Page 21 of Fritillaria (Fortune Records Omegaverse #5)

Chapter 21

I vy

I received the most awkward phone call of my life last night from Aspis. I almost hadn’t answered the strange number, but of course my instincts came calling and told me to pick it up.

I have known Aspis to be a very charming male, definitely someone that the other ladies in the label have their eye on. But he can be so awkward when he tries to talk to me.

His deep timbre was instantly recognizable, asking me if we could all go to the dinner together.

The last few days have been filled with a lot of thinking for me. My general consensus is that I should at least give this dinner a proper attempt.

So I said yes.

Which is why I am now freaking out in the foyer of my building as a car waits for me. It’s the sleek black and tinted windows of a car with a driver. So at least Aspis had put some effort in.

My heart is fluttering in my chest with nerves as I think about seeing them both. It’s been over a week, and I don’t know what to expect.

I’m going to assume that they have been seeing each other without me. I wonder how close they’ve gotten already? I have seen how quickly the other mates in the studio have gone to being like basically married.

I guess I will find out now.

Except my feet don’t move. I wait just inside the door and out of sight, building up my courage. They arrived a little early so I don’t need to go out right away.

I had no idea what to wear to this dinner. It’s at Flora and Sebastian’s house, and I didn’t know if people were dressing up for it.

In the end I settled for a good quality cropped t-shirt, a pleated skirt and a pair of sheer tights with boots. Most of my tattoos are on show, as well as the light impression of my nipple piercings through my shirt. If I’m going to have to go to this dinner with Aspis and Matilda, the least they can do is lust over me a little.

OK, I can do this.

Stealing a breath, I leave my building and stride to the car in a few confident steps. It clicks open just as my hand reaches it and I slip inside before I can run away.

Matilda and Aspis are sitting on the side bench of the long car, looking cozy. They give me tentative smiles as I settle in on the back seat. I don’t need to be all snuggly with them, I can sit here just fine. My body protests a little, but I manage it.

“Hi,” I say, simply. I’m not sure what else to do, really.

“It’s so good to see you.” Matilda sounds so genuine, her golden eyes looking a little too close to tears for comfort.

Aspis just stares, a pained look on his face. Is it really this hard for him?

“How are you?” Matilda continues, placing a hand in Aspis’ and squeezing, probably to get him to say something. They look so comfortable with one another, so at ease.

My heart shatters into a million pieces at the sight. Why do I care ? I shouldn’t feel like this, I don’t want to feel like this.

“I love your outfit!” Matilda breezes on, completely ignoring that I haven’t answered her yet. She looks stunning in a flowing lavender sundress, her tanned legs and furry hooves peeking out from beneath.

Aspis looks different. I’m used to seeing him in a suit, or at least a business shirt. But today he is wearing a simple t-shirt, his arms on display. They are covered in corded muscle and intricate tattoos. I had no idea he was hiding that.

Of course it makes him instantly more attractive.

Seeing them together, looking so good, touching… it sends a tremor through my core, and I’m fighting with myself to stay in my seat. To not pounce on them.

What is wrong with me?!

“You do look beautiful.” Aspis finally speaks. His jaw flexes, almost like he wants to say more but holds himself back.

“Thank you.” My voice is smaller than I mean it to be, my blush growing. I’m glad that I put a layer of makeup on today to cover it up. It’s a little too intense with them both watching me like this.

“Oh, I made you something!” Matilda grabs a tote bag and abandons Aspis to sit next to me. Having her this close is intoxicating, her bright eyes light up with joy as she presents her gift.

I nervously pick open the bag, seeing a pile of fabric inside. It’s either a blanket or a cushion. Pulling it out, I see that it’s a blanket made of squares, each one having something to do with me. There are nods to my albums and my favorite colors, even designs that match my tattoos.

“You made this?” She nods vigorously, scooching even closer to me on the seat.

Matilda subjects Aspis and I to a spiel on quilt making that lasts the whole trip to Flora and Sebastian’s house. It’s sweet though, and I can tell how much effort she put into doing something she loves for me.

When the car pulls to a stop, the driver letting us know that we’ve reached our destination, I lean in close to Matilda.

“Thank you, I love it.” I whisper in her ear, placing a barely there kiss on her cheek.

I don’t look to see her reaction, climbing out of the car quickly. It takes Aspis and Matilda a moment to join me outside, and I just know that they were talking about me.

“Hi! Come on in!” A chirpy voice calls to my left.

Golden blond curls and a bright pink dress meet my gaze. Flora is cute, and I usually get along well with her. It’s just that we don’t cross paths all too often.

“Hi, how are you?” I ask as I make my way to the front door of the house. Flora pulls me into a hug, and it even feels kind of nice to my touch deprived self.

“Not too bad.” I smirk, looking over my shoulder at Aspis and Matilda hurrying to follow me in. “Thank you for having us. I heard you had a big group anyway so I appreciate you being so accommodating.”

Aspis looks at me with confusion. What is his problem? Yes, I can be nice and hospitable. It’s just usually when people aren’t barging into my workspace and proclaiming that we are meant to be together. He must forget the amount of networking involved with getting to the level in my career that I have.

“Come on, Matilda.” I clasp her hand in mine, pulling her inside with me. Throwing a dirty look over my shoulder at Aspis, I know that it’s riling him up in just the way I wanted.

It seems that everyone else is mostly here already. Although my quick glance tells me that Rosie and Finnegan are the stragglers.

I wasn’t sure who was going to be here, other than Flora and Sebastian. But it seems that I know more people than I initially realized.

“Ivy! It’s so good to see you.” Hyacinth rushes over to pull me into a hug. I worked with her and Addison on the production for my last album, so we spent a lot of time together. Addison joins us, a chihuahua in either arm. She waves one of them at me in greeting.

Laughing, I take one of the tiny dogs, giving it scratches behind its ears as we settle into the group. Looking around, I realize that Aspis is hanging back a bit with Liliana. It seems that perhaps he doesn’t know as many people here as I do. Matilda is sticking close to me, mainly to avoid her boss, I am sure.

It’s always been so strange to me that two sweet girls like Addison and Hyacinth were mated with such a cold person. But the Succubus probably puts up a front in that case. She joins us and I can see that she absolutely dotes on her mates.

The little dog is a great excuse to avoid anymore hugs, and I silently sent my thanks to Addison. Sebastian’s two band members join us next, along with their two mates who I think are Flora’s dancers. It’s hard to mistake the Kraken and Minotaur though. It’s also kind of adorable how Nereus wraps a tentacle around Maddox’s leg as we chat.

“Five minutes!” A deep and rich voice calls from another room.

Everyone else seems to know where to go, so I follow them to a large dining room. Flora’s touch is everywhere in this house with light and pastel hues. The table settings are no exception. Light blue and lavender checkered place mats with matching plates and glassware set the scene, along with a gorgeous bouquet of flowers as the centerpiece.

Matilda leaves a spot between us, most likely trying to get Aspis to sit there. Only Nereus calls him to a specially designed chair right as Flora slips into his spot. I am partly relieved and partly disappointed. God, why are my feelings about this all so conflicting? I just need a moment of peace.

“You good?” Flora whispers under her breath to me.

“Yeah,” I nod. “Thank you. I’m just a little overwhelmed.”

“I’m sure it’s a lot.” She gestures at the group, but we both know that she means more than just that.

Rosie and Finnegan finally show up, earning some jeers from their friends about why they were running late. They are forced to split up, sitting on either side of the table. To my other side sits Daisy and Cleo respectively. I know them a little, and Flora eases us all into conversation.

It’s actually kind of… nice .

Aspis is having fun with Finnegan, and it’s interesting to see him relaxed again. I like this version of him. When he’s not worried about what I’ll think. When he’s just being his charming self.

I could see it. Myself, Aspis and Matilda coming here every couple of weeks. Being part of this friend group. There isn’t anyone here that I don’t like.

Sebastian’s cooking is also another selling point. The Dragon Shifter served us an array of roasted chickens and all the sides you could imagine. It was delicious.

Rosie was quickly forgiven for being late when she told the group that she had brought dessert. It’s brought to the table now, a gorgeous layer cake big enough for everyone to have a piece.

I’m silent as I savor every delicious morsel of the raspberry and vanilla flavor. My heart feels full for the first time in well… forever. I never really had a family like this, a wholesome group where you felt comfortable being yourself.

So I guess I didn’t know to value it.

Have I been doing this all the wrong way? I’ve put my career first, time and time again. Never really slowing down to wonder if that was all that I needed.

My career is successful, and I’ve achieved so much of what I had set out to do. I’m in a place now where I wouldn’t really need to work as hard as I am. Hell, I could even relinquish some control and work with other songwriters.

Would it really be such a bad thing if my priorities shifted?

Looking around the space, it’s hard to miss how in tandem all of these mates are with one another. How happy they all are.

When was the last time I felt truly happy?

My gaze lingers on Aspis as he chats with Maddox, his gorgeous green eyes flicking over to me like they have been all evening. Only this time I don’t look away. I hold Aspis’ gaze, a tentative smile forming on my face. An offering to him.

Rachel might have been right, the same for Rosie.

I am attracted to Aspis and Matilda. I like them both as people. Why haven’t I been happy about getting an opportunity to be with them?