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twenty-three

JOSIE

M y coffee steams in my mug as I ponder on this morning.

I woke up to Vic on one side of me and Henry on the other.

All of us still mostly clothed, solidifying how happy I am with them.

We had plenty of opportunity to get dirty last night, but I’m still reveling in how touching them isn’t draining.

So, they obliged me and just held me all night, kisses passed here and there, but not taken further.

Was it torture? Absolutely.

Was it my decision to stop? Yup. Just torturing myself over here.

Both of them are gone now, needing their own clothes and showers to proceed through their day.

It’s almost like they have their own jobs.

Crazy, right? I smile to myself as my hands soak in the heat from my mug.

The two of them were so sweet last night, I almost begged them to stay.

Maybe soon we can figure out somewhere to live together.

Sure, it’s fast, but we’re planning to bond and we’re Matches.

As far as my Omega and I are concerned, it’s a done deal.

I can’t imagine my Alphas protesting it, but I know that Vic doesn’t want to abandon Simon, so that might play into things too.

My lips meet my mug, and I sip some more of the liquid gold into me.

Simon. He’s so complicated and so simple all at the same time.

Spending time as a trio, just him, Vic, and me, felt as natural as breathing.

He doesn’t want to bond with me, though, so what does that mean?

Did it not feel right to him? He kissed me like he couldn’t stand to ever be apart, but when push comes to shove, is he really all that interested in staying?

My mind thinks back to some of the information I have about him, specifically, being burned in the past. Who hasn’t been burned, though?

The number of times I’ve had someone declare us to be a Match when they found out I couldn’t tell is astronomical.

I’ve been fooled more times than I care to admit, but I know this isn’t false.

It can’t be, everything feels like it fits exactly where it should.

So, how do I get Simon to recognize that this is the real deal?

I could just tie him up and keep him captive until he gives in.

That might not be entirely legal, though. Better not.

I drain most of my coffee, spending a few minutes pondering on Jesse since I’m thinking about difficult Alphas.

The two of us together are perfect, the chemistry is amazing, and he feels comfortable with me.

It’s like the prospect of an entire Pack makes him panic.

That makes sense, I suppose, he’s said he’s not very social. Maybe tying him up would work.

“Stop considering kidnapping your Alphas,” I mutter out loud.

Glancing at the time, I sigh. It’s time to make a work call.

Maybe I can get some Georgie time too. My laptop is on the other side of the couch, so like the mature adult I am, I tip my head back and whine.

Why’s it gotta be so far away? I crawl over to it and then scurry back to the warm spot I left behind.

I get myself set up and dial Georgie and James.

“Josie!” Georgie greets me.

“Hey Jo,” James is decidedly less enthusiastic, but still pleased to see me.

“How are my favorite Betas?” I ask.

“Livin’ the dream, girlfriend,” James quips.

My eyes roll at his words. “Okay, let’s get down to brass tacks.”

“Brass tacks?” Georgie asks, a smirk on her face.

“It sounds professional!” I insist.

“Whatever you say, boss,” she giggles.

“Well, I completed the job posting and sent it to you guys via email. What do you think? Does it encompass the role well? I want to be clear about what the job is without scaring people away,” I say.

“Let me look again right quick,” James says, pulling up a tablet and flipping through it.

As he skims, Georgie peers over his shoulder to read it with him.

“I think it’s really good, just needs a few changes,” Georgie says.

“Yeah, I’m looking at the part about why we’re hiring, and I think that’s something we could move out of the posting and just let them know about it during interviews. You stepping back a little doesn’t need to be in there,” James suggests.

I make some notes in my computer’s note app.

“What else?” I ask.

“Do we need to keep in the bit about the role not being sexual in nature? I mean, we don’t want it to be, obviously, but I’m not sure how forceful we need to be in the posting,” George speaks up.

I pull it up on half my screen to review it with them.

Apparently, I was feeling extra sassy the night that I wrote this job posting.

The words I used are “This job is not for hook-ups, good times, or getting your kicks in. You will under no circumstances be hired if these apply. We don’t want creepers.

” Yeah, we probably should tone that down or remove it.

“What about just using reasonable language?” I suggest.

James laughs, “You mean, ‘no creepers’ isn’t reasonable?”

“Well, it’s definitely not professional,” I shoot back with a smile.

“What if we just said, ‘this position is to comfort only when working with our clients.’? Would that work?” Georgie asks.

James nods, “Yeah, I think that sounds good. Josie? It’s your business, what do you think?”

I’m already making notes in my app, “I think that I trust both of you and agree with your assessment.”

“Oh, you,” James teases, waving me off.

I giggle, enjoying James’ teasing. He’s so ridiculous, kind of like the brother I never had.

We go through the rest of the job posting, ensuring that the language makes sense and represents the position well.

I finally decided to hire another Touch Helper, so I’m terrified and excited.

At first, it was just me on my own, then when I met Georgie and James, it was like destiny.

Not romantically, but sometimes you just know that someone is meant to help you.

Hiring this person means I can scale back to one client at a time.

It will relieve my stress a ton and will allow me to soak in my Alpha and Beta snuggles.

I’m still in the honeymoon phase about how I can touch them without my energy feeling drained.

Honestly, I hope it’s always like this. Cuddling without feeling exhausted afterwards.

Maybe I’ll write an opinion article and submit it to someone so other people with Touch Loss know they’re not alone.

I look into my camera after making the final notes on the changes we’ve discussed. Updating some phrasing and a format change, and it’s complete. I’ll post it on some job boards, and if that doesn’t get us anywhere, I can look into print media as well.

“Hey Georgie?” I ask.

“What’s up?” she responds.

“Are you busy? I, uh, I was hoping you would be willing to talk something out with me,” I tell her.

“Yeah, absolutely! You wanna do it over video here or meet up or something?”

“We can just chat over video here, no need to make an effort to be seen in public,” I assure her.

“Are we more worried about you looking presentable in public or me?” she laughs.

James stands then bends back into view, “This is my cue, catch ya later bossman.”

“Bye, James!” I say, probably louder than necessary.

The view jostles some as Georgie moves around, and when she settles, I can see she’s surrounded by pillows. Looks super comfy.

“Okay, brought you to my bedroom. I have a pillow obsession, so, uh, forgive the plethora behind me,” she says.

“Omega over here, remember?” I tease her.

“Oh yes, how could I forget!” she quips back.

I chuckle and get myself settled back into a cozy position.

“So what’s up? How can I help?” Georgie asks.

I sigh and close my eyes for a moment before looking into the camera and unloading on my employee/friend because I have nobody else to talk about this with.

“I found my Matches,” I tell her.

“Uh, WHAT? When did this happen? Give me all the details!” she exclaims.

Laughing, I go through the entire process with her, explaining how Jesse found me first, and how my best friend turned out to be a Match too.

Georgie squeals in excitement and gasps at all the right places, including when I accidentally outed Simon as a Match.

When I explain how Henry fits in, she swoons dramatically.

“Girl! You have been in it ! Wow!” George says.

“I know, right? It’s been a huge whirlwind, but it all feels right. It’s so weird,” I confess.

“God, I hope someday I find a Match. It sounds like it’s the best thing ever.”

I smirk, “Well, I can’t speak for the first touch, but everything else lives up to the hype.”

At this point, she demands all the details of intimacy, including just snuggles.

I didn’t expect to really get into detail with her, but the longer we talk, the lighter I feel.

The goal of this talk wasn’t to be a therapy session, but that’s kind of how it’s turning out.

She has great questions and is a fantastic listener.

I think this entire situation is going to push us into a friendship in addition to being co-workers.

“So, what’s the issue? It sounds like everything is great!” she comments.

“Well, this is where it gets more complicated. I took the guys on a group date at Date and Busters, and it was so much fun! The talk afterward was not so much fun. Basically, two of them borderline rejected me,” I tell her.

“Excuse the fuck out of me, what?”

“Maybe I’m being dramatic, but Jesse and Simon both said they don’t want to bond. Well, more specifically, they don’t want to be Pack. But they can’t bond with me and not be Pack. That’s not how it works.”

“Sounds like a bit of a cluster, eh?” Georgie comments.

“Seriously. How am I supposed to take that from them? Do I force the issue? Do I leave it alone? What do you think? You’re mostly unbiased, so I wanted your thoughts,” I tell her.

“Mostly unbiased?”

“Well, clearly you’re on my side in the end,” I tell her breezily.

We both laugh and then go quiet in contemplation. I bite my thumb while I wait for Georgie to figure out what she wants to say.

“Well, considering I’ve never been and never will be in your shoes, take what I say with a grain of salt.

I think Simon and Jesse need a proverbial kick in the ass.

I say you bond Vic and Henry and make sure Simon and Jesse know it’s happening.

Let them know they can be in if they want, but you’re not going to beg for them. ”

“Like an ultimatum?” I ask, feeling a bit uncertain about that idea.

“Not so much an ultimatum, but a reality check like you’re not going to wait on them to get your happiness, but you also want them to be part of it. Does that make sense?”

I hum as I think over the idea. It has merit.

“I think I like that. I’ve told Jesse that I’m not giving up on him, that he’s mine, but I think you’re right.

I shouldn’t have to wait for him to be ready to get my own happiness.

Simon’s just so scared to be in a Pack, but maybe I can get him to come around.

He already knows Vic, and I’m a Match, so it’s not like we’re going to kick him out. That seems to be his concern.” I reply.

“Absolutely! I think you’re on to something,” Georgie encourages me.

We smile at each other and lapse into silence for a few minutes. I’m about to tell her we can hang up now, but she clears her throat and starts speaking.

“I know you’re my boss, but I really like chatting with you. Maybe we could be friends too?” she asks.

My heart warms, and a smile spreads wide across my face. “I’d really love that.”

We say our goodbyes, and I promise myself that I’m going to be a good friend to Georgie. She’s amazing. For now, though, I need to come up with a game plan to get my hesitant Alphas in gear.