Page 24 of Warrick (Rocky Mountain Pack #1)

Aspen

It’s the day that the entire pack has been waiting for: Gender Reveal Day !

The anticipation of what Nova and Silas will be having is something everyone has been gossiping about, even the town folks.

I’m pretty sure there is even a bet going on with what everyone thinks they will be.

Something I’m sure that Warrick was behind, since that is completely something I could see him doing.

Speaking of him, he hasn’t shown up around town, at least not that I’ve seen, since that night that we don’t talk about.

He is obviously here somewhere, but it seems that he is doing everything he can to not cross paths with me.

I’m sure that, no matter how hard he tries today, we will cross paths at some point.

It’s inevitable, with him being Silas’s best friend and me being Nova’s.

Part of me wants to avoid him, but a small part of me wants to inhale his scent for that singular moment of peace it gives.

No matter how many times he’s broken my heart, he’s still my mate.

There’s things being in his presence will bring me that no one else can.

Some days I really hate it, I’ve cried to the goddess asking why.

But then I think about those moments in the bookstore when he was telling me about his thoughts, and I can’t help but yearn for more of those.

I slip on my pink, floral mini dress with a sweetheart neckline.

With spring finally showing up around here, I am beyond ready to wear the cute dresses that have been hanging in my closet.

Sitting down at my vanity, I slip on a rose gold pendant necklace my parents got me for my eighteenth birthday, one of the few good things that came from that night.

As I’m curling my hair, I can’t help but wonder what he is going to look like today.

A girl can fantasize in the privacy of her room.

One of my favorite things about Warrick is his arms, something I should be able to see today, given that it’s finally warmed up outside.

Will he be in his typical Henley and jeans?

Or will he dress up, since it is a party, after all?

Has he shaved off the beard he grows in the winter or has he finally embraced the bearded life?

Sometimes I catch myself wondering what that beard would feel like as his lips moved across mine.

Hiss. With a muttered curse, I yank my finger back from the curling iron. Fuck, that hurt. Shaking my head, I pull myself out of my daydream of Warrick and focus back on finishing getting ready.

I never do heavy makeup, always sticking to the light side of it.

Foundation, a hint of blush, nude eyeshadow, and mascara is all that I’ve ever done.

I never wanted to take away from my natural beauty and my hazel eyes.

The last couple brushes of mascara finish off my makeup and with a final inspection in the mirror, I get up to put on my shoes and grab my purse.

Checking the time on my phone, I realize that I only have ten minutes before I’m supposed to be at the pack house to set everything up.

As Nova’s best friend, it’s my job today to ensure that everything runs perfectly.

Of course, Nellie, Willow, and Hazel are going to be there as well, but this is our first time ever experiencing something like this.

I want it to be perfect and so it will be.

I’m running through the house, grabbing the last of my things when my phone dings.

Nova: You on your way?

Yeah, grabbing the last of my stuff and then I’m on my way.

Don’t be mad, but Warrick is already here.

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.”

Just then, the kitchen door bangs open, and in walks Warrick with the cake. All of us whip our heads in his direction right as he looks up to see us staring at him.

“Uh… I’ve got the cake here.” He looks between the four of us. “I was told to bring it in here until it’s time to cut it. Something about keeping it cold so the icing doesn’t melt.”

Hazel is the one to speak up first. “Yeah, let me take some racks out of the fridge real quick so we have space for it.”

She jumps into action while I’m still stuck staring at him.

He didn’t shave his beard like I thought he would.

Instead, he trimmed it and; I have to say, I’m loving it.

He styled his hair and even put on a button-up with his signature Henley on beneath.

He moves to follow Hazel as my eyes move to follow him.

His ass looks stellar in those dark denim jeans that hug his thighs until the knees where they fall straight down.

My lips are between my teeth as I imagine what it would be like to see that ass without the cover of clothing.

“Rose,” whispers past his lips while his eyes stay locked with mine.

A quiet “ahem,” followed by a giggle, comes from beside me, jerking me back into the here and now. I look over to find both Nellie and Willow with hands over their mouths, trying to keep from laughing out loud. My eyebrows drop and I glare at both of them.

“Do you want to be seen checking him out as though you would love nothing more than to strip him naked right here?” Willow whispers to me.

I shake my head.

“Didn’t think so. So, you’re welcome,” she whispers again before looking at Nellie. “Nellie and I are going to get the stuff from Aspen’s cart.”