They all followed, being uncharacteristically quiet.
“You can stop panicking,” I called over my shoulder. “If it’s my time to go, then I’ll go.”
“Don’t talk like that,” Lizzy chastised me, practically growling the words as she fell into step beside me. “And go put on a bra before Dax tries to kill Elliot for being in here while your boobs are all pointy.”
I rolled my eyes. “We’re not even really mates, okay? It’s fine.”
Dax and Elliot were near the back door, having a conversation I couldn’t hear.
“Hey, why don’t you two run back to Dax’s place so he can grab some clothes and stuff?” Lizzy called to the men.
Dax did not look convinced, at all.
“Good idea,” Elliot agreed.
Dax was growling at him as they slipped out, but they did leave.
And the longer we went without touching, the more exhausted and sore I became.
I’d manage the thirty minutes he was away though; I’d be just fine.
Hell, better than fine because I’d get a break from the guy.
“I can scoop the ice cream,” June said, snagging the big spoon from my hand and waving me toward a bar stool. “Sit down. The last thing we want is for you to start feeling worse again.”
I sighed, but sat.
“So you and Dax had an honest conversation about you reading his texts, then?” Lizzy checked.
I made a face. “Kind of?”
Her eyes narrowed at me. “Sab…”
“What texts?” June asked, her eyes brightening.
“I went through Dax’s phone while we were in jail,” I explained. “He’s been setting up meetings for me and single werewolves for a few months now. He never corrected anyone who called me ugly, he agreed that I was weird, and never said a single good thing about me.”
June’s eyebrows shot upward further with every word. “Fu…” she glanced at Evan, who was devouring ice cream. “Fudge.”
“Mmhm.” I accepted the ice cream bowl she slid over to me.
“This whole thing was just as much of a surprise for him as it was for you,” Lizzy reminded me.
“He’s a werewolf. If we’re really mates, shouldn’t he at least have had some clue?”
“Del and Ebony both smelled good to their mates before they met,” June offered.
“Not helping,” Lizzy grumbled.
“Hey, just stating facts.” June finished dishing up Lizzy’s bowl and slid it over to her. “I like Dax and all, but you’d think he would’ve had some clue.”
“He’s been playing along with the human meetings,” Lizzy countered. “Why would he do that if he knew Sab was his mate?”
June shrugged. “Most men are assholes. I’m not saying Dax is, but we don’t really know for sure that he isn’t. He doesn’t talk a whole lot at pack get togethers.”
“He’s introverted,” Lizzy protested. “And Elliot’s closer to him than to any of the other guys, so I saw them interact a ton while my wolf was hunting. Dax is a good guy. I don’t think he had any more of an idea of what was going to happen than any of the rest of us.”
“But that’s my point.” I gestured toward her with my spoon. “If the connection was genuine, shouldn’t he have known?”