“He was still locked up?” Dad asks. “And you… left?”
“He’s gonna come straight for you,” Mom warns. “Best get your mind around things quickly, sweetie.” Mom looks at Dad. “She looks a little green.”
Dad says, “I’m feelin’ a little green myself.” Now he looks away.
I guess it’s not easy for a retired council alpha to think about his little girl being claimed. It’s probably not easy for any father, for that matter.
My blood runs cold at this thought.
“What the hell, Bailey?” Dad goes on, “Your mate is locked up and you leave? Do you know what that’s doing to him?”
Oh, so he’s not green from thinking about me being claimed, he’s thinking from Jase’s perspective.
Flippin’ alphas. I’m feeling a little crushed right now, so I stare at Dad and I’m sure I’m doing it showing I feel betrayed.
The kettle pops, so Mom springs into action and pours hot water into the teapot.
Dad’s face softens, “He’ll be worried out of his mind for you.”
I look away.
“Jase is a good guy, sweetheart,” Dad says, “You could do a whole lot worse.”
I feel the grimace stretch across my face.
He keeps talking. “You’ve had a crush on him for as long as I can remember. This just stage fright or you have a real beef with him?”
“He hasn’t been very nice to me lately. He’s been trying to make it clear he’s not interested.”
“To spare your feelings since he knew it was his time,” Mom puts in, pulling the sugar bowl down from the cupboard. “It’s what everyone’s been saying. Everyone said it after Erica’s birthday celebration.”
“And now it’s me he’s suddenly interested in? It’s me and I can’t stop thinking about the fact that it could be anyone. It’s not me because I’m special to him, or because he’s attracted to me as a woman, or even as a person. It’s me because his nose tells him it is.”
How lovely… the pack is speculating on this. Gossiping, more like. And now it’ll beaww, yay,Bailey got what she wanted. As if I’m this pathetic–
“Sweetheart, that’s how it goes. The bond that will grow between you will be so special,” Mom says.
Dad is nodding.
“But–” I hear noise and catch a new scent, so I stop talking.
Jase’s mom is knocking on the mostly glass kitchen door.
Mom waves her in, and when Valerie steps in, she looks surprised as she takes us in. Her eyes bounce between me and my mom.
Mom never answers the door looking any less than put together.
“Come on in, Val. I just made tea. You want some?”
“Thanks, but I only stopped in for a minute, I’ll take a raincheck, thanks, Carrie.”
Valerie turns to me and pulls me into a tight, warm hug. “Oh Bailey, I’m so, so happy it’s you! Jason isn’t back yet though?”
She’s looking me over and it dawns she’s looking for something. The mate mark. My hair is down today; I showered at the Young place last night when I got in and left it down. I often wear my hair up but knowing I was coming here, I thought about hiding my neck. If I’d brought a turtleneck to Italy with me, I’d have worn that home!
“So, so happy,” she repeats. “Why isn’t he home yet?”
“He… um…” I’m at a loss for words.