46. Everette
Everette
"It's huge!" Opaline laughs, hand over her mouth as she takes in the dancing flames, pale green eyes reflecting the reddish hue.
A little sign stands, propped into the ground, reading 'Wants truly, she does. "I know, love. You're my good boy aren't you?" The moment the words slip free, do they register between both of them, surprise even lighting her own face.
"Mmm," he smirks. "I can be the best boy, baby…" Sage rumbles, voice low and just for her. "Just you wait and see."
Swallowing deeply, her lips part, practically panting at whatever image those words painted.
Based on her perfuming signature scent, we may have just unlocked something.
The urge to prove I can be her good boy, too, has my knees nearly buckling.
Keeping my body tight, I stop myself from falling to my knees before her.
"What happened to 'stop teasing her, asshole!'" Adrian chimes in, chuffing.
Clearing her throat, she takes a deep breath, stepping back from us.
The look Adrian levels me with sends whatever blood's still in my brain directly to my dick, eyes heavy with unspoken words, tracing me up and down.
Stepping closer as the other two make their way, he leans in with, "He might be her good boy, but you're mine, aren't you, Rett?
" Nearly making me trip over my two feet, I eye him, shocked, looking around to make sure no one heard.
My mouth opens and closes, completely at a loss as to what to say in return.
His smile grows, hand landing on my back, guiding us forward with the others as my heart tries to find its rhythm again.
Our omega hooks an arm around Sage's elbow, redirecting my attention. "So, how did the whole Wants and Wishes theme start? How does it work? Everyone just writes down a wish and then burn it?"
"Mmm…for the most part, yeah," I smile, with encouragement, finding my voice again, albeit slightly shaky. "I can't remember how it really started?" I add a lilt to my sentence, implying it's a question, geared toward the other two. Adrian wasn't here yet, but he might still know.
Sage turns slightly. "The idea for it came from the shooting star Calder saw the first night we officially moved here.
It was the first he had ever seen. Something about it stuck with him for months.
Enough for him to run with it for the first gathering's theme.
Back then, the first couple of years, the event was a hell of a lot smaller.
Nothing like the production we put on now.
" He chuckles, looking down at Opaline with glittering eyes.
"It was a cheesy way for everyone to wish upon a star. "
"He…" She shakes her head, closing her eyes momentarily. "He saw a shooting star? That's how this started?"
"Yeah, sweet girl. He sure did."
"Wow." She turns her attention to the sky above us. Even with the sizable fire, the stars glow fiercely against the now dark night. We stand in silence for a while before she continues. "Wait, so, we all have to write down a wish then? And then burn it? It has to be a wish?"
"Mmm, no, sweetheart." I hum with a soft expression trying to ease the concern there, knowing exactly what she's thinking.
I try to figure out the best way to explain what this has transformed into.
"The rules are a lot looser, now. But, back then, yeah.
You'd write down a wish, dream…prayer. And then let it go into the fire, its ashes going up into the stars.
At least that was kind of the idea behind it.
" Her attention snaps to mine, and I know she's replaying our conversation from the patio when I suggested she do the same. The love in her eyes mirrors my own.
"How's it different now?"
"Ah, yeah. Now, it's really up to you. Wishes, notes to people, breakup letters, dreams and goals, anything really. Whatever feels right. Even if it's just a little heart on the paper, most people want to participate simply because it's tradition now."
"I love it. It's beautiful, and the sentiment behind it makes it even more special.
I'm so happy I get to be here to participate now.
" Her smile lights up, and we each step closer, making a little omega sandwich.
Leaning up for a kiss, her lips meet mine.
A hand lands on my lower back, soothing and rubbing under my shirt and jacket.
I know it has to be Adrian by the sheer size and roughness.
But the action still takes me by surprise enough that I cut the kiss short, pulling back and trying to catch his distant, avoidant gaze. "Let's do it!"
Taking the lead, Adrian guides her over to the tiny Wishes and Wants booth. I watch them both from behind as I trail along, the magnitude of how perfect they are hitting me with a wave of something else, much deeper, still lingering from the heat of his touch.
Watching his shoulders hunch, my desire's cut cold as I follow his line of sight and realize why.
There, in the booth, is not only Annabelle, who's been an issue in the past, but now Vivian's smiling face is there to greet us, too.