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Glaring at my phone, I think about what I want to say. Typing and erasing several times before settling on…

That’s fine. I assumed he would be, since he is Silas’s best friend. No biggie! I’ll be a good girl, I swear.

It’s not you that I’m worried about.

What’s that supposed to mean?

The three dots pop up and disappear several times. Seems I’m not the only one considering what I’m saying before actually sending it today.

Warrick…ugh. Idk you will have to see for yourself. He isn’t being normal. It’s weird, but like… he is being super sweet, attentive, and extra helpful?

I’m sure he is just excited to be an uncle is all.

Yeah…

Alright, I’m heading that way. See you soon!

I pull my wagon around to the steps and pile everything I have to bring into it. Grabbing the handle, I walk the trek to the pack house. I chose my cabin to be sort of midway away from it. I didn’t like the idea of being super close to the main building, but I also wasn’t going to be anymore of a loner by choosing one of the houses on the outskirts or further out like Warrick and Silas.

I haven’t been walking for long when I see Warrick walking down the path toward the shops on the pack land. He is walking with a determined pace, like a man on a mission. I follow him with my eyes as I watch him walk into the bakery. He must be on cake duty if he is going there today.

Caelon and Xavior are carrying a table inside when I walk up. Xavior nods his head at me, which is about as much communication you can expect from him.

Caelon beams with a smile as he notices me walking up. “Uh, hi, Aspen.”

Caelon has always been the shy, quiet type. But once he warms up to you, he is quite the chatterbox. Most people walk past him and never acknowledge him, but I do because we are the same, really. Instead of books, like me, his vice is computers and math. Don’t ask me to explain a single thing he has ever talked about because it was a low humming sound, essentially, in my ears. I always try to listen, at least enough to show that I care what he has to say.

“Hey, Caelon! Are you ready to find out what the babies are going to be?”

He looks around nervously. “Yeah… I, uh, guess I am.”

“Are you going to stand here holding the table chatting, or can we get inside to drop this one off? It’s not like we don’t have ten more to move in,” Xavior snaps from the top of the stairs.Whoops!

I place my hand on Caelon’s shoulder. “It’s alright, we can chat later during the party.” I give him a warm smile and cut my eyes to Xavior. Sometimes, he can be so brash with his behavior.

“Sorry.” Caelon ducks his head, and they finish walking the table inside.

I follow behind them, leaving my wagon at the foot of the stairs.

The girls are all bustling about when I walk into the kitchen area. Nellie is the first one to see me, and I watch as relief washes over her.

“There you are! I am freaking the fuck out right now, and there is so much to do!” Nellie squeals.

Placing my purse and phone by the coffee bar, I make myself an iced coffee with caramel and chocolate syrup while Nellie gives me the rundown at turbo speed. I’m not sure if she even breathed during the entirety of the explanation.

The first sip of coffee is always the best one. It awakens your soul, I swear. Holding my hand up to pause her rant, I say, “Nellie, breathe for me. It is only 8:20 A.M., and the event starts at 11. We have plenty of time and plenty of people to get everything done. I know that you want it to be perfect, so do I, but I need you to dial back the anxiousness. You are stressing me out, and I just got here. Don’t you remember Dr. M told us that stress isn’t good for the babies?” I lift an eyebrow up as I glare at her.

Her face goes from shock that I stopped her, to anger, and, finally, to resignation. “You’re right. I’m sorry. There is just a lot going on and I don’t feel like we will be done in time. Nova deserves for it to be everything she hoped it would be.”

Hazel walks over with a coffee for Nellie. She hands it to her, and Nellie gulps down a sip of it. “Better?” Hazel asks.

Nellie nods her head, and Willow walks over to the group with a mischievous look on her face. “I’ve got a blunt if you think that will mellow your ass out more.”

Nellie’s mouth falls open as she looks between the three of us. I just shrug my shoulders while Hazel glares at Willow.

“I think I’m good for now,” Nellie tells Willow.

Willow just shrugs. “If you change your mind, it’s in my purse.”