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She tosses a palm at me but keeps giving him a piece of her mind. “Damon might not care about rules like those, but I expect better from you, Bear.”
I guffaw, pretending to act offended. “How do you know I don’t care?”
Remi sways to a narrow closet, pulling towels off a high shelf. It’s hard to decide where to look—her knowing little scowl or the way the back of her robe rides up.
“It’s pretty easy to tell,” she informs me. “I looked up your penalty stats. But you also seem like the kind of guy who used to cut class and end up in detention.”
And you look like the cute little teacher’s pet who would meet me in the parking lot afterward.
I smirk, trying for a charming quirk of my eyebrow. “You looked me up?”
Her stern expression wobbles while she thwacks a pink towel into my chest. “I… looked up the team. And you were a bit unavoidable since your face is all over everything. I learned a lot, actually. I didn’t even know there was a hockey team in Orlando.”
“Yeah,” Cassian grunts, already drying his hair. “We hear that a lot.”
An awkward silence falls between us. I see the exact moment it occurs to Remi that she just let two alphas into her apartment. Her eyes dart around frantically, finally falling on her own clothes—or lack thereof.
“I didn’t expect anyone,” she whispers, pulling the flowered fabric tighter around her body. “I’m sorry I didn’t clean up or cook anything…”
Cassian shrugs out of his sweatshirt and places it in Remi’s kitchen sink—which is alarming, since we’re still next to the front door. He ignores how tight the space is and how wet the button-down clinging to his chest must be and steps forward. Lifting his hand to touch under her chin, he raises her eyes to his.
“Hey. We never expect you to clean or cook for us, Rems. We came because we want to take care of you. Have you eaten anything since you left Forever Matched? I didn’t see any delivery guys, and I don’t see any dishes.”
She swallows. The motion looks thick. “I—No. I was in my… nest.”
Definitely should have Googled that shit.
All I want is to pull her into my arms and kiss that big-eyed, uncertain look right off her face. The way she’s biting on her lower lip and trembling, is killing me. My purr, ineffectual as it may be from over here, kicks up automatically.
“Let’s get you food, sweetness,” I try, hoping for a smile when I send her one of my own. “Anything sound good?”
She chews her lip harder, her eyes darting behind me to the closed door, a question lurking in the golden blue. I roll my eyes and attempt a joke, “Are you worried about Smith? Don’t be. We sent him to time out. Let’s just focus on getting you settled, huh?”
The smallest flicker of amusement flutters over her face. But then it’s gone, and she looks even sadder than before.
Fuuuuuuuck.
Of the three of us, it’s no secret I’m the most charming. And persuasive. Usually.
But what if I can’t do this?
What if none of us can?
Scared shitless by that impossibility, I drift closer, turning her face to mine. My eyes bounce between hers, absorbing the incredible color and her tear-spiked eyelashes.
I skim my fingers up to her cheek and tuck some of her hair behind her ear, whispering, “Why do you look so sad, pretty girl?”
She swallows again, the sound sticky and painful. “I…” With a big breath, she tries to force herself to stand up straight, but only halfway manages it. Her whole body shakes.
“How did all of this get so messed up?” she whispers. “If he’s my mate, why is he so…” She shudders, no doubt remembering what a dick Smith can be. “I don’t know if I can please him. I’ve been trying for months, but he hates me.”
Fucking. Smith.
“It isn’t your job to please him,” I half-growl. “It’s his job to please you.”
“And he doesn’t hate you, Rems,” Cassian murmurs, quiet but seething.
Remi only shakes harder. “You didn’t see how angry I made him. I’m sure he won’t want me in your house. You guys should just say goodbye to me now.”
