I nodded.
"You know though, right?"
I nodded again.
"Cool, so...spill everything else."
Not able to resist her enthusiasm, I talked for a couple of hours about my weekend, and then she shared hers, before we finally went to bed. Monday was going to be interesting.
Chapter 21
Sofia
There was one bad thing about breaking things off with Alex. I'd gotten used to that morning latte. I was especially aware of its lack when I didn't even see Alex on my way to history class. I wondered if Ash would be around today. What would I do if he was? I wished I'd come up with a plan to deal with him.
Frowning, I pulled out my phone, but didn't have any texts. A little worried, I sent a quick message to Alex.
Sofia: Hey, you doing okay?
He hadn't replied by the time I got to class, so I sank down into my chair feeling pensive.
Doc glanced at me, raising his eyebrow. I shook my head, though I smiled briefly at him to hopefully let him know nothing was wrong with us.
He nodded and launched into teaching class.
Class wasn't as awkward as I had expected it to be, for which I was grateful. He studiously avoided looking at me, however. I was the only one who would have noticed.
I waited while the other students left, and Doc came over to me, keeping a little distance between us, and shoved his hands in his pockets, as if he weren't quite sure he could trust himself to not touch me otherwise.
"I didn't see Alex this morning."
Doc tilted his head. "Interesting. Have you heard from him?"
I pulled out my phone and checked. "No, not yet. I sent him a text."
"Well, let me know if you don't hear from him by the end of the day. He could just be sick. It happens."
I sighed. "You know, things were way more simple at home."
"You can go back," he said quietly.
I remembered that I had mentioned that once or twice. "No. Not unless I can take the three of you with me." Grinning impishly, I continued, "I'm not sure any of you would fit well in rural Nebraska."
"Hey, they have horses and cows in Nebraska. I'd fit in great." He returned my grin.
"We would all miss the mountains."
Doc nodded. "Especially Ed and Allan."
I sighed. "Well, hopefully something gets settled soon. I'd better go to class."
"I'll see you later, Sofia. Text me." He smiled.
Blushing a little and wishing I could touch him, I grinned and left the classroom. The weekend couldn't get here soon enough.
∞ ∞ ∞
"What's wrong, Sofia?"
I looked up from the text on my phone and stared at Victoria, feeling sad. "Star and I were texting. I think I mentioned her. She's my BFF. She went to school in Florida, and she's texting me about all the hot guys on the beach." I smiled. "Which is great, but then she asked me about everyone here. I told her about the guys, well, you know, described them, and she asked me if I was interested in one of them."
"Well, you are."
"Victoria, I'm dating all three of them." I flopped back onto my bed, phone resting on my stomach. "As much as they're cool with it, and you're cool with it, that's not a normal arrangement. I can't tell her that. I can't tell my parents that. I can't tell my family. I have to pick one for my family. How do I pick one? What do I say?"
"Girl, chill. It's okay. It will sort itself out." Victoria pulled over the office chair. "A lot of people date more than one person. They usually pick one to get serious with, but most people aren't dating a werewolf pack, either. I'm sure that really changes things any time it happens."
I groaned. "Is this really a good idea? I mean, what if I can't handle it?"
"So, pick one."
I sat up and looked at Victoria, eyes wide. The very idea horrified me.
"I can tell by the expression on your face that the idea isn't one you like. Why don't you like it?" She crossed her arms and leaned back in the chair.
"Well, I mean, Ed's an adorable cuddly puppy, and Allan's quiet and comfortable to be around. Doc's kinda scary, but not in a bad way. He wouldn't hurt me, and he'll protect me. They make me feel good, and they want me. And have you seen them? They're all hot as hell."
"Lots of people want you, Sofia. Why them? Why the pack?"
I shrugged. "Because they feel right." I didn't really have a better answer than that.
"They feel right. Not one of them?" she pushed.
"Well, I mean, if I were with just one of them, it would be really hard to be around the others. I'd want them, too. I'm selfish."
"Girl, they asked you."
I had told her that. Well technically, Doc had asked me. The other two had sort of let him do it for them. Cheaters. I thought about that, though. They needed Doc, and he considered the werewolves family, which Doc needed, too. If I got involved with one of them, it would break their dynamic. Being involved with all of them made things harmonious. Not to mention exciting, since at least so far, they didn't seem to mind doing things in groups. I had never done anything like that before.
"You're right." I sighed. "It's just, I don't know how to deal with everything that comes with it."
"I don't know that it will be that big of a deal, Sofia. Maybe around family and friends who knew you before. Around any new friends, it will just be normal. And if someone thinks it's
