CHAPTER 8
WINDY
Ding.
My heart gives a little pitter-patter in my chest. Nervous excitement swirls in my belly.
The sound of that ding isn’t familiar to me, but I have a good feeling I know what it is.
I pull up to the stoplight and come to a stop when the light turns red.
Quickly, I pull my phone out of my purse and tap the screen to turn it on.
A squeak leaves me as I hurriedly tap the notification in the app, Select-A-Mate.
But when I see the name of the pack they matched me with, the smile on my face dims a little bit.
All the earlier excitement is quickly overshadowed by uncertainty.
Why am I suddenly hesitant just because of a name?
Is it a warning sign, or am I overthinking something trivial because I want this to go well?
3SexyDiablos ...
“What the fuck?” I sit in the silence of my car. “What kind of screen name is that?”
Their name still glows on my screen. It hits me like a slap to the face—sharp, sudden.
My excitement collapses so fast, it’s almost physical.
One second, I’m squealing in my car like a maniac.
The next, I’m questioning my life decisions.
I was excited like a girl getting asked to the prom, but now I’m staring at my phone, all the excitement draining out of me.
A full-body cringe makes me sink lower in my seat.
The light turns green. A horn blares behind me when I don’t immediately go.
They’re sharp and impatient to get to where they’re going.
I jolt, tossing my phone onto my passenger seat.
I ease forward, my pulse fluttering from the emotional whiplash.
The car rolls forward. Main Street opens in front of me like a scene I’ve driven a thousand times.
Suddenly, I’m aware of everything surrounding me.
The early morning sun glints off the old brick stores.
It warms the faded reds and deep burgundies until they almost glow.
There’s a flower box hanging from the windowsill of the bakery on the corner—Baking Bread.
Light pink tulips bob in the breeze, as if waving at me as I pass.
The smell of fresh bread drifts through my open window.
It mixes with the faint sweetness from the small candy shop next door, Twisted Twizzlers.
I put my elbow up on the door and place my temple in my hand with a heavy sigh.
I look all around me, watching as people wander along the sidewalks in that slow, easy way that small towns seem to encourage people to do.
A woman holds an iced coffee as she window shops at the antique shop.
She pauses to look at the display of porcelain tea sets and vintage furniture, taking a small sip of her drink.
A few sets of couples converge around the mural on the side of the bookstore, laughing at something one of the wives says.
An older man in overalls sits out front of the local hardware store, nodding at the passersby like he personally knows every single one of them.
But even with all the familiar charm of this small town, my mind keeps circling back to that notification.
That fucking name. 3SexyDiablos. First, a jolt of excitement—my heart actually leapt.
Then, embarrassment floods in as I picture someone choosing a name like that.
The thrill and the cringing twist together inside me until I can't tell them apart.
At least my name is approachable. DarlinLittleOmega.
It’s sweet and to the point. It’s not something as morbid as devils, even if there is ‘Sexy’ in it.
Maybe that’s why their name bothers me so much—it makes them appear conceited, or even indifferent to the connection I’m hoping for.
I don’t want a pack that’s conceited or all about themselves.
I want a pack that is about the closeness of the pack and welcoming an omega into their mix.
The name makes me question if they share my priorities.
I turn onto the block where Sip-A-brew is located.
Its green awning peeks out between the bookstore and the video store.
The little cafe is already buzzing at this time in the morning; people sit at the outside tables, steam curling from their mugs.
Conversations drift over the breeze into the street.
Their exuberance almost lifts my spirits.
It’s cozy and warm—the exact kind of place I need at a time like this.
Meeting Jazmyn here after receiving that message from them might give me some perspective if I ask her.
I don’t need to obsess over this match with a name like that, not until I talk to her about it.
I pull into the parking lot and cut the engine. For a moment, I just sit—staring at the cafe door. Nerves swirl. Disbelief, too. I try to shake them off, but it’s useless. I won't be able to. Not until I talk to Jazmyn. Maybe I’m overthinking it.
I can’t help wondering, though. Do I open the app again and actually look at the message they sent, or do I pretend it never happened and go inside, forget about it, and never bring it to Jazmyn’s attention? She and I are not as close as Remi and me, but she’s still one of my good friends.
I peer through the window of the cafe, spotting her instantly.
Jazmyn’s tiny frame bounces in the booth—like she’s powered by some private soundtrack.
The sight tugs an involuntary smile from me.
She grips her cup with both hands. When she sips, she rocks back and forth, grinning, making that coffee seem like the best thing she’s tasted all week.
Her legs swing under the table, not quite reaching the floor.
Even in heels, Jazmyn only comes up to my chest. She’s a short little thing; maybe five feet. That’s generous.
Everything is so her. Bright. Bubbly. Adorable. The sight of her cuts straight through the chaos swirling through my mind. She’s our little ball of sunshine.
Everything is so her. Bright. Bubbly. Adorable.
The sight of her cuts through the chaos swirling in my mind.
She’s our little ball of sunshine. For a moment, everything outside the glass seems to soften around her.
The sun glows through the window. The soft clatter of cups and dishes mixes with the hum of conversation.
All of it frames her, making her look cozy and centered in her own universe.
Jazmyn has the biggest personality of all of us.
She makes everything seem better, even when the world feels like it’s ending.
Her positive outlook is a breath of fresh air. She’s the perfect person to meet today.
I take a deep breath and try to shake off the embarrassment of that awful username that still echoes through my thoughts. God. My stomach twists simply thinking about it. Who in their right mind would choose a screen name like that?
Sighing, the air hits me when I open my car door.
It’s a little cooler than I expected. I straighten my thin jacket as I step out and into the weather.
The familiar scent of roasted coffee drifts from the door as it swings open and shut with customers coming and going.
Despite everything tugging at me, seeing Jazmyn and being here grounds me in a way I didn’t think possible.
I close the car door behind me. I start toward Sip-A-Brew.
The sight of her pulls me forward, steadying me more than I want to admit.
The moment she sees me, she waves enthusiastically.
Her little hand swings around as if I don’t see her already.
My smile grows wider the closer I get. I wave in return before opening the door to the coffee shop and step inside.
I quickly put in my order and take a seat in the booth.
Before she can even get a word out, I’m already sticking my foot in my mouth.
“I signed up for that dating app,” I rush out, watching her mouth fall open in an ‘O’ shape.
Before she can respond, the waitress drops off my coffee and then disappears back toward the counter.
I pull the hot cup of coffee between my hands, allowing the familiar warmth to sink all the way into my bones.
I peer down at the creamy substance, hating the sight of it.
I wish I could get what I want, but I can’t if I don’t want the girls to question me.
I know it may be stupid, that the girls won’t look too much into what I order, but the thought they might stops me from doing the things I want to do.
I shift in the booth, trying to get comfortable. The vinyl seat creaks beneath me as I settle in. She looks bright and unguarded, completely open. The expectant expression she always wears is now riddled with curiosity. As soon as the waitress walks away, Jazmyn leans forward, eyes wide.
“You did? I didn’t think anyone would take my advice.”
Heat creeps up my cheeks. I duck my head, fingers curling around my mug. “Yeah. I did.” I can feel the blush spreading, warm and impossible to hide from her. “I actually matched with a pack while I was on my way here.”
“Really?” She sighs wistfully.
“Yeah.” I nod. “But I can’t get past the screen name to read the message.”
Her eyebrows shoot up. I can practically see the questions forming behind her eyes. The moment hangs between us. My pulse is a little jumpy from the drive, the notification, the name. I’m still trying to recover. I take a sip of my coffee, barely keeping myself from cringing.
“What do you mean, you can’t get past the name?” she asks, confusion transforming her voice.
“They’re called ... three sexy diablos,” I finish with a whisper so soft she has to lean forward.
“What?”
I glance around to make sure no one is listening to us. I lean forward, whispering, “three sexy diablos.”
She jerks upright, eyes wide with surprise. “That’s ... bold.”
I let out a long sigh, my shoulder sinking until I feel like I’m melting into the booth. “Tell me about it.”