Page 31 of The Gift
“What do you mean?”
“You don’t remember?”
Jenna goes to say something else; she spins around, making her long flowy skirt billow up, and I’m hit with her scent. She goes from teasing the world with her sugary scent to flooding the room with it, so hard and quick it smells like I’m actually standing at the fairy-floss stand at the carnival. And worst of all, I feel myself respond too.
“Hugo!” she whimpers, her face twisted in the slightest pain, or it might be worry. I’m not sure, but either way she’s changed as quickly as her scent has. “Can we catch up later, beautiful sister? Please, come see me at the facility. In a week, I want to see you. Now, go be your wonderful self. Inspire me, babe. You do that to every person.”
She smiles once more before her eyes cloud with an almost haze, but she’s still aware. Still soft and gentle, unlike me. I’m looking at my worst nightmare, but as Hugo and Maya rush to her, I’m pretty shocked to realise that they are both alphas. I didn’t sense it before. It might be that Jenna’s battered through my defences, or she completely rattled me in her honest acceptance of who she is. But it’s also the way Hugo and Maya are with her, they’re alphas but there is nothing but love and devotion in everything they do.
Bailey
The rest of the day and most of the next happens around us. One minute I’m having a meltdown on the step of Jenna’s little cottage, the next she’s gone, being escorted away with a convoy of SUVs following. The A-team leading the way.
And then Carmen and I have a loud and explosive argument. Understandably, she was ripe for it to go longer, until I confessed that Jenna wanted to do an in-depth interview at the compound. In the midst of it, probably because we’re outside and the heat perfume Jenna let off, I get control of myself and my body. The lemon spritzer that Simone drops into my hand helps too, the sour clarity brings my professionalism back online, and I spend the rest of the day niggling with Carmen over stupid stuff, while laughing with her about mindless shit. Sometimes that’s all it takes.
The next day was frantic, even more chaotic and loud, but everyone was consumed by a full day of phone calls, planning and general mayhem before it was dinner and drinks to celebrate the discovery of an omega plus an in-depth snapshot in the life of one. Our show has solid legs, and that is worth celebrating.
Donnie’s in an exuberant mood, enhanced by a red-wine flush, talking animatedly about the convoluted arguments the lawyers are having about the most recent amendments that certain officials in the government are hoping to pass. And he’s been talking animatedly since we sat down at his favourite steak house.
The A-team, who were relieved of Jenna duties after they’d checked her into the compound, have been strangely quiet over the past few days. Not now though, fuck a duck. The four of them walking in, turning heads, all dressed spot on. As different in style as they were in every other way. Henley and Ashton wear dark dress pants and matching jackets, thankfully deciding to keep it casual with their ties undone, Reno walks in after them dressed how he was that night we went dancing, while Koda looks just as fine in slim jeans and a white t-shirt that make me want to dirty it up.
Tonight, I’m going to blame the wine, or maybe I will say I feel lighter after witnessing first-hand the confidence and acceptance in that little cottage. The reality is I can blame a million things on how I’m acting, although I think it’s mostly because I’m a bit tired of skating the line. Regardless, I spend the entire evening in between Koda and Reno, laughing and enjoying the food and the company.
As the night wears on, each of Reno’s touches becomes more visible, they linger, and that is more than okay. Ashton swapped seats with Carmen so he could sit opposite me, sipping on his wine watching me flirt with Reno, and Henley stays way down the other end of the table. I can feel his attention each time it passes, but for the most part he stays away, listening to another of Donnie’s long-winded stories.
“Do you feel like dancing tonight?” Reno’s voice rumbles next to my ear, and he purposely ensures his lips brush along the shell, making my skin shiver.
“No dance floor.” I smile, tipping my wine glass to the small restaurant. Watching a table in the far back corner singing happy birthday to one of the guests.
One of the cons of fine dining is the waitstaff often frowned upon guests doing more than eating and drinking. Here is no different. Clancy’s Steak House take it next level, discouraging loud singing by the looks.
“We can fix that,” Ashton suggests, pulling the fuzz out of my head, but when I triple check I actually heard him, he’s watching the red wine in his glass spin around.
I go to say something, but Koda interrupts, talking for the first time all night. He’s been sort of involved, not saying, but still laughing or acting very much a part of our discussions without talking as such. Until now. “No. That’s enough. I’ll take Bailey home when she’s ready.”
“You’ve been drinking,” I say pointing to his wine glass.
“No, Koda doesn’t drink unless we’re home,” Ashton says with a small smile on his lips. The red wine has made them seem like they’re blushing in ripeness.
“Hey? How did I miss that?” I ask, looking at him and his glass.
“We all do things to fit in, Bailey,” Koda says quietly, getting up and leaving the table. My eyes track him as he walks through the restaurant to the back where the bathrooms are.
Turning back to Reno, he’s acting the gentleman, ignoring the elephant in the room, but Ashton is staring intently at me.
“You did well yesterday,” he offers after a drawn out pause. His voice is deep and husky; the blue of his eyes seems darker tonight. Ashton is a dangerously attractive man.
“Are you meaning to come across patronising or did I miss that you’ve been like that every time we’ve spoken?” I tease, ensuring my words stay between us.
Reno chuckles, taking a sip of his wine and leaning back in his chair, keeping everything friendly.
“Bailey, when Ashton is being patronising, you’ll know. And look, I’ve known him a while, if he’s got something to say he will, but like I said, when he’s being a prick, you won’t be left wondering.”
“So how do I take his last comment?”
“Encouragingly.”
I look off, watching the people in the corner laughing and handing out cake.
