“Spend time with them, separately, of course,” Gigi says. “Get to know them. Then you decide. Unless you don’t really want them.”
“I do want them. And they fought for me,” I whispered. “Saved me from those…” I shiver. “Those men.”
“Those weren’t men, they were animals,” Gigi all but growls.
“Cookie points for your alphas,” Brinlee agrees. “They are good guys. But that’s not the question.”
“They were there for her. Saved her. Fought for her.” Gigi frowns. “That’s more than cookie points. That’s some serious interest. And if she wants them…”
“So what is your vision?” Brinlee asks. “That she has three separate relationships? That can exhaust a person. And that’s if they agreed to it.”
“Hey. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” I shake my head. “I’ve always wanted a pack. I don’t think I could be with three men separately.”
This sucks…
Gigi looks ready to say something more, but Sawyer appears at our table. “Hey, girls. You all look way too serious.”
A nervous snicker escapes me. “Hey, friend. How is the pack?”
“The pack is good.” He smiles, then nods at me. “Remember when you asked me to verify Ryder’s story?”
“Ryder’s story?” Brinlee’s brows arch. “Is this code for something?”
“It’s nothing,” I rush to say.
“Hey, he’s in on this?” Gigi glares. “He knows more than us? I call foul.”
“Why wouldn’t I know more than you?” Sawyer sticks his tongue out at her. “Are you discriminating against males now?”
“Come here, Sawyer, baby.” Sophie opens her arms. “Haven’t seen you lately. Your pack is keeping you busy.”
“Which is a good thing, right?” Brinlee hums. “Us keeping him busy.”
“Definitely.” Ruby gives Sawyer a long hug, while I’m trying to contain myself, waiting for Sawyer to tell me what he has found out. “You look good.”
“Thanks, hon, so do you.” He turns to me, deciding to put me out of my misery. “His story checks out, unfortunately. Or fortunately, as that means he told you the truth.”
Oh God. That’s terrible. I had hoped it wasn’t true, though knowing he actually bared his soul to me warms me to my toes. “Thanks for checking.”
“Any time.” He winks. “Any other real-life tales you want me to research?”
“No, I’m… I’m good.” I look up to find the girls watching me. “Really. It’s like you guys said. If I like those alphas and find the excuses for their bad behavior convincing, then I should spend time with them. Get to know them better.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Gigi lifts her mug. “Cheers.”
“You can do that,” Sawyer says and grins, “but I know that look in your eyes, Coco. You’re hooked already. Gone.”
Great. He’s right. So what now?
The girls are right. The alphas want me now? They want me back? Then they’d better drop to their knees and I might think about it.
Emphasis on ‘might’ because see rule number two: find mates who love you, and indeed love you the way you are. Don’t settle for less.
And they had better show me.
43
COCO
