Chapter Thirty-One #2
“Oh my goddess, I know.” Jemma leans in and mutters, “The way I would let that man tear off my girdle, I mean . . .” She fans herself.
“Tell me about it.” I giggle with her.
It wasn’t a long shot to call their pastor hot to Jemma. She blushed any time he looked our way and fanned herself if he got close. She wasn’t exactly subtle.
Caleb growls.
“Oh, lighten up. He can’t hear us,” Jemma says.
“Yeah, lighten up.” I grin.
Caleb looks to Jemma. “He has a mate.”
“I know, I’m not pursuing the man, simply appreciating the view.” She looks at me and lifts her brows. “Sheesh.”
“Plus, he’s like thirty-five and you’re—” Caleb stops himself, but it’s too late.
Jemma whips her head at him and places her hands on her hips.
I back away at the look she gives him.
Oh shit. I laugh to myself.
“I’m what?”
Caleb stammers. “I didn’t mean . . . I just meant that he’s—and you’re . . .”
Their argument fades into the background as I feel eyes on me again.
A she-wolf and several guys about my age leer at me.
They frown as they talk amongst themselves.
They must be talking about me. I met them earlier, albeit briefly, and they faked their kindness.
Now that church is over, I’m sure they don’t feel the need to fake it anymore.
Their attention sends shivers up my spine.
Ignoring them, I redirect my attention back to Jemma, who has actually been kind.
“Are you even listening to me?”
“Yes,” he says.
Even I can sense he’s lying.
“No, you’re not. You’re too busy looking at her.” Jemma gestures to me. “I’m going to go thank our pastor for the service, then we’ll go.” She then leaves.
“Jay, are you okay?”
“Huh?” It takes me a second to process his question. “Oh! Yeah, I’m fine.”
Caleb doesn’t buy it. “What were you looking at?”
“No one.” Caleb retraces my line of sight to the group still standing and talking about me. They stop their conversation when they see Caleb looking their way. His chest puffs up, and he takes my hand.
Butterflies flutter in my stomach.
Caleb raises an eyebrow at them, and it’s all it takes for their clique to disperse.
He frowns. “They’re harmless. Just a bunch of gossiping misfits with a bark greater than their bite.
It’s just going to take some getting used to, having a rogue around.
The pack lost quite a bit during the attack. ”
At the mention of my herd, he releases my hand.
My wolf whimpers at the absence of the heat of his palm.
“Oh no. Not them,” Caleb whines.
“What? What’s wrong?”
“I think Jemma just invited Sam and Taya over for brunch.”
“What’s wrong with that? Are they awful people or something?”
He sighs. “No. Just be prepared to eat fast or not at all with him around.”
I giggle. “Got it. I’ll eat fast, then.”
He rolls his eyes playfully and grabs my hand again. He takes off running, dragging me behind. “Come on. We gotta get there before they do.”
***
Jemma has set the table with the most beautiful spread of food I’ve ever seen in my life. “Now, Jay, it’s my understanding that you’re a picky eater. I hope you’re able to find something here you can eat.”
I scan the feast on her dining room table and discover there are plenty of things I can eat. Relief washed over me because I’m always concerned there won’t be. “This looks incredible. Thank you, Jemma, for thinking of me.”
Jemma places a dirty pan in her sink. It clanks as it drops in. “Well, actually, it was Caleb who told me what you like. He wanted to make sure I had something here that you would eat.”
I whip my head toward Caleb. “You?”
He spares a glance but ultimately avoids direct eye contact.
He runs his hands repeatedly on the tops of his thighs.
But, like he said earlier, he can’t hide from me either—I see him and apparently, he sees me, too.
Before I can ask him why or simply thank him, the door to the kitchen opens and Sam appears.
“Morning!” He steps inside, pressing his back against the door to allow Taya to walk through. “I thought I smelled something good.” Sam closes it.
Taya greets all of us with a hug. “Morning, everyone.”
“What’re we having?” Sam rubs his hands together, but instead of making a beeline for the food, he opens his arms to embrace Jemma. “Hello, gorgeous. Come here!” He lifts her and twirls her around.
Taken by surprise, Jemma exclaims, “Oh! Oh my!” She laughs nervously.
Sam puts her down, and Jemma immediately fixes her hair and fans herself. Maybe my mind is playing tricks on me but . . . is Jemma . . . blushing?
Oh yeah. She’s definitely blushing. She finds Sam attractive, and I certainly can’t blame her.
She clears her throat. “Well. Uh, Sam—it’s . . . always a pleasure having you. You too, Taya.” Jemma inches toward Taya and murmurs out of the corner of her mouth, “Girlllll . . .” She playfully hits her on the arm as she eyes Sam.
Taya checks her mate out as well. “Trust me, I know. And it’s getting warmer, so he’s shirtless at home almost all the time. I can’t wait for summer.”
“Mm, mm, mm,” Jemma shakes her head. “It must be nice to be our Goddess’s favorite.”
I can’t help but smile. A shirtless Sam wasn’t a bad thing to look at. He’s attractive, sure, but I’m not attracted to him.
Probably because we have our eyes on someone else . . . my wolf says.
Heat rises at the thought, and I tell her to shut it before my face turns red. I don’t want Taya thinking I’m also falling all over her mate.
Sam wastes no time finding a seat at the table and grabbing a plate.
Once everyone is seated, Jemma says grace.
“How’s your mom doing?” Jemma asks, starting the meal’s conversation.
Caleb’s forearms rest on the table. He’s hunched over his plate. Caleb hastens his chewing to answer her question. “The same.”
“Still struggling to get out of bed?”
“Mm-hmm. But . . .” With a mouthful of food, he stabs his plate for more, gearing up for the next bite. He waves it around as he talks, and I kind of like that he’s not Mr. Cotillion like I thought he’d be. Perhaps I misjudged him. Perhaps I misjudged everyone. “She’ll get better.”
Everyone at the table except for Caleb exchanges glances. No one believes him. I don’t think he even believes in himself.
Jemma, Taya and Sam ask me questions about myself. They were all understanding and attentive. They were nice enough not to pry too much but enough to show genuine interest. They were all easy to like.
After a while, Caleb looks at the time and stands. “I’ve gotta get to my meeting.” Caleb gathers everyone’s plates.
“Oh, honey, leave that there. I’ll get it,” Jemma says.
“It’s no problem. I got it.” He carries the stack of plates to the kitchen sink. He turns the water on and begins washing them.
I feel bad. I haven’t offered to help or do anything since I’ve been here. What it means to be in a pack is going to take some getting used to. “Is there anything I can do?”
Jemma wipes her mouth with her napkin and pats my hand. “Don’t you trouble yourself. You just sit right there.”
After Caleb finishes the dishes, he nods to me. “You ready?”
“Mhm.” I stand and thank Jemma.
I don’t know how to initiate a hug, but thankfully, I don’t have to.
She holds out her arms from her chair, and I lean down to embrace her.
Caleb hugs her as well, then looks at Sam and Taya. “I’ll see you all there.”
“Yup. We’re right behind you.” Sam says this, yet he stays seated, still eating.
“It was nice to meet you all,” I say to everyone.
Caleb checks the time on his watch. “We better hurry.” He takes my hand in his and butterflies flutter in my stomach.