Page 75 of Ondine: Vol. 2

I give him another kiss on the cheek. “I’ll let you know. Hold off for now.”

Sabbies and Shadow continue to chat on the other side of the kitchen. Their arms crossed, both leaning back on the counter, heads tipped toward one another, laughing and talking over one another.

Before recently, I was starting to wonder if they were even friends. But here they are, close and intimate.

“How was your day?” I ask Arnie. While I was warming up and getting ready for the audition, Sabbies and Arnie ran some errands together.

His hand comes down on my knee. “Surprisingly not bad. I think I only hate half the alphas here now, instead of all of them.”

“Don’t say that.”

His head cocks to the side.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. I had a good day. Sebastian took me to the hardware store. He’s very manly.”

Yes. Yes he is.

Shadow stands by the counter absolutely devouring piece after piece. My hands dart out around me looking for my nest I suddenly can’t remember bringing into the house. Jake stops me and hands it over, having had had it with him.

I breathe a sigh of relief and hold it close to my chest.

Arnie gestures towards it. “A nest?”

“I wish I knew where your comb was,” I say instead of answering him.

“My comb, huh?” He asks with a knowing tone.

“Oh no. I’m so sorry.”

He laughs. “You stole my comb and put it in your first nest, you naughty omega. That could have gotten you in a lot of trouble.”

“You knew?”

“Oh yeah. And I fucking loved it.”

I would put my hands on my face, but they are covered in pizza mess. So I just scrunch up my face trying to hide my shame. “Oh my god, you’ve known since then how I feel about you?”

“I didn’t really allow myself to believe you’d ever choose me.” There’s something so sad about this confession. “But I knew you stole my comb and put it in your nest during your heat.”

“I choose you. You’re mine. Always. Forever.”

He smiles again at me. “You’re so cute. Forever, huh?”

“Yes,” I answer seriously.

I turn to Jake. “I need to go to my apartment. I need some things.” I need to get the comb.

Jake’s face loses all its softness.

“Stop asking me to go back to your apartment. It’s done. It’s not a thing anymore. You live here.”

Sabbies and Shadow go silent and give us their attention.

“I know. I know. I just need some things for my nest. Which is here.” I fully think this is going to calm him down but he’s agitated and he pulls away from me.

“Jake, I’m sorry. I’m not leaving. I just need something. Something important.”

“Everything you need is here!” He raises his voice, just in tone, not volume, and I cower.