantasy books on this class list would've never made the cut.
I spend a few hours getting ahead in some of my classes since I'm completely caught up. It helps to do this on the weekend when I know that it's going to be busy during the week with classes and practice. When I finally close my laptop, I get dressed in my snug-fitting white shirt and overalls. I don't want to spend any more time in this room, since all I can think about is how good it felt in Kinkaid's last night.
Stuffing all of my things in my pockets, including my phone charger, I lock both doors that lead into my room before going out into the main one. At this point, I don't trust my roommates, which really sucks, considering I'm stuck with them for the rest of the year. None of them speak to me this time as I leave as fast as I came.
Taking a deep sigh, I really don't know if my anxiety can take many more months of this. As I race back down the stairs, I think about going to talk to Coach and taking her up on the offer to move. Alas, all that's going to do is piss everyone off more when I get special treatment. If I can survive the compound, I can certainly survive three girls still stuck in their high-school mentality.
As I make it outside, I realize that I hadn't given much thought as to where I was going once I left. I was in that much of a hurry to just get out. Without much thought to it, my feet take me over to the shop on campus to see if they have any of the books that I want in stock.
The same guy from weeks ago greets me as I walk in, and I throw up a friendly wave. He's helping a couple as I walk around, but by the time I determine that they don't have a single book like I'm looking for, he's free and walks over to me.
"Hey, again," he says, walking up.
"Hi." I smile.
"Something I can help with?" he asks.
I explain what I had been looking for and that I didn't think they had it.
"Yeah," he agrees sadly. "We don't carry those unfortunately. But, I could order them and have them sent here for you to pick up so that you don't have to pay shipping."
He's already walking over to his counter and typing things in on his computer before I can say, "Actually, that's okay. I was hoping to have it sooner, so I might see if I can find it somewhere else first. Thank you, though."
He smiles in a cute, nerdy way, but it does nothing for me like my pack does.
My pack? When did they become that?
I'm so distracted with my thoughts that I don't realize he's said something until he repeats it.
"Want to go out sometime?"
I open my mouth to reply, but a voice at my back beats me to it just as an arm goes around my shoulders. "Sorry, friend. She's taken. Like, really taken."
Glancing up at Raine, that fire comes back from earlier. Apparently, I like the way he stakes his claim on me. But not at the risk of hurting someone else, because I don't miss it as the guy flinches at Raine's words.
"Thank you anyway," I tell him. "And thank you for all your help."
"Anytime," he says with his eyes flicking to Raine before he scurries off to help someone else.
I turn on my heel, as angry as I am turned on. Two feelings at war with each other that I can't explain.
We get outside, and I stalk away from him, not checking to make sure he's following.
Maybe because I knew he was. "Are you angry with me, pretty girl?"
I spin on my heel, my short hair flaring out as I do. "A little, yes."
His chin lifts the smallest fraction. "Did you want to go out with him? You aren't tied down to us, and I apologize if I overstepped."
Throwing my hands up in frustration before taking a deep breath and releasing it. "Of course, I didn't want to go out with him. You saved me from a likely super awkward situation. Because apparently, I'm a sucker for a man that teaches me how to do laundry. I just felt bad for him. I love the way you staked your claim."
I'm nothing if I'm not honest with him and his pack lately. A smile lifts his cheeks as he closes the distance between us. He puts an arm around my back and pulls me tight against his body. "Next time I'll stake it like this, instead."
He bends down and slants his lips over mine. Where the other two have taken it slow and let me adjust to their kissing styles. Raine is aggressive and takes what he wants. Our teeth clash at one point, but his hand moves behind my head, holding me in place so that I don't pull away. Both hands drop to my bum, and he grabs handfuls of cheeks as he lifts, pulling me up in his arms. All without breaking the kiss.
I lose myself to him until I hear someone whistle as they walk by, and it drops me back down into reality. My breathing is ragged when I regretfully pull away. I love that his cheeks are flushed and he's breathing just as hard as I am.
Someone walks up to our side, and I realize the whistle didn't come from a passerby. It came from Emerson. He lowers his sunglasses with his finger and looks at me over the rim. "Looks like I picked the right time."
I grin at him unashamed as Raine sets me back on my feet.
"I wasn't even gone five minutes," Raine tells him as we start walking.
"Hey," I interject, "how did you find me, anyway. I was waiting for a text."
Raine tucks me beneath his arm as Emerson moves to my other side, the former explaining, "Remember last week when we did the find my friends thing?"
"Yeah," I reply, drawing it out.
"We're friends. I just used it to find you," he says with a shrug.
I shake my head. Alphas.
It only takes an hour or two before we find the dress that I want for tonight. Honestly, I should say that it only takes twenty minutes for that. Emerson and Raine just had me trying on a ton of other things, too. Much like my first shopping trip, everything we liked went into a keep pile and what we didn't got handed back to the people working. As it began to grow, I had to stop them and explain that I didn't want to waste a ton of money on clothes when I've got what I need.
Emerson and Raine had looked at each other and laughed before explaining that I wasn't paying for anything today. That I needed things to fill my closet at their home. They'd actually called it our home, and even still, hours later as I hang all of the stuff they bought in the closet, my chest hurts from not crying thinking about it.
I've got dresses, shoes, pants, shirts, and even purses. More than I've ever had. I don't even see how I'll wear it all. They took great pride in stopping in the sexy underthings store, too. I'm pretty sure they bought every lacy scrap of material in my size there, and every color had to have a matching bra. When I'd argued that there was no way I could play in something like those, they laughed and led me over to the more practical section once they realized that I wouldn't take Raine's suggestion of wearing nothing seriously.
We'd talked about how the twins weren't hardly ever separated, even growing up, so I offered to let Emerson come to dinner, to which he accepted without thinking about it.
They'd even dragged me over to the makeup counter, but that was a complete bust. There was no way I was caking my face with stuff that has a biohazard label on the back of it. A small fact neither of them noticed until I pointed it out. I was then dragged away from the counter.
I'd complained about them spending money on me at first, but when I saw that it wasn't doing any good, I gave up and let them have their fun. The only other time I mumbled complaints was when we got to the pajamas. They bought these sexy gowns with tiny straps. Not that I'll mind wearing them, but I rather liked sleeping in Kinkaid's clothes last night.
When I said so, Raine countered, "These are for show, pretty girl. They're made to come off. You'll be sleeping naked in no time."
My cheeks had flamed, especially as a couple girls near us giggled as they walked away. I hid my face, and he brought my face up with a finger underneath my chin. "Don't hide from the world. You are beautiful and should want everyone to know that you've got a pack completely obsessed with you."
He kissed me right there in the middle of the store with Emerson, the girls, and Lord only knows who else watching, and I let him. His words still warm my chest, thinking of them.
We'd parted ways once all of my bags got dropped on my bed. They'd offered to stay and help put everything away, but I asked to do it. I needed a moment. Now that I've got the deed done, I'm tempted to search him out and show him just how much I appreciate how good he's made me feel today. Emerson, too, but we just met and that might be a little weird for him.
If only I had more than ten minutes now to get ready, I so would. As it stands, I've only got enough time to dress in the short, black dress that we picked out, pull my hair up in these tiny clips, and slip my feet into my short heels before there's a knock at my door.
When I open it, Jameson gives my body a once over with a quick purse of his lips, but there's something off about him. Then he smiles, and I've got him.
"Ready to go?" he asks. When I nod he adds, "Emerson is waiting downstairs in the car for us."
I try my best not to laugh. So, that's how they want to play? Okay, we can do this. I take his offered elbow pretending that this wasn't the man that I just spent all afternoon with as he leads us to the door. Grady is standing at the sink in the kitchen. He shakes his head with a smile before winking at me. Oh, he knows what they're up to, too. I wink back at him. Both for our shared secret and for when I make it back. That's when his eyes drink his fill of my legs in this dress. I'd purposely chosen it for this reason. The three of them couldn't keep their eyes off my legs at the game, but especially Grady. He's a leg guy, without a doubt. And that's where I leave him, with my bare legs on his mind as he peers lustfully after us.
One twin leads me downstairs to the other waiting at the car just as he said he'd be. We pile into Kinkaid's SUV with me sitting between them in the back.
Kinkaid turns in his seat and opens his mouth to say something but catches sight of my legs and has a complete brain fry moment like Grady upstairs. I'm chuckling behind my hand as his heated gaze lifts to mine.
"Hi, I'm Kinkaid," he says, having to clear his voice. "I'll be your driver for this evening. Where are we headed?"
The twin at my left answers, directing him to a restaurant downtown. The name sounds familiar, but I can't remember why. Doesn't matter, though, because as humorous as I've found his and Grady's reaction to my legs, I seem to be having the same one to the scents surrounding me in the tightly fitted backseat. Not only is Kinkaid's allspice hitting me like a ton of bricks, but the twins smell like freaking pie.
Emerson has more of a citrusy lemon tart smell to him. Whereas Jameson is all sweet, blueberry. Both smelling good enough to eat. Throw in Kinkaid's allspice and I feel like I'm standing in the kitchen cooking the pies myself and waiting for them to come out of the oven to eat. I wonder for a second what it'd be like with all five of them in here. Throw in sunshine and warm vanilla to the mix, and I might very well pass out from it.
I try to keep my limbs to myself not touching them, because I'm not sure I can trust myself at the moment to not lose my mind. As we pull up to the restaurant, I realize where I've heard the name.
"This is your normal place," I tell Kinkaid, leaning forward into his space.
He flicks his eyes over to me and then down to where the v on my dress is showing an ample amount of cleavage and back up again. I swallow hard, wanting more than ever to kiss him, but I don't want to do that to the twins since this is their date. My gaze holds a promise for later and he grins wider.
As we step out at the curb, the twin claiming to be Jameson helps me out of the car and offers his elbow again. The pretend Emerson moves to my other side and that's how we walk into the restaurant. If the ritziness of the decor didn't speak volumes for this place, the clientele certainly would. It seems like every single woman is dripping in diamonds and every single man knows the twins. They don't stop us, but offer a nod or wave in our direction.
We make it to our table and fake Emerson pulls out my chair for me. When we sit, I'm offered the menu. As I open it, I realize that it's all in French. A small fact that reminds me that everyone in here likely went to private boarding schools to learn the language as I was being raised on a mutated form of God. I was fine with the stares as we walked in, but I can't take them now, wondering if they know that I'm playing pretend as much as the alphas sitting with me.
Setting the menu down, I stand, quietly telling them, "I have to go to the restroom."
"Down the hall and to the left," one of them tells me. Since my chest feels constricted, I can't even bother to tell which one of them says it.
Casually walking in the direction they point me, I try my best not to run and draw more attention to myself. As soon as I'm inside one of the private bathroom stalls, I pull my phone out of my small purse that I was thoughtful enough to bring.
Kinkaid answers on the second ring. "The twins boring you that much already that you need me to come rescue you?"
For a moment I can't breathe, and it's long enough that he worries, his tone changing. "Marnie, love. What's wrong?"
"I can't read the menu," I squeak out. "What am I doing here, Kinkaid?"
I can tell he's smiling on the other end. "Nobody can read that menu, love. Well, maybe some can, but most just guess and get surprised when duck or something worse lands on their table."
"There's duck?" I ask with another squeak. "I don't want to eat a duck."
He chuckles lightly. "Just tell the twins to order you what they're having. Neither of them like the weird stuff. Also, if it makes you feel better, they can't read the menu either."
I laugh with him as my panic calms. "Thank you."
"Anytime," he says, pausing before adding. "And Marnie?"
"Hmm?" I reply.
"You're there because two of your potential pack wanted to do something nice with you for an evening," he says. "Nothing and no one matters other than that."
"Even if I don't fit in?" I ask softly.
"You do fit it," he says, matching my tone. "You fit right in the middle of us where you're meant to be."
I stare up at the light to keep from crying. Thanking him again, I hang up before the tears start flowing. Stepping out to the sink, I fan my cheeks to try to get the redness to go away.
"I'd be fanning myself, too, if I was here with the Slade twins," a woman in a bright-red dress says coming out of one of the other private stalls. She runs a finger across her lips that are the same shade as her dress. I don't know what her intent is by talking to me but I don't give her the pleasure. I give her a half smile and walk back out to our table.
"You okay?" pretend Jameson asks.
I nod and ask him to order me what they’re having just as Kinkaid told me to. Fake Emerson narrows his eyes at me. He doesn't realize that he gives everything away in every facial expression.
While we wait on our food, we talk about their lives. How they have rich parents who traveled so much that they were never home. And how they met Kinkaid first in the pack when he was working at a restaurant in New York. Then Kinkaid's work brought him out here where they followed and came across Raine and Grady. The five of them have been inseparable ever since. We talk about them all the way through dinner, then the conversation takes a sharp U turn.
"So, were you a happy child growing up?" Fake Emerson asks.
I grit my teeth to keep from saying something I'll regret. It feels like breakfast at their home all over again. As much as I'm thankful for everything the pack did for me today and the dinner we're enjoying together, I just don't want to ruin it by talking about the compound. Especially here where people are probably listening.
"You promised no weird questions," I remind him.
Still playing his game, he says, "I didn't. Did you say that to her this morning?"
"Stop playing," I hiss low enough to not be heard at other tables and keeping a smile on my face. "I don't know what game this is, Jameson, but I don't want to play anymore, okay? And I don't want to be talking about things that are upsetting in public."
Emerson looks proud as his twin sits back in his seat and links his fingers over his stomach. "How long have you known?"
I roll my eyes. "Since the moment Emerson showed up at my door."
The twin suggested raising his eyebrows. "Did you go to the bathroom to call Kinkaid to figure out how to order dinner?"
Now it's my turn to narrow my eyes at them. "How did you know that?"
He sits back in his chair, mirroring his twin except with his hands on the rests on the sides. "That was a very Kinkaid thing for you to say when you came back."
"How could you tell us apart?" Jameson asks. "Our scents?"
I roll my eyes again. "Not even close. Your scents aren't very strong at all like most alphas normally are to me. It's your expressions and how you talk."
He grins at his twin. "Well, that's a first."
"You can't scent us well because we're on blockers that typically take a while to wear off after our jobs," Emerson tells me, which makes total sense now.
"So, you're telling me," Jameson starts, "you can tell us apart not using our scents, called Kinkaid for help, accepted support from both Grady and Raine when you needed it?"
"Yeah, I guess so," I answer honestly. "Does that mean that I pass your test?"
"With flying colors," he replies instantly. "Sorry we put you through that. Please don't be upset with us."
I relax back into my chair, not even mad. "I can't be upset with you. I'd want to know who was infiltrating my pack at my absence too."
The rest of the night passes in relaxed joking. I even give them both quick kisses on their cheeks when we get back to the apartment and thank them for a great night out.