Page 167 of Knot By Design
I feel bad, like I got so consumed with my own set of Alphas and abandoned her. When I voice my concern, she immediately gestures for my hand and squeezes it.
“You’re my best friend,” she says. “I get how a heat can warp your entire existence. I would never hold it against you. And you need to stop saying that. When it was my turn, you were there for me, no questions asked. You’re the godmother to my baby. You’re my entire world, Wren. You’re my family.”
“You’re my family, too.”
She wipes at her eyes. “Good. Don’t make me have to give this speech again. For now, I just wanted to talk it out. I’ll have the baby, and then I can discuss all of this with Simon. He’ll know what to do and what I can take from the apothecary to help with the transition.”
“Of course he’ll support you. Those men love you.”
“You think so?”
I squeeze her hand. “I know so.”
“I think your guys like you, too. Like, a lot, Norah. I’ve never seen them like this. Every time I came by or called to check on you, I could hear it. I don’t know how you’re handling the Dorian thing yet, and I won’t pressure you to talk it through until you’re ready, but I’m pretty convinced that those men, well, they care for you.”
I didn’t even realize that I had a slight fear that what I was feeling was all due to the heat until she said that. “Thank you,” I say.
“You’re welcome, babe. And you’re the best, so I’m not surprised they’re this crazy over you.”
“Oh, stop it! Actually, there’s something I have to tell you.”
“What?”
“We’re going to have a stall at the market today.”
Her mouth falls open. “What?”
“The guys are building it right now,” I say. “Ryker and Jude.”
Her eyes light up. “They really have feelings for you.”
My chest tightens, but it’s not fear. It’s something softer. Something hopeful. “I might have feelings for them, too.”
She screams. I scream back.
We’re laughing so hard I have to brace myself against the counter.
“Okay,” she says finally, wiping at her eyes. “Let’s go through inventory.”
I nod, pulling out the clipboard. Snow is falling outside, soft and steady, the world wrapped in quiet.
As we work, I ask, “How’s your mom? And the café?”
Wren smiles. “Everyone is perfect. Mom’s divorce is going well. Her lawyer is really helping out. And she likes being busy at the café. It’s a great distraction for her. We all just missed you, Norah.”
“I missed you, too.”
I swallow, heart full, and get back to work.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Jude
The cedar smellssharp and clean as I run the planer along the edge, curls of pale wood spilling onto the tarp beneath my boots.
Snow flurries drift through the open garage door, melting the second they touch the concrete, but I barely feel the cold. My body is warm from work. My mind is busy in the best possible way.
This stall matters.
