Page 55 of Rugged Hearts: Part One
“No it’s perfect. Who wouldn’t want to wake up to that view every day. Though I think it might be a small workout trying to get out of this giant bed,” she says, causing us to laugh.
“Well climb out of it now so we can show you the rest.” Jake reaches for her and pulls her to her feet. We move to the left of the door we entered, turning on the lights to a large walk-in closet.
“This isn’t just my closet right? Since you said this is the pack bedroom? I don’t even own enough clothes to fill one wall let alone the room.” She walks around the space and pulls drawers out.
“It’s all for you, except for this section,” I say, gesturing to the short wall nearest the closet doorway. “That’s where all of us will keep some basic clothes we’d want up here. We never knew how the dynamics would be once we found an omega if she’d want all of us up here all the time or alternating or not at all. We figured we’d keep our rooms downstairs and if our omega did more often than not want us all up here, then we can keep our rooms for our closets and anything else. Just keeping the basics for each of us up here. It’s only one floor away.”
“I didn’t…” She cuts herself off but I desperately want to know what she was going to say.
Jake beats me to it as he walks over to her. “Didn’t what?”
“Didn’t think that far ahead,” she sighs, “it’s awful I know. I didn’t grow up in a pack so I’m kind of winging it right now. Connor was so sure we’d have one, but we never talked about the details like sleeping arrangements if it actually happened. Maybe he assumed I knew since he grew up in a pack. I cannot ask Sophie, I don’t want to know what their sleeping arrangements are. What would you prefer?” She looks at both of us.
Jake takes her hand. “Take a breath, this is a fun surprise. No stress needed.” She does as he says.
I walk over to them. “It’s not about what we prefer, your comfort matters here.”
Her brows pinch together. “No I don’t like that. It’s about all of us. Maybe someone in the pack isn’t comfortable if everyone sleeps in here, I wouldn’t expect him to just because I might want that.”
“That’s not what I meant but I’m glad to know you care so much about us.”
A light blush crosses her cheeks. “I don’t know what I’d want it’s so new. But I think if anything it’d be a mix. Sometimes all of us and sometimes just one person or a few people.”
“Sounds good to me,” I say, pulling her in for a side hug. Continuing on with the tour we leave the closet and head to the opposite end of the room where the en suite is. She’s actuallyspeechless as she walks in. She doesn’t move from her initial spot. Nudging her forward, she snaps out of it.
“You guys really go big or go home huh?” She’s looking at the tub as she says it. It’s big enough for at least five people, made for packs and specifically nest bathrooms. She walks over to the shower, which is also big enough for multiple people. There’s a long built-in bench along the far wall. An interesting look flitters across her face as she looks at it.
Leaning over closer to her ear I whisper, “What’s that look for?” It makes her jump a little. She’s definitely blushing but I don’t think it’s from me scaring her.
“Nothing,” she begins but I wait for a real answer. “It’s about Connor, this shower reminded me of him. The tile is similar to the one we had at our apartment.” She pauses. “Shower sex was one of his favorites so it just reminded me of that.” My eyes cut to Jake who is purposely avoiding eye contact.
“Oh,” is all I say to which she laughs.
“I wasn’t going to say anything, but you asked and I guess we should get more comfortable talking about sex right, with my heat coming up.”
“You’re right,” Jake begins. “Speaking of your heat, open that door.” He gestures to the door on the right side of the room. She walks over but gets distracted by the washer and dryer stacked in a built-in cabinet next to it. Jake pulls her along refocusing her.Opening it she takes a step inside, looking everywhere at once like a little kid. Her nest.
“It’s all yours,” I say softly.
She looks back at me with so much excitement and emotion on her face. It’s big enough for all of us but still has an enclosed feeling omegas prefer with angled ceilings creating that illusion. No windows except for a decent sized sky light that can block out light with an automatic shutter. There’s a small areanear the door that leads back to the hallway that has a mini fridge and storage. Other than that and the mattress filling the floor, the room is empty, waiting for an omega to make it her own.
“That’s the second part of your surprise we’re going shopping today to get everything you want and need for your nest and the pack bedroom,” Jake says, leaning against the doorframe looking at her with a soft smile rarely seen on him.
“I don’t know what to say, it’s more than I ever expected.”
“Well I will try not to be offended at the low bar you had,” I say, partially joking. Locking my arm with hers I lead us out of the nest and into the hallway, completing the loop of the third floor. In a deeper voice I say, “Jake my good sir, ready our steed so we may travel to outfit our omega with all she requires.” Thea bursts out laughing at my antics. Hey Eli and Parker aren’t the only goofballs in the pack.
Thea looks both excited and overwhelmed all at once as we go through the nesting aisles of the store. She initially seemed to gravitate to the forest green items but kept pulling back. Jake and I haven’t said a word. Omegas can be very particular about their nest so it’s better for us to stay out of it and not interrupt her process. As we circle back to the beginning of this section, she finally starts adding things to the cart. Jake and I each push one as we assumed there would be a lot and we were right. Due to some of the pillows we needed a third cart. That was just her nest materials. Once she’s determined she’s all done, she turns to us a little sheepishly when she sees the three full carts. “Oh, I can put some of it back.”
“Don’t you dare,” Jake says with a small hint of a bark.
She doesn’t respond instead changes topics. “I don’t know what size to get for the bedding, you said the pack bed was custom right?”
Jake pulls out his phone searching for something before turning it around and showing it to Thea, “That’s the size we need to look for in sheets and blankets, at least that’s what the company who made the bed said to get.”
Thea takes his phone and we head to that area of the store. Thea looks more hesitant than before as she keeps looking over all the options. “What’s wrong?” I ask.
She glances over at me before her eyes return to the rows of sheets. “I don’t know what everyone’s style is. If it’s going to be a space for all of us I’d want something that fits us all but how can you get something eight different people will like,” she says, clearly stressing about this.