Chapter 43 Ben
BEN
Pulling the pan of brownies out of the oven, even I can admit they smell good.
Thea mentioned last week at dinner she’s been craving baked goods and brownies were her favorite.
I may love cooking but baking really isn’t my forte but I think these came out good enough.
Placing them on the counter to cool off, excitement runs through me at surprising her with them.
The plan is for them to be the second surprise after Jake and I show her the first.
Parker is distracting her this morning until we’re ready.
Out of everyone in the pack he is the most qualified for distracting someone.
It’s the weekend and most of us have the day off for once.
Well, it’s usually Jake who may have an odd schedule working for the state park.
But he made sure to have it off. He hasn’t spent much time with her, and outside of our date neither, have I.
We all agreed two people for today’s adventure would be best and less overwhelming if it was the whole pack.
I laugh to myself at the idea of Keelan coming along.
He’d probably add anything she glanced at to the cart.
Just then Jake enters the kitchen, looking as casual as ever in a long sleeved thermal and jeans. “Ready?” he asks.
“Yeah just finished. She’s in Parker’s office,” I say as we both head there and hear her laughing from inside.
I love hearing that sound. Especially since I know how rare it is right now.
Jake doesn’t bother knocking as he strides in.
Thea and Parker are sitting closely together in his giant chair, playing some board game on the ottoman in front of them.
“A board game?” It wasn’t exactly what I thought he’d distract her with but it still makes sense I guess.
“What, do you want to play? Parker is cheating so beware.” She grins. Parker gasps in mock offense.
“You know now that you mention it I remember a few incidents as kids involving Parker.” I keep the teasing going.
“Liar! I am the most honest one among us. It’s a fact,” he says in a playful haughty tone. Jake is just shaking his head subtly at the antics, but he enjoys it like the rest of us given that slight smile he’s sporting.
“See what I have to put up with?” he says to Thea, reaching out his hand to her. “We have a surprise we want to show you.”
She looks between us curiously. “What is it?”
Parker boops her on the nose. “Wouldn’t be a surprise if they did that.” I still can’t get over how amazing it is to see Parker so happy. It’s not that he wasn’t before but it’s clear the effect she’s had on him.
“Yeah today’s going to be an adventure,” I say. Her breath hitches at that which doesn’t go unnoticed by any of us. She quickly acts like whatever affected her didn’t.
As she gets up to leave, she turns back and leans down to give Parker a quick kiss goodbye. We approach the door and Parker calls out, “Have fun!”
We lead her to the second floor and then continue going up to the third floor. “You haven’t been up here yet right?” I ask even though I’m pretty sure she hasn’t.
“Nope,” she says, popping the ‘p.’ When we get to the landing there’s only two doors in the small hallway.
“We figured it was time to show you this floor, it’s your space really,” Jake says nervously. I glance at him, a bit taken aback by his nerves. I haven’t seen him nervous or rattled like that many times.
“Like a nest?” she asks.
“That too, but there’s more, let us show you,” I jump in and go to open the door to the left. As we enter, I hear her gasp next to me as she takes in the view from the floor-to-ceiling windows that take up most of the opposite wall. They overlook the lake and surrounding mountains.
She doesn’t even notice the rest of the room. “Wow, it’s breathtaking,” she nearly whispers.
Putting my hands on her shoulders, I gently turn her around to face the wall opposite the windows. “Holy shit.” Jake chokes on a laugh and I don’t even bother hiding mine.
“That is the biggest bed I’ve ever seen,” she says before she takes a running leap and flopping on it, laughing. It’s amazing to see her like this, carefree almost.
Thea sits up, her arms bracing her from behind as she leans on them. “This is insane,” she says but her smile is still there.
“It was always meant to be the pack bedroom when we found our omega. The bed was custom in order to fit all of us comfortably,” Jake explains as Thea suddenly looks more serious.
“It’s your room,” I add on. “We all have our own and you should too. Unless you’d rather have a regular room, we have two guest rooms we can convert into an omega suite if you don’t like this.” She’s shaking her head as I ramble on.
“No it’s perfect. Who wouldn’t want to wake up to that view every day. Though I think it might be a small workout trying to get out of this giant bed,” she says, causing us to laugh.
“Well climb out of it now so we can show you the rest.” Jake reaches for her and pulls her to her feet. We move to the left of the door we entered, turning on the lights to a large walk-in closet.
“This isn’t just my closet right? Since you said this is the pack bedroom? I don’t even own enough clothes to fill one wall let alone the room.” She walks around the space and pulls drawers out.
“It’s all for you, except for this section,” I say, gesturing to the short wall nearest the closet doorway.
“That’s where all of us will keep some basic clothes we’d want up here.
We never knew how the dynamics would be once we found an omega if she’d want all of us up here all the time or alternating or not at all.
We figured we’d keep our rooms downstairs and if our omega did more often than not want us all up here, then we can keep our rooms for our closets and anything else.
Just keeping the basics for each of us up here. It’s only one floor away.”
“I didn’t…” She cuts herself off but I desperately want to know what she was going to say.
Jake beats me to it as he walks over to her. “Didn’t what?”
“Didn’t think that far ahead,” she sighs, “it’s awful I know.
I didn’t grow up in a pack so I’m kind of winging it right now.
Connor was so sure we’d have one, but we never talked about the details like sleeping arrangements if it actually happened.
Maybe he assumed I knew since he grew up in a pack.
I cannot ask Sophie, I don’t want to know what their sleeping arrangements are.
What would you prefer?” She looks at both of us.
Jake takes her hand. “Take a breath, this is a fun surprise. No stress needed.” She does as he says.
I walk over to them. “It’s not about what we prefer, your comfort matters here.”
Her brows pinch together. “No I don’t like that. It’s about all of us. Maybe someone in the pack isn’t comfortable if everyone sleeps in here, I wouldn’t expect him to just because I might want that.”
“That’s not what I meant but I’m glad to know you care so much about us.”
A light blush crosses her cheeks. “I don’t know what I’d want it’s so new. But I think if anything it’d be a mix. Sometimes all of us and sometimes just one person or a few people.”
“Sounds good to me,” I say, pulling her in for a side hug. Continuing on with the tour we leave the closet and head to the opposite end of the room where the en suite is. She’s actually speechless as she walks in. She doesn’t move from her initial spot. Nudging her forward, she snaps out of it.
“You guys really go big or go home huh?” She’s looking at the tub as she says it.
It’s big enough for at least five people, made for packs and specifically nest bathrooms. She walks over to the shower, which is also big enough for multiple people.
There’s a long built-in bench along the far wall.
An interesting look flitters across her face as she looks at it.
Leaning over closer to her ear I whisper, “What’s that look for?” It makes her jump a little. She’s definitely blushing but I don’t think it’s from me scaring her.
“Nothing,” she begins but I wait for a real answer.
“It’s about Connor, this shower reminded me of him.
The tile is similar to the one we had at our apartment.
” She pauses. “Shower sex was one of his favorites so it just reminded me of that.” My eyes cut to Jake who is purposely avoiding eye contact.
“Oh,” is all I say to which she laughs.
“I wasn’t going to say anything, but you asked and I guess we should get more comfortable talking about sex right, with my heat coming up.”
“You’re right,” Jake begins. “Speaking of your heat, open that door.” He gestures to the door on the right side of the room.
She walks over but gets distracted by the washer and dryer stacked in a built-in cabinet next to it.
Jake pulls her along refocusing her. Opening it she takes a step inside, looking everywhere at once like a little kid. Her nest.
“It’s all yours,” I say softly.
She looks back at me with so much excitement and emotion on her face.
It’s big enough for all of us but still has an enclosed feeling omegas prefer with angled ceilings creating that illusion.
No windows except for a decent sized sky light that can block out light with an automatic shutter.
There’s a small area near the door that leads back to the hallway that has a mini fridge and storage.
Other than that and the mattress filling the floor, the room is empty, waiting for an omega to make it her own.
“That’s the second part of your surprise we’re going shopping today to get everything you want and need for your nest and the pack bedroom,” Jake says, leaning against the doorframe looking at her with a soft smile rarely seen on him.
“I don’t know what to say, it’s more than I ever expected.”