Chapter 32: Ease

Chase and I arrived at the dining room and everyone but James was already waiting and seated. The clock showed 5:55pm. I'm glad we were not late. I wondered silently where James was at though. Since he is second to the alpha I thought he would not be late either. My worries started to come back again and I bit my bottom lip.

Beth was putting down various plates in the middle of the table. When she saw me enter the room she gave me that genuine and motherly smile before continuing her work. She was stealing my heart just like these men were, but in a different kind of way.

Chase pulled my chair out and I sat down in the seat next to Michael like I had the previous night. He pushed my chair up to the table and then headed over to his seat. Michael waited until Beth was done with all the plates before finally announcing, "I'm glad to have another dinner with you all. Now let's eat!".

Logan grabbed my plate before I had the chance to reach for it and started piling on the food. He whispered in my ear, "He says the same thing at every dinner". After he spoke he rolled his eyes and motioned his head at Michael. "There is nothing wrong with a little tradition", I responded. "Yeah, I guess your right, but seriously... every... night", he said dramatically. I chuckled and looked over to Michael watching Logan and I interact. I gave Michael a sweet smile and then watched Logan grab this and that and place it on my plate.

Logan finished up my serving and sat it in front of me. He then fixed his plate all while keeping up an intense conversation with Eric about the gym. Eric was speaking complete sentences instead of a his usual series of grunts. I hoped maybe this meant he was beginning to feel more comfortable with me around or he just really enjoyed the conversation. I decided to believe it was him being more comfortable though. In the future I wished for Eric and I to have such an easy going conversation or any conversation at this point would be a solid step in the right direction.

Tonight was spaghetti night and Beth had outdone herself yet again. There were meat balls, tons of noodles, bread sticks, and salad all laying out in front of me. It all smelled delicious!

As we ate our dinner Beth brought out a bottle of wine and poured some in everyone's glass. I had never actually drank alcohol before but I was excited to try it. I took a big drink then instantly coughed. The taste was overwhelming and dry. "Are you alright dear?", Beth asked worriedly. "Yes, I just... drank down a little more then expected", I said hoping she believed me. I felt like I was doing something illegal and wrong and maybe I was. I escaped when I was 17... but how long had I been running. Beth went back to pouring and everyone else went back to eating and conversing like before. I was officially in the clear.

I heard Chase's voice in my head, "Sip it, like this". I looked up and he tilted his glass and took a small sip before sitting it back down and eating another bite. Okay, mental talk most definitely had its perks! I took a sip with ease this time and the taste was much more enjoyable then before. Chase nodded with approval and then focused on dinner. I felt someone staring at me and looked up to see Michael watching again.... he knew we were having some kind of mental dialogue. He did not look upset just interested.

I could not stop my eyes from traveling to the opposite end of the table where James should be sitting. This dinner did not feel right without him. I felt unease not knowing where exactly he was. I could not hold my question in any longer and focused on Michael for the answer, "Where is James?". Michael gave me a reassuring smile and answered, "James had to leave on business, but he will be back tomorrow night". My heart sank with his answer and I could not help but blame myself for him leaving. Michael might have said business but I felt like James in reality was running from me.