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“And both of you will have security until this dies down.” We walk up the driveway, and I watch as she unlocks the door.
“Security? I don’t need security. Who?—”
“SKYLAR!” A high-pitched shriek comes from the house, and I’m immediately welcomed by a flurry of blonde hair and energy in the doorway. Devyn almost knocks me over as she throws herself at me. Tammy moves out of the way in time, and I return Devyn’s embrace as she sobs against my chest.
I can’t help it. Tears fill my eyes as I hold my friend in my arms.
“I’m so happy,” she gasps. “You’re here. I kept the café so clean for you!”
I bark out a laugh. “I’m sure you did.”
“And I banned that lady that said she found hair in her lemon bars. She was such a bitch,” Devyn laughs through her tears. “You would have loved it. She knocked over and broke a napkin dispenser as she left, so I mailed her a bill.”
I chuckle, my face hurting from smiling. “You did great,” I assure her, squeezing her tightly. Tammy starts to unpack my gifts from the hospital, placing them on the kitchen counter. “And thank you for all these gifts, by the way.”
She looks at Tammy, then back at me. “Oh,” she says, stepping back. “Most of those aren’t from me or Tammy.”
I frown. “They’re not?”
“Well, the coffee is from Ben, but the rest are from Landon, River, and the other guy. The hot old one.”
I look at Tammy, who raises an eyebrow at me.
“Vincent?” I ask, and Tammy nods.
“They’ve been amazing, Skylar,” she says.
Devyn looks at me with delighted eyes. “Skylar, they care about you so much,” she says earnestly, so sincere that I start to panic.
I can’t go there yet. After Vincent’s confession, I’m not sure how to feel.
Part of me wants to run to them. But the other part wants to hide in shame.
“I…” I look at Tammy helplessly, hoping she’ll change the conversation.
“We all care about you,” Tammy says smoothly, then turns to Devyn. “Honey, why don’t you help me organize all this for Skylar, and she can make herself at home.”
Devyn gives me a quick kiss on the cheek. “Missed you,” she says, then goes to help Tammy.
I’m back home.
It doesn’t feel real.
It’s been a month of that dirty mobile home, then days of the chemical, bleached smell of hospital.
“It looks nice in here,” I muse. I hadn’t cleaned before I was taken, but the floor is spotless, and throw blankets are folded neatly on top of my couch.
“These are new,” I say softly, dragging my fingers down the cream fabric. “And soft. Oh. Another gift?” I ask, looking up at Tammy. “Did you do this?”
But she smiles and shakes her head and Devyn shoots me a knowing look.
My heart aches.
One of the Alphas did.
It’s lovely. It’s the softest blanket I’ve ever felt besides my lavender nesting blanket. I have the urge to wrap myself in it and burrow into my bed.
Something else catches my eye as I glance around the room.
