Chapter Sixteen
Falcon
Everything’s fine. Jay was just keeping Harper happy, taking care of his needs instead of rushing home with him. That’s all.
The agitation their late return stirred in me is slow to shake off.
Truth is, it’s not fine.
Nothing is the way it’s supposed to be.
Not while I’m too damn distracted to pay my mates the attention they deserve.
As if he can hear my thoughts, Harper holds me a little closer, his side hug reminding me he’s home, while his warm fingers start to move my shirt upwards.
I tense up when I realize what he’s doing, and his fingers stop, hovering over the bare patch of skin that’s now exposed. One little touch, and he could cool my agitation right down.
All I’d have to do is allow it.
“Are you okay?” Harper asks, holding back while he waits for my answer.
I let out a slow breath. “It’s not about this. I just …”
“Right, I know,” he says, smoothing my shirt back down. “It’s the girl you rescued.”
He doesn’t sound mad, but he’s not exactly happy, either.
It’s cruel to subject a sensitive Omega to this kind of emotional turmoil.
If I could stay away from him until this was over, I would.
Unfortunately, I don’t think it would really help anything.
“I should be … back to normal soon,” I add. “Shayne came up with a plan.”
He lets me go and gives me a questioning look. “A plan? Don’t you just have to wait …”
“I’m done waiting. Shayne and I are going to Goldcrest’s next social.”
He blinks, his eyes widening. “You’re doing what?”
“It’s the only way we can get into the building. We’ll find her, make sure she’s okay, and then we’ll come back home. It’ll be over. Done.”
He nods slowly. “I get it. I think …”
The front door rattles and we both jump slightly at the sudden intrusion, before Shayne walks into the apartment and closes the door behind him.
“Hey, I got your message,” he says, his usual sunny smile nice and bright for Harper. “You’re home. How was practice?”
I watch Harper walk toward him and I zone out.
The rest of the day feels like it’s moving in slow motion.
One more week until I can relax.
I hope it doesn’t kill me.