137. Chapter One-Hundred-Thirty-Six
Chapter One-Hundred-Thirty-Six
Scarlett
The tension in the waiting room slipped away after Riley started laughing. It must have been hell to have to worry about something so huge after everything that happened to him.
Xane sighs as he sits back down. Clearly, he feels bad for not telling Riley sooner.
“It’s okay,” I tell him. “You were both hurting.”
He shakes his head. “I should have known he would be worried about that.”
“He doesn’t need to worry about it now. That’s the important thing.”
“Yeah, and we need to start thinking more about those things,” Kian adds.
“Instead of working all the time,” Trick says with a wry smile.
Xane laughs. “Don’t worry about that. I’m gonna cancel the rest of the tour.”
“For the whole rest of the year?” Kian asks, eyes widening.
“Of course. We’ve earned the rest, and we have a mate who might be starting her own career soon.” Xane looks at me for confirmation.
I shrug. “I’m gonna talk to my old manager. She doesn’t know I’m an Omega, but I think once she does, my career might be about to start.”
“You’ll have more control if you go indie,” Xane tells me. “You might end up in a crazy situation if you take a record deal from one of the big companies.”
“I don’t want it to take over my life,” I admit. “I want to spend a lot of time with you guys, and I want to have the chance to help talented Betas into the industry.”
“You can do whatever you want,” Xane says. “We’ll help.”
I smile at him. “What if I want to travel to Europe and Britain?”
Trick’s eyes widen. “Really?”
“A driving vacation?” I suggest.
“I would love that,” Trick admits, glancing at Xane.
“If we can figure out a way to get Riley okay with it, we’ll add it to the list.”
“There’s a list?” Kian asks.
“It’s a hypothetical until we get a pen and paper,” Xane explains. “But, yeah, we’re gonna make a list, so we can do all the things we’re talking about doing. I don’t wanna forget anything.”
“Buy one big mansion of a house with a swimming pool and a recording studio,” Kian says. “Make sure that’s on there. I’m not living in the tour bus when we get back to the city, and neither is Scarlett.”
“Yeah, I don’t think I wanna live on a tour bus,” I admit.
“None of us do,” Trick adds.
“Okay,” Xane says. “We’ve got a European vacation and buy a house on the list. What else?”
“Spend a lot of time with Scarlett,” Kian says. “Meet her friends, and her sister, and her parents?”
“My parents?” I laugh. “They’re not gonna like this.”
“Are they not into rock?” Kian asks.
“Nope, but I think the fact that I have four of you will be the part they really don’t like.”
Xane snorts. “Then I guess they’re kinda traditional.”
“You could say that. They’ll get it over it. Eventually. Maybe.”
I shrug. Truth is, I don’t know if they might distance themselves.
I don’t really care, because if they don’t like my guys, they don’t need to be in my life.
It’s that simple.
“Sapphire’s probably not gonna be shocked,” I tell them. “This is the kinda thing she expects from me. I’m gonna have to write an article her boss loves to get away with this.”
“She’ll love whatever you write,” Kian says, smiling broadly. “Because I get the final proof before she can publish it.”
I laugh. “Are you kidding me?”
“No,” he scoffs. “I did that to make it seem like it matters. So, the editor would be so impressed that we liked the article enough to give our stamp of approval.”
“Fucking hell, Kian,” Trick says, shaking his head.
The door to the waiting room opens and a waitress peeks her head inside.
“I was told to take lunch orders?” she murmurs meekly.
“Come in,” Kian says, standing up to hold the door open. “We’re the lunch orderers.”
She steps inside and he closes the door.
“Um, would anyone like to see the menu?”
“Are there fish in the sea? How many and what color? I mean, yes. I want to see a menu,” Kian says as he holds out his hand.
She passes it to him and gives us a confused look.
I guess she’s not used to seeing someone so excited to eat.
Kian takes the menu over to where Trick is sitting and holds it open so they both can see it.
“I’ll take the Steak and fries,” Xane says.
She writes it down and looks at me.
“Oh, I don’t know,” I start, before realizing I do know, if they have it.
“They can cook almost anything,” Xane tells me.
“Chicken nuggets?” I ask, sure she’s gonna laugh, or ask where the kid is that wants them.
She nods and writes it down, only hesitating to ask, “Only chicken nuggets?”
“Um, with mashed potatoes and whatever veg you’ve got, I guess.”
“Very good,” she says, writing it down.
Kian stands up and brings her back the menu.
“We’ll take the sticky ribs and fries, so two portions of that and an extra portion of mac n cheese. And two large colas. Thanks!”
He sits back down and she looks at me.
“Drinks?”
“Uh, yeah, a large cola for me too, please.”
“Water for me,” Xane says. “And we’ve got one more person who’s in with the doctor right now so you might wanna wait a few minutes before you run that to the kitchen.”
“Of course,” she says, standing by the side of the door, as if she’s ready to grab that extra order and go the second Riley’s back in the room.
Xane looks at me. “So, who told you?”
I blink at him. “Huh?”
“Chicken nuggets?” he asks.
“Oh …”
“I told her,” Kian says. “Because it’s her favorite, too.”
Xane blinks. “No. It’s your favorite?”
I nod. “Maybe that’s why we’re fated?”
He laughs and takes my hand in his.
“There are better reasons,” he says. “But you know this means I’m gonna steal some of your nuggets because I can’t resist them when they’re around?”
“No way,” I tell him, looking back at the waitress. “Add an extra portion of chicken nuggets to our order please.”
Kian laughs. “You two are hilarious.”
Xane raises an eyebrow at him. “I might steal some of your mac n cheese, too.”
“Wow, wow, wow. Calm down with the stealing.”
I smile as I rest my head on Xane’s shoulder.
It’s been a crazy weekend but we’re right where we’re supposed to be.