Andi
Time moves differently—now that I’m away from my mother.
It’s strange and hard to describe. The world seems to be moving far too fast. Even when I’m spending most of my days in my Dad’s office, organizing footage he has from my childhood, and discussing ideas for the docuseries with Cameron, I feel like I’m being a little overwhelmed with stimulation.
At the same time, I want to soak everything in and never let it go.
Dr. Brennar would probably put it into fancier words, but I was seriously going stir-crazy, locked away in solitary confinement.
Bit by bit, I’m reclaiming parts of my mind that were starting to slip away.
I drink my white chocolate mochas out on the porch. I normally wake up too late to watch the sunrise, but the view is no less stunning. When it’s not cloudy, I can see basically the entirety of LA from the backyard.
I get to eat delicious food for every meal and not a kale leaf in sight.. Even though everyone’s busy, it’s an unspoken rule that everyone is home by dinner.
Beck’s a sucker for pasta from that Italian place I love. We order so much that I’m sure we’re becoming some of their best customers. We should ask about a loyalty rewards program the next time we order takeout from them.
Leo organized a big hot pot the other night, and even though having all seven of us eating together wasn’t as intimate an experience as when he and I ate together over my stove, it was just as delicious.
Eli bought us all pizza over the weekend, and I made fun of the way he ate an entire Meat Lovers Pizza to himself. I told him he was more of a pig than the ham piled on top of his slice of pizza was, and we all had a good laugh.
Everett’s a surprisingly talented chef, he grilled us all up some steaks and potatoes, and everything was cooked to perfection and seasoned just right. Maybe it isn’t too surprising when I think about it. He is the most likely to have his shit together, it seems.
Cameron even called his mom to get his family’s truffle mac and cheese recipe. We totally burned the roux when we first tried to make it together, but it still turned out fantastic.
I knew I loved food before Gina only fed me a diet of bitter kale leaves for a month, but the fact that all of my guys have put effort into making sure I’m fed well has made a simple part of my recovery a bonding experience.
It’s not hard to meet Dr. Brennar’s nutrition requirements when I know I get to share time with my pack.
Ever since that kiss with Cameron, I’ve been thinking about them as my pack a lot more often. The title feels right.
My phone buzzes against the wicker table, and my stomach does that familiar, unwelcome lurch before I remember that I have a new number. A new phone entirely, too. She doesn’t have any access to this one. Old habits die hard, I guess.
It’s Ezra.
Ezra
hey. weird timing I know but I wanted you to hear it from me first
talked to a lawyer about my dad yesterday. Testifying against him
My thumb hovers over the screen for a long moment before I type back
Andi
holy shit
are you okay??
Ezra
getting there. Therapist said it’s the first healthy thing I’ve done
feels like shit rn tho
nothing as crazy as what you’ve been through, just getting a restraining order
My eyes widen and I slump back against the patio chair.
Andi
will you be okay??
Ezra
lawyer said the trust is already in my name so I shouldn’t have issues
no need to worry bout me, you’ve got enough on your plate
Andi
fine, no worrying, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care
we’ve both got batshit insane parents, I think out of anyone I’d get it
Ezra
yeah
anyway, didn’t want you to get blindsided by the news later, figured you’ve had enough of that this year
Something warm and unexpected tightens in my chest, right alongside the lump already sitting in my throat
Andi
thank you. Seriously.
Ezra
yeah well that’s what friends do or whatever, I’ve gotta go, good luck with your pack
Andi
good luck too
He sends me a peace emoji. It’s something that’s so Ezra it has a bark of laughter tearing from my chest. I slump backwards against the patio chair and stare out at the view.
If I had some way to time travel back a year to try and warn past me about the kinds of things I’d have to deal with over the next year, I would’ve never believed current-me.
My phone buzzes yet again. I’m half expecting it to be Ezra again, but it’s not. Turns out I’m popular, this morning.
The group chat, titled Girls only, sorry Ever—a name Cleo insisted on the day she first got my new number from Everett—has new notifications
Cleo
okay but WHEN are we doing lunch
I refuse to let Ever hog you forever
Juno
she’s not exaggerating, he’s been insufferably smug
Andi
things are still settling, especially with my OSS diagnosis, so I’ll keep you guys updated on a girls only lunch
Cleo
Aww, okay! Just let us know!! And we can always come over to yours, if your dad is cool with it, maybe we can watch some movies together! I know your dad’s a big movie guy!
Juno
that’s like saying Prince is big in music, you sound stupid
Cleo
shut up not everyone’s a film nerd
Andi
I’ll keep you guys updated lol
“Good morning, Honey,” Everett says, stepping out of the house to join me.
“Hi,” I say, blinking up at him with a smile.
“What’re you giggling about?”
“Your sisters are asking about when I can come join them for lunch,” I say with a small huff.
“Hopefully they’re not being too annoying.”
“Not at all… it’s actually kinda nice that they care so much, you know?”
Everett is dressed in a pair of slacks and a white button-up that hugs his broad shoulders. His sleeves are rolled up in a way that has my eyes trailing over the veins in his forearms almost as intently as I’d probably look at the veins on another appendage he has.
“Hmmm, seems like someone likes the view,” Everett purrs, his voice dropping to a low and intimate register.
My face feels like it’s as hot as the sun.
“The view! Yeah, the view is lovely!” I squeak out, jerking my head towards the the city skyline. Despite my best attempts at focusing my attention elsewhere, my eyes keep drifting back to him.
Everett is one of the guys who’s gone most often. It makes sense, considering he’s the executive of an entire music label, but the needy omega part of me hates it. She hates any separation from any of my guys.
Even being out on the porch alone is tough, it’s an exercise Dr. Brennar recommended to help reduce my panic around feelings of isolation. I need to work towards being a functional adult again, despite my diagnosis.
“Are you headed out?” I ask, pushing myself up to my feet. Normally, Everett kisses me goodbye before he leaves. We haven’t gone further than that, and I haven’t had a chance to ask him why.
I have a sneaking suspicion it’s because he has tastes in the bedroom that he thinks I might not be able to handle, in my fragile emotional state. Leo and Beck have speculated often enough for me to get an idea.
“I am,” Everett murmurs, reaching out and resting a large hand against my waist and tugging me closer to him. “But... I was thinking—it could be a good idea for you to try getting out of the house. Would you like to come with me?”
“To your work?”
“Yes, I have some work I need to get done... but I’m meeting with Charles and his team, and I believe they have some paperwork for you to sign. They could bring it here, but I think it could do you some good to stretch your wings a bit.”
“Okay! I think—I think I can handle that. And I think it’ll be cool to see what you do for work!”
“It’s quite boring to watch. Just a lot of paperwork. The occasional meeting or two. I’ll keep the day short so I don’t overwhelm you, I promise.”
The amount of consideration woven into every sentence he speaks makes me want to curl into his arms and never let go. He’s the most dominant alpha I’ve ever met, really, even including Jonathan Fletcher—and he still puts in the effort to soften himself for me.
The two of us turn around at the sound of the porch door moving along its tracks.
“Hey, Starlight,” Beck says, stepping outside.
I glance around Everett’s shoulders and offer him a little wave.
“Hey!”
“I’m about to head to the studio. Gotta continue getting the album ready ‘cause this guy works me like a dog,” Beck teases, pointing an accusing finger at Everett.
“Spoken like someone who’s never worked a real nine-to-five,” Everett shoots back in return.
“I did the customer service grind for years before your label picked me up; I know plenty about hard work.” Beck’s grin is just as blinding as ever. He shakes his head, some of the messy locks falling onto his forehead. He’s due for a haircut.
Or maybe not… I kinda like him like this.
“You want to come to the studio with me? No pressure, Leo already told me he’ll stay back with you if you want company.”
“Actually...” I glance nervously between the two of them, a sharp flare of panic making my chest tight.
Being intimate with Beck over these past few nights seems to have brought our relationship to the next level, because his omega-senses seem to be getting awfully close to mind-reading.
“Ah, did Everett beat me to the punch?” he asks.
“That, I did,” Everett nods.
“Oh, well then you should totally go with Everett! You two should spend more time together.”
“Are you—are you sure?” I ask, the relief at not having to pick between them probably evident in my expression.
“Totally sure. Just means I get to serenade you with my music another time.”
“You say that like it’s some sort of hardship,” I giggle.
“The Barbie Movie had a whole running gag about how annoying it is for a girl to sit through a guy’s guitar serenade,” Beck shrugs. “No hard feelings.”
“That’s only for guys who are bad at music. And while I wouldn’t want to inflate your ego too hard, you’re certainly not bad… And wait a second, you watched the Barbie Movie?”
Beck raises a single surprisingly well-manicured brow as if he’s saying, duh. “Sure did. Killer soundtrack. Anyway, I’ll let you two have some privacy.”