Chapter 36
THIRTY-SIX
Playing: “Hang With Me” by Robyn
My hand goes into the bowl of gooey chocolate popcorn as I try to eat it without getting messy. The texture combination is heavenly, just another wonderful thing that Kit has introduced to me.
It’s a rainy day, and Kit and I are having a Hobbit/Lord of the Rings marathon in the living room so we can hear the rain beating down on the windows. The atmosphere feels cozy and warm, and Kit’s foot next to mine causes all sorts of familiar fuzzy feelings to erupt.
“Their sexual chemistry is way too good here,” Kit says, pointing at the elf and dwarf on the screen.
I laugh. “I heard they were hooking up in real life.”
Kit’s jaw drops. “Oh, I completely believe that. I’d hook up with him.”
“Which one?” I ask.
He eats one of his licorice candies. “Both, to be honest.”
Discussing the fan-ship makes me wonder, so I turn to Kit expectantly and ask, “When did you find out you were bisexual?”
Kit chuckles. “Would it be a complete cliché if I said I’ve always known?”
“Well, yes, but it would also be believable.”
He nods in agreement. “I always knew there was something different about me, but I didn’t fully know until middle school.
I had this friend whose parents were very open and honest, and he taught me about sexuality and identity and how we’re allowed to have our own thoughts surrounding them.
I was looking at boys just as much as I was looking at girls, and it felt normal to me.
I thought it was that way for everyone, but my guy friends only talked about girls, and my girl friends only talked about guys.
I found out I was the outlier, besides my friend, who knew who he was because his family encouraged it. ”
My lips curve into a smile. “That’s really cool, though, that you didn’t see anything unusual with the way you felt.”
“I’m sure I would have felt different if I didn’t have Ellis in my life.”
“And where is he now?” I ask.
“He and his family moved to Canada when we were in high school. We didn’t really keep in touch. But that’s okay, I’m sure he’s doing as great as I am.” He smiles, reminiscing in that carefree way of his.
“Did your parents support you?”
He nods. “They’re very supportive, but they’re also insanely busy. I was left to my own devices a lot as a kid.”
I think back to when I first moved in, how sad Kit sounded when he said this house was empty more times than not. “Is that why being alone here was a big deal? Because it reminded you of your childhood?”
Kit laughs. “I don’t remember telling you how alone I felt.”
“You didn’t have to,” I whisper.
The amusement subsides slightly, and he gives me a rare serious face.
“I dealt with a lot of that this past year when I realized how busy my pack was. But things are getting better now. Thatcher and I aren’t avoiding each other anymore, and Sam is actively trying to be home more often. And… I have you.”
My stomach flips and my cheeks flush. This omega knows exactly how to turn me inside out.
“So, you’re not lonely anymore?” I ask in a teasing tone.
“Not one bit, Pebble.”
The nickname tickles something inside me. “Why do you call me that?”
His own face flashes red at the question. “Because ever since you got here, Opal, you’ve been my rock.” His toe slides across my foot, caressing me softly. “You’re my best friend.”
There’s a glimmer in his eye as he says it, and I’m thrust back to our time together a week ago.
It’s been replaying in my mind constantly, and I can’t help but remember how his skin felt on mine.
How totally not platonic it was when we tangled together and pulled pleasure from each other like it was kismet.
My body yearns to be closer to him, like it knows we’re made for each other.
Swords clink together in the movie, but it’s all background noise as he continues to caress my skin and observe me with glimmering eyes.
“So, there’s an anime con next weekend,” Kit says, letting the suggestion linger in the air.
“Oh?” I beam.
“We’re all going, so you should come, too.”
I bite my lip. “Sam will be there?”
“Yes, he got the tickets for us months ago,” he confirms. “Is everything okay with you two?”
“Everything is fine!” I rush to say. “We had a moment a few weeks ago, and things have been a bit different ever since. A lot of unspoken words, I guess.”
“Trust me, Opal, he wouldn’t bat an eye at you being there. In fact, I know he would even enjoy having you there. Why don’t you two talk stuff over so we can go as a pack?”
His casual use of the word pack makes me slightly nauseous. Excitedly nauseous, yes, but sick nonetheless. “Hm, I don’t know. He has enough on his plate as it is.”
“You guys are two peas in a pod,” Kit says to himself and sighs. “Sam keeps himself busy so he doesn’t have to deal with life too much. He doesn’t want more than he has, even when he deserves it.”
That surprises me. “What do you mean?”
“He has such a big heart—he wants to fix everything, but doing so is too much for him. He wants Thatcher to have an omega and a partner, but for the longest time, he ignored that it wouldn’t be with me.
He wants to prove to his grandma that he was worth the extra heartache of raising him.
And he wants all of us not to have to lift a finger for the rest of our lives, but he doesn’t understand that we can’t do that.
We have to work together to make this pack work, not just let him take the reins so he can bear the brunt of the stress for us. ”
It’s a lot of information to process at once, but somehow I understand right away. Sam is a natural leader, of course, but he has a savior complex. Nothing feels perfect, and he’s always working overtime to make things better for the people around him.
I sigh, thinking it over. If he’s always saving everyone, who saves him?
My omega whines in my chest.
The front door opens and Thatcher walks in, his hockey bag slung over his shoulder.
“You’re back earlier than I expected,” Kit comments.
He grunts. “Coach had to leave early for something, so we get a tiny breather.”
“Awesome! Now you can hang out with us.” Kit moves his legs slightly and pats the spot between us on the couch.
He places his bag down by the door and saunters over. “What are we watching?”
“The Hobbit!” When Thatcher sits down, Kit swings his legs over his lap. The alpha lets out a hum of approval before placing his hand on Kit’s shin, caressing it back and forth like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
Seeing them like this makes me giddy, because it didn’t seem possible when I first showed up. The longing glances between the two of them as they hid in the shadows and watched the other was difficult to watch, especially now that we all know how happy they are with each other.
But still, a weird twinge pulls at my heartstrings.
I’m not sure where the disconnect is, but my omega is trying to tell me something.
I don’t know what it is until I catch Kit looking at me, his lips curved into a mischievous smirk.
He leans forward and pulls my legs on top of the alpha between us.
I let out a squeak. “Kit!”
“What?” he says, acting coy. “You need to stretch out!”
“But—” I look at Thatcher, my cheeks flushed. The uneasy throb I felt moments before fades as our legs continue to touch. “I’m sorry. I can move them back if you want me to.”
He thinks about it for a second, tilting his head. “Are you comfortable?”
My lips part. “Yes.”
“Then I want you to stay.” He puts his hand on top of my leg to emphasize it should stay, but a strike of something unusual shoots through me. Heats pools beneath my skin where his palm touches me, binding us in a temporary comfort.
I watch him, making sure there’s no sign of discomfort, but he just turns to the movie blissfully, his mint scent a sweet and glorious calm.
Ultimately, I nod my head. “Okay.”
“Okay,” he repeats.
Fuck, I am in so much trouble when it comes to this pack.