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“A little help, bro?” Payton calls.
I pull away from Reid, both of us getting to work supervising the loading of boxes. Cammie and the kids didn’t have much to pack and most of the kids’ stuff is already at the house. It doesn’t take long for everything to be loaded in the trucks and the donuts to be devoured.
Payton pulls me aside and points out back, letting me see that Cammie is talking to Lilian, Riley’s beta mate. She’s bonded to her whole pack, and I was hoping she would get a chance to connect with Cammie today. Maybe seeing a bonded beta will help ease some of her and Ben’s remaining fears.
“All right,” I say, “Em and Ben, give me a farewell tour of the house. I need favorite moments. Favorite stories for each room. A theme song. Give me your best.”
Ben groans but throws his head toward the back of the house. “All right. But no singing.”
Immediately Em begins a rendition of her favorite song. Reid laughs, following the two.
Payton hugs me, giving me a kiss on my cheek. “We’re out. Riley is gonna wait outside by her truck for Lilian. We’ll use our keys and load it all by the labeled room. You guys take your time. Letting them say goodbye was a good idea. See? You’ve got this.”
“Thanks, sis.” I walk her to the door.
“Anytime!” she says softly. The look she gives me makes my eyes well. “I’m happy for them and for you, that you found each other.”
I hug her again, sharing the excitement between us. Besides Reid, my sisters are the people I’m closest with in the world. It means a lot to have her approval, even if I meant what I said to Riley. “You have to go before I start crying and never stop at how happy I am.”
She squeezes me tightly. “This is good, Finney. You fit.”
And we do. Even if everything is a little hectic now, the raw elements are there. It may be messy, but this is the start of our pack.
Chapter 22
Cammie
Finn’s eyes track me as I grab my makeup bag and plug in my curling wand. I pull my hair back with my headband and turn on him.
“Out!” I say, crossing my arms in hopes it will provide a layer of resistance to his general sexiness.
He’s leaning against the wall, one knee raised, looking as though he’s auditioning for the role of bad boy. The usual jeans are in place, but tonight, he’s switched out his typical black T-shirt for a hunter green one that brings out the color of his eyes. They’re devastating on a typical day, but with the shirt and the worn-in leather jacket, he’s too good-looking. It’s impossible to function at full brain capacity with him watching me, and I’m already running behind.
“I have to focus, and I can’t with you looking at me like that.”
He smirks and steps off the wall, prowling toward me. Even the way he moves is sensual. “I was enjoying the show.”
“Me too, too much. You’re distracting,” I grouse.
Reid pops his head in. “You’re not dressed yet.”
“No.” I wince.
We’re supposed to leave for Porch Fest in fifteen minutes, and I’m standing in a towel with my hair undone and no makeup on. This is my first date in probably three years, and I want to look nice. Not to mention, it’s our first time out in town, and both of these menknowpeople. I don’t want to fuck it up.
“That’s a good thing, sweetheart.” Reid carries my courting calendar into the bathroom and sets it on the counter. “You need to open day five before we go.”
“You guys are the sweetest, but right now? I’m running late!” I left early this morning to clean a rental out in Waverly and then decided to stop over at my rental to give it a good clean before I turn in the keys. Both guys were annoyed I did it myself, but I just wanted to get it done. After our busy day of moving and unpacking yesterday, the kids and the guys had a cartoons-and-PJs day, but my little deviation from the plan means that I didn’t get home until it was time to get ready.
Finn and Reid crowd around me, their scents working to do that weighted blanket, hug thing, and my muscles unlock.
“This is supposed to be fun. The gift and the date. It’s a block party. Who cares if we get there later than we planned?” Reid says.
“Let’s open your box. We’ll get you reset, then we’ll let you get ready. But take your time. There’s no rush,” Finn adds.
I look between them, and the annoyance I keep expecting to find about being late and a total mess is missing. I finger the words at my throat, running over the curly letters that spell out that I’m theirs.These men are not Trent, and I’m not on some kind of mate-probation.
“I could probably use a reset,” I admit, taking another deep breath of their scents.
