Chapter 20 Lattes And Life Plans #2
"So it's a mutual deal," I finish, wrapping my hands around my latte to absorb the warmth. "They protect me from my family's forced marriage attempts. I help Julian keep his business deals. Everyone wins."
Ruby is staring at me like I've grown a second head.
"Let me get this straight," she says slowly.
"You met a hot military bodyguard at a government mixer.
Had a one-night stand with him. Woke up in his house.
Made coffee for his packmates. And now you're their fake Omega in a mutually beneficial arrangement that involves protection from bounty hunters and saving a grumpy model's career? "
When she puts it like that, it does sound slightly insane.
"That's... one way to summarize it."
Ruby bursts out laughing—that full, genuine laugh that draws looks from nearby tables. "Rosemarie Carlisle, you absolute icon. This is the most romantic thing I've ever heard. It's like a Hallmark movie but with actual stakes and better coffee."
Romantic. She thinks it's romantic. Is it romantic? Or is it just convenient? A business arrangement dressed up in pretty packaging?
"It's not—" I start, but Ruby cuts me off.
"Don't even try to tell me there's no chemistry.
" She points at me with a perfectly manicured finger.
"I can see it on your face. The way you talk about Tank—'he watches me like I'm something precious'?
Girl. That's not fake. And Elias leaving a mark on your neck?
That's territorial Alpha behavior, which means he's already claiming you whether you want to admit it or not. "
I feel heat creep up my cheeks. "I mean... okay, there might be some chemistry. But Julian—"
"Julian is the closed-off one," Ruby finishes, nodding. "Let me guess—he's got walls up higher than the Great Wall of China, barely speaks unless necessary, and when he does it's usually something blunt or sarcastic?"
"...Yes. Exactly that."
"Classic wounded Alpha behavior." Ruby waves her hand dismissively. "He's been hurt before. Or he's protecting himself from something. Either way, those are the ones who fall the hardest once they finally let their guard down." She grins wickedly. "Trust me. I've seen it happen."
She's not wrong about Julian. He is closed off.
He keeps his emotions locked behind that cold green gaze, only showing flashes of something softer when he thinks no one is looking.
Like when he tasted my lavender honey latte and tears appeared in his eyes because it reminded him of his grandmother.
Like when he looked at me in the kitchen and I could have sworn I saw curiosity beneath the irritation.
"Out of the three of them," I admit, "Julian is definitely the hardest to read.
Elias is easy to talk to—he's like sunshine in human form.
And Tank is observant in a way that should probably be intimidating but instead makes me feel.
.. seen. But Julian?" I shake my head. "He's a mystery wrapped in designer clothes and a permanent scowl. "
"So you're already smitten with Tank, comfortable with Elias, and intrigued by Julian." Ruby counts on her fingers. "That's a full pack's worth of feelings, babe. In less than a week."
Smitten. Is that what this is? This warm, fluttery feeling I get when Tank looks at me? This easy comfort I feel when Elias makes me laugh? This frustrating curiosity about what's going on behind Julian's carefully constructed walls?
"It's not—I'm not—" I sputter, but Ruby just grins wider.
"You know what this reminds me of?" She leans back in her chair, looking entirely too pleased with herself. "My 'Hot Knotty Summer' manifesting tips. You remember those?"
I groan. "Ruby, please—"
"No, hear me out!" She holds up her hands. "I know you think manifestation is woo-woo nonsense, but consider the timing here. Valentine's Day is what—less than five weeks away?"
I do the math in my head. "Something like that."
"That's plenty of time!" Ruby's excitement is building, her hands gesturing wildly as she speaks. "Plenty of time to actually get to know these Alphas. To explore the chemistry. To figure out if this could be something real instead of just an arrangement."
"And how exactly do you suggest I do that?"
Ruby's eyes light up in a way that tells me I'm about to receive an entire lecture's worth of advice whether I want it or not.
"Valentine's Day dates!" she announces like she's just solved world hunger.
"Little mini dates with each of them. Get to know them individually, figure out what makes each of them tick.
Tank seems like the type who would appreciate something intimate—maybe a cooking class together, or a quiet night in with good food and good conversation.
Actually, you could cook for him! You're amazing in the kitchen.
Make him a fancy meal, open a bottle of wine, let the evening unfold naturally. "
"And Elias?"
"Elias would probably love something more active—ice skating?
A hike? Something where you can be playful and competitive.
" Ruby's eyes light up with another idea.
"Oh! A game night. Board games, video games, whatever.
Something where you can trash talk each other and see who's really competitive.
Firefighters are always competitive—it's in their DNA. "
"And Julian?"
Ruby taps her chin thoughtfully. "Julian is trickier.
He's got walls up, so you need to find a way to get him to let his guard down.
Maybe something related to his interests?
You said he does investing—maybe a financial planning date sounds boring, but it could be a chance for him to show off and feel comfortable.
Or something artsy? Museum? Gallery opening?
Those types usually appreciate sophistication.
" She pauses. "Or—and hear me out—maybe something completely unexpected.
Something that throws him off balance in a good way.
Take him somewhere he'd never go on his own. Break him out of his comfort zone."
She's actually making sense. Which is annoying, because I wanted to dismiss this whole idea as Ruby being her usual over-the-top romantic self.
"You should write it all down," Ruby continues, her voice taking on that authoritative tone she uses when she's giving advice she considers absolutely essential.
"Make a whole list of what you want to do with the pack before Valentine's Day.
Things you want to experience. Moments you want to create.
Kind of like a vision board, but Valentine's Day pack edition. "
"A Valentine's Day pack vision board." I say the words slowly, testing how ridiculous they sound. Surprisingly, they don't sound as ridiculous as I expected.
"Exactly!" Ruby beams. "Write down everything.
The dates you want. The experiences you want to have.
The feelings you want to explore. Put it all on paper and then make it happen.
Include the small stuff too—morning coffee together, watching a movie, going for a walk.
The little moments matter just as much as the big romantic gestures. "
A vision board. For romance. For pack bonding. For... whatever this is between me and the Late Alphas.
It's actually not a bad idea. I haven't done anything creative like that in a long time—haven't had the mental space or emotional energy to think about what I actually want instead of just surviving day to day.
But something about the idea of sitting down with pen and paper and dreaming about possibilities.
.. it sounds nice. It sounds like something the old me would have done, before my family crushed all the creative joy out of my life.
"That's... actually a pretty good idea," I admit, and Ruby looks so smug I almost take it back. "It would be a nice creative outlet. I haven't done anything like that in a long time."
"See?" She reaches across the table to squeeze my hand. "What do you have to lose? Nothing! You'll get to know them better, have some steamy instances..." She waggles her eyebrows suggestively, making me roll my eyes. "And hey—they might actually end up being your pack for real."
I start to protest, but she cuts me off.
"Look at Hazel," Ruby says, gesturing around the bakery.
"She met her Alphas in this crazy whirlwind situation, and now look at her.
Thriving business, amazing pack, living her best life.
And Reverie! She was a social media influencer who stumbled into the most insane holiday romance situation, and now she's got a pack who adores her. "
Ruby leans forward, her blue eyes intense and earnest.
"These things that seem like coincidences?
The holiday-invoked situations that throw people together?
They have a way of turning into forevers.
Hazel and Reverie found their packs through circumstances that seemed temporary or impossible, and now look at them.
" She pauses for emphasis. "This could be yours too, Rosemarie.
Your forever. You just have to be open to the possibility. "
My forever. The idea is terrifying and exhilarating in equal measure.
I've spent so long running from the idea of pack bonds—associating them with control and ownership and loss of self—that I'd almost forgotten they could be something beautiful.
Something chosen. Something built on mutual respect and genuine connection instead of contracts and family politics.
"You're right," I say finally, surprising myself with the conviction in my voice. "What do I have to lose? If it doesn't work out, I'll find a pack later. And at least my family won't be able to use me once the deal deadline expires and they don't benefit from my 'single' status anymore."
Ruby grins triumphantly. "That's the spirit! Embrace the chaos, enjoy the journey, and for the love of God, let yourself be happy for once."
Let myself be happy. What a novel concept.
We sit in comfortable silence for a moment, sipping our lattes and watching the snow continue to fall outside.
The bakery hums with quiet activity around us—the clink of cups, the murmur of conversations, the soft jazz playing through the speakers.
Someone orders a cinnamon roll at the counter, and the smell of warm spice drifts over to our table.
It's peaceful. Warm. The kind of moment I want to bottle up and keep forever.
My phone buzzes in my pocket.
I pull it out, expecting a text from one of the Alphas—Tank checking in, maybe, or Elias sending a meme like he's been doing all week—but the number on the screen is one I don't recognize. No contact name. No area code I can place.
I open the message.
You can't hide forever.
My blood runs cold for half a second. Just half a second—long enough for the fear to spike before the anger takes over.
Speaking of the devil.
I roll my eyes—actually roll them, refusing to give whoever sent this the satisfaction of a reaction—and swipe to delete the message. The text vanishes from my screen, but I know it's just the beginning. They'll send more. They always do.
"What is it?" Ruby asks, noticing my expression. "You looked annoyed for a second there."
"Spam," I say, tucking my phone back into my pocket. "Just spam. You know how it is—random numbers sending ominous messages. Probably trying to get me to click on a phishing link or something. It's the digital equivalent of a fortune cookie written by a horror movie villain."
It's not spam. I know it's not spam. Someone from my family—or more likely, someone hired by my family—is trying to intimidate me. Trying to remind me that they're watching. That they haven't given up. That no matter where I run, no matter who I'm with, they'll find a way to reach me.
But I refuse to let them ruin this moment.
This cozy morning with my friend. This feeling of hope that's slowly unfurling in my chest for the first time in longer than I can remember.
They've taken so much from me already—my freedom, my sense of safety, my ability to trust. They don't get to take this too.
You can't hide forever? Watch me, you cowards.
Ruby studies me for a moment, like she's not entirely convinced by my explanation, but she lets it go. That's one of the things I love about her—she knows when to push and when to give space. She's always been good at reading rooms and reading people.
"So," she says, setting down her empty cup and fixing me with a curious look. "I have to ask—what are you going to do about your living arrangement?"
I blink. "My living arrangement?"
"You've been staying at Tank's place, right?
Since the mixer?" Ruby tilts her head, her red hair catching the light from the Edison bulbs above us.
"Are you planning to keep living there for the duration of this arrangement?
Or are you going to find your own place?
Or split time between the three of them?
" She grins mischievously. "Rotating schedule, maybe?
Monday and Tuesday with Tank, Wednesday and Thursday with Elias, weekends with Julian? "
Oh. That's... actually a really good question. One I hadn't fully thought through. One I probably should have considered before now.
I've been staying at Tank's house because that's where I ended up after the mixer, and no one has suggested otherwise.
But Ruby has a point—if this arrangement is going to last until Valentine's Day, I need to figure out something more permanent than just crashing in Tank's guest room.
Do I get my own apartment? Do I stay with the pack?
Do they even want me there long-term, or am I overstaying my welcome?
And what happens after Valentine's Day? If the arrangement ends? Where do I go then? Back to my cramped little apartment that my family probably already knows about? Somewhere new? Somewhere they can't find me?
The questions multiply in my head like rabbits, each one spawning three more. There are so many logistics I haven't figured out yet. So many variables I'm pretending don't exist because thinking about them is overwhelming.
"Good question," I say finally, staring out the window at the falling snow. The world outside looks soft and peaceful, but my mind is suddenly full of logistics and uncertainties and questions I don't have answers to yet.
Good question indeed.