Chapter 6 Summer #2
He gave my lower back a reassuring rub and then released me. My wet shirt clung to him before plastering back against my skin. Formerly white, now completely see-through. The black lace bra I was wearing did little to hide my cold nipples jutting obscenely against the fabric.
I stared down at them with a resigned sigh and accepted that I was jinxed today. Mercer’s eyes nearly fell out of his head, and he might have dislocated something looking away.
“Did you just…” I asked slowly.
“I didn’t mean to!”
I folded my arms across my chest. “I can’t believe you ogled me while I’m in distress.”
“It was an accident,” he insisted.
His eyes were very tightly shut. I waited a long moment and he didn’t move. “Are you scared to open your eyes?” I asked curiously.
“Very.”
“First time seeing boobs?”
Mercer groaned, covering his eyes with one hand and peeking out cautiously between his fingers. “Why are you torturing me?”
I pursed my lips. “Do you think seeing all boobs is torture or just mine specifically?”
“Summer, please.”
It was probably concerning that Mercer’s torment was so delightful to me. I fished the towel off the ground and covered myself back up. “You can look now. And if it helps, I feel a little better.”
“All right, well…you’re welcome, I guess.”
I found my phone among my sad, unbaked cakes and texted the girls.
SUMMER
Not to alarm anyone but I may be homeless and bakery-less
A water pipe burst and everything’s flooded
I don’t know what to do
I hoped my best friends would come through for me, even when I interrupted their pack time.
Mercer was still here. “You don’t have to stay,” I told him weakly. “I know you probably have prep to finish.”
“No, I’m done.”
What a liar. But when he noticed my shivering and hugged me close again, I didn’t have it in me to argue.
The cavalry arrived fifteen minutes later. Olive, Ivy, Lucy, and their slew of devoted men behind them. They had rushed over so quickly Olive’s hair was a wild bird’s nest, Ivy was wearing a giant flannel shirt with no pants, and Lucy had on bunny slippers.
“I brought bags to protect your nest,” Olive called as she raced upstairs. I hadn’t even thought about making sure my nest hadn’t transformed into a swamp.
Ivy knelt in front of me, her baby blue eyes determined. “Give me your property manager’s details. Your landlord needs to file an insurance claim. I’ll call them so we can get these repairs started as soon as possible.”
“We’ll do what we can to minimize the damage!” Olive’s alpha Easton gave me a far too cheery thumbs-up as he followed his omega two steps at a time. Lars was already debating with Logan and Wilder about how to best move the oven away from the wall to let it dry out.
“Does your family know yet?” Lucy asked. I shook my head and she was already dialing. “Aunty Uyên! It’s Lucy. Sorry to bother you so early.” Her voice trailed off as she assured Má that I was all right but that I would need a temporary place to stay.
James pressed a Beans ’n Bliss coffee cup into my palms. “Oh my god,” I said suddenly. “Felix stayed with me last night. James, what if he—”
“I’ll go look for him,” he reassured me.
Eventually, the girls returned and surrounded me. One big, squeezy omega hug.
Lucy’s cheek was squished against mine, determined to send me comfort via osmosis. “I think you already know that your mom is so excited to have you back home.”
I laughed weakly. Letting their children experience independence was not an Asian mom’s strong suit.
“I left a voicemail,” Ivy said briskly. “I’m going to give Claudia until 9:30 a.m. to call you back and then I’m going to try again.” I expected nothing less from someone who corralled twenty-five fifth graders on a daily basis. She was not going to let one measly property manager get away.
Olive draped one of my fuzzy nest blankets around my shoulders. “Most of your nest was still dry! We separated anything that needs a wash. But look! This is your favorite, right?”
“I’m really glad you’re all here.” My bottom lip trembled, and I couldn’t stop my voice from wavering. “I know you’ve been busy with your packs.”
Well, that opened the floodgates.
“Of course we’re here for you!”
“Did you think we wouldn’t be? Summer .”
“Is this why you were weird last night?” Lucy demanded. “That’s it, we are filling the calendar now .”
It was nice to plan coffee dates, a movie night, and a beach outing over the next two weeks. Nicer still to know that our friendship really hadn’t changed after all. Lucy declaring her newly bonded pack was dead to her while they were in earshot was a bit excessive, but I appreciated the sentiment.
Olive examined me curiously once my tears had dried. “Am I allowed to ask about the hot guy hugging you when we arrived yet?”
Mercer. Christ . In the midst of everything he must’ve quietly slipped away. I didn’t even get to thank him properly.
“He was very cute, Summer,” Lucy giggled.
Ivy elbowed me. “Tell us everything!”
This was why we couldn’t go so long without debriefing. “He’s the one who opened the patisserie next door,” I admitted.
Lucy’s nostrils flared angrily. “We hate him.”
“Absolutely abhorrent behavior,” Ivy added flippantly.
Olive grumbled. “I can’t believe I called him hot.”
I stifled a laugh and sank back into our huddle.