75. Chapter Seventy-Five

Chapter Seventy-Five

Jack

I pace around the dining room while we wait for Beth to show up with her friends. Some part of me is worried that she's not going to show. That would be the worst. I need to see her, to know she's okay after I upset her yesterday.

That's priority number one.

My second priority is tracking her ex down to go in for round two. This time, he'll be the one bleeding on the ground.

I already didn't like him, and now, knowing he's the reason that Beth has bad feelings about fated mates, I really fucking hate him.

Men who hurt women to have their own selfish needs fulfilled make me sick.

Knowing he hurt Beth, well, there's no way in hell he's getting away with that.

I hear the front door opening, and the sound of female voices follow.

I quit pacing, and Gio gets up from our table.

We're using a bigger one today, because we have extra guests.

It feels weird that we're not going to be sitting in our usual seats.

"I'll go," Gio tells me, making sure I know it's a statement, not a question, by his tone.

He knows I'm anxious as fuck. I'd probably throw up on her shoes if I went over there and tried to talk to her right now. I follow along behind Gio anyway, staying close.

Arrow's been in the kitchen all morning, helping Enzo prep and cook our lunch.

I took in a delivery and did some work at the front of the restaurant.

That feels like it was hours ago now. It was probably less than an hour.

Time has been weirdly elastic this morning.

"Oh my God," Beth says as she moves a few steps farther into the new and improved front area of the restaurant. She stares over the arrangement of couples' tables, and then looks at the reception desk sitting in its new spot by the left of the door. "This is amazing."

She looks up at Gio as he gets to the reception desk.

He smiles. "Jack spent all morning putting together tables and chairs and positioning them how he thought you'd like them. I helped him move the reception desk."

She looks at me, and I manage to shrug, not quite able to keep my eyes on her face.

"This is perfect," she says. "Thank you."

"Enzo's just finishing up in the kitchen," Gio says. "Who are your friends?"

"Oh. Right." She looks back and starts to introduce them. "This is Secret. We went to college together, but she's doing a home study degree now."

"You're an Omega," Gio realizes out loud when he looks at the girl. "And this is one of your mates?"

"Ryan," the guy barks, with a nod.

"Yes, Ryan's the first mate I perfumed for, actually," the girl says.

I look him over. He's a Beta. And she perfumed for him first?

That's kind of cool. I didn't think it was possible, but clearly, I was wrong.

"This is Gio, and Jack," Beth introduces.

"Nice place you've got here," her friend tells us. "I had no idea there was anything in this building, to be honest."

"Yeah," Gio admits. "That's why we've hired Beth. To make the restaurant visible."

"We've already ordered all the outer signage and stuff," I add quickly. "It's just gonna take a couple days to get here."

"Cool," she murmurs, looking around politely.

She's not here to inspect the restaurant. She's here to check us out, to make sure we're not creeps or weirdos, like that ex of Beth's. That makes her a good friend.

I'm glad Beth has someone like this in her life.

"When's lunch?" Ryan asks.

"Soon," Gio answers. "Come and take a seat."

"Sure," Beth says. "I'm just going to speak to Jack for a second first."

Gio looks at me, and then nods. He leads her friends to the table, leaving me and Beth in the reception area that still feels separate from the rest of the restaurant right now.

"I'm sorry," I start.

She shakes her head. "No, I'm sorry. You didn't do anything wrong. I'm the one who took what you said in completely the wrong way."

"You're not mad at me?" I ask, a little in shock.

"How could I be mad at you? You've done nothing wrong."

I stare at her, stunned. She smiles at me.

"I'm not sure about the true mates label," she adds. "I don't think I can hear that without feeling like it's just a bullshit line that gets used to make a girl feel special."

"Whoever hurt you deserves to be hurt worse."

She blinks at me, and I worry that I sounded too angry, then, she actually grins.

"You know what, I think he really is hurting worse than he hurt me. I never thought about it like that before, but he has nothing and no one and all he seems to want to do is bother me."

"He's still bothering you?" I ask quickly.

She shakes her head. "I don't think he'll be bothering me again."

The sound of the kitchen doors opening draws our attention to the dining room.

Lunch is about to be served.

I look back at Beth. "So, what can I call you?"

"Um … I don't know. You might have to think about that one."

"My girlfriend? My girl? Oh, what about my woman?"

She laughs. "I'm none of those things yet."

"Yet," I echo, wondering how soon it might happen.

She shrugs as we move toward the table.

I don't let the thought linger on my mind.

She belongs here with us, and it's where she's going to end up.

It doesn't matter what it takes to get her there. It's inevitable.

Fate brought her to us. No one can take her away.