I didn’t answer that. And she might be right, I’m not sure if the ice is thawing. It might be.
It was good to do a catch-up with her and it felt good to spew all my frustrations out to someone who would actually listen to me.
She’s smitten with Jared and though his wolf is still a danger to her, she’s hopeful. And she sounds beyond happy, which is good enough for me.
I did some more digging, too, into people from Jared’s pack and let Cicely know I sent those records to Joel who promptly called me to tell me he’ll reach out to his ex-girlfriend’s mate, Bryce, on behalf of Jared for a contact request with a beta named Jonathan in Bryce and Susan’s pack who grew up with Jared. A conversation with him could shed further light on Jared’s first shift and the death of his family.
I think it’s huge that Joel is willing to reach out to Bryce for Cicely and Jared. It’s been over a decade since Susan was claimed by Bryce and with Joel’s mating likely being not too far off, it seems healthy that this could bring him closure ahead of that.
Sis already has a phone number for Jared’s cousin so with those leads and with the plans around Dr. Blakely and Cat running some tests on Jared’s wolf, progress is being made and Cicely sounds really happy with the mate Fate gave her.
My conversation with Sis reminded me that my drama isn’t the only one our council is observing at the moment. Does there always have to be a big drama surrounding the mating of a super alpha? I guess Jared isn’t a super alpha, but from what I’ve heard, he’s definitely on the extraordinary side of the equation.
***
“I wonder where he’s taking you,” Mom muses again.
She did this at lunch and now she’s doing it by hovering in the doorway of my bathroom.
“No idea.”
“He didn’t contact you today?”
“Nope.”
I did not wear the gold dress. Not to be contrary, either. I felt so humiliated when I wore it. I wore it with that pheromone Ibought online. A pheromone that did nothing. A pheromone that I can still smell on the dress. It’s in the very back of my closet inside a zippered garment bag. And I still smell it every time I go in there. I need to send it to the dry cleaners in Drowsy Hollow. Or maybe even burn it.
I did put effort in, though I wouldn’t want to admit it aloud. To match my red manicure and pedicure, I’m wearing a short- sleeved red dress that’s got a fitted bodice and a full bouffant style skirt. I’ve got it on with red and black polka dot shoes that have a kitten heel because I wanted to be fancy but also didn’t want to break an ankle and whenever I go higher than a kitten heel, it’s a struggle. My hair is loose and smoothed, which might have something to do with efforts to hide my neck.
The day after tomorrow, Mimi Young arrives. We’re all hopeful this will mean Dad’s senses return to normal, Mom smells like she’s supposed to smell, and that Dad can try to forget what his ex-mate smelled like as well as put him through.
Mom lamented during lunch today on the fact that shifters aresoaffected by scent. And I know she’s trying to help with my mindset about Jason.
Dani popped by the library this morning for just two minutes with a little roller ball bottle, exactly the same as the pheromone bottle, telling me to roll it on my wrists, behind my ears, roll it where Jase would mark me, as well as behind my knees every four hours. She warned that it won’t erase my scent and not to be too confident with it, but says it’ll help dull my scent to him a little, which may help with his self-control.
She hugged me goodbye, wishing me luck.
***
The doorbell rings. My heart skips a beat. My belly does a somersault. And I hear a yip that I know comes from inside my head.
Mom clasps her hands excitedly. “He’s here!” She rushes to answer the door.
I decide to roll on more of that stuff Dani gave me one more time before I finish putting on lipstick and chastise myself for wearing the same glossy red shade he seemed to fixate on the other day. I wipe it off with a tissue as I hear my mother calling my name.
My lips are still red, but nowhere near as glossy.
I blow out a sigh, grab my bag, and head down to face the music.
Who knew I’d feel so strangely numb about my first-ever date?
***
His face lights up when he sees me descending the stairs.
“Wow,” he mouths and says, “Even better than the gold one.”
He’s dressed in navy slacks, polished-to-a-gloss brown shoes, and a midnight blue button-down, though the sleeves are rolled, showing off his tattooed arms.