12. Kelly
Chapter 12
I probably should call Mom; I don’t want her or Dad to worry. I should have been home an hour ago, but I checked my phone earlier, and there weren’t any missed calls. Maybe they expected the reception to last longer. Regardless, I need to call them. I mean, I could go home and tell them what’s going on, but I don’t want to leave Sam alone. He looks kinda broken right now.
Squeezing my arms tighter around my guys, I hear a loud thump as Jake hops back up on the porch. He leans heavily against my legs, making me glad that Teddy and Sam are here to keep me from falling over again under his weight.
Maybe I can call them tonight, and then head home tomorrow, and take the guys to meet them. They both seem pretty sure about having me in their pack. I really need to have Mom and Dad meet them before we file that paperwork on Monday, anyway. Of course, that depends on how this conversation goes.
Pulling away from where I’m hanging on to Teddy and Sam. “I should probably call my parents too, let them know I’m staying with some friends, so they don’t worry. Would you guys be ok meeting them tomorrow…before we go any farther?”
Sam swallows a few times, looking like he might be sick, but Teddy squeezes my arm. “Sure thing, Pixie, go let them know that everything’s good. And if you need to go home tonight, we can at least follow you in the truck to make sure you’re ok. We can meet them tomorrow regardless so that they know you’re getting involved with decent guys.”
That’s the problem of course. I’m worried that they’ll be upset that I’m involved with guys , plural, more than one. But I square my shoulders and march out into the yard to make the call. I’ll probably be pacing back and forth, and there’s less stuff out here for me to trip over. Or at least there would be if Jake wasn’t prancing along beside me giving me big puppy eyes for attention. Out of the corner of my eye I see Sam come over and pick up Teddy’s luggage, taking it inside before coming back to stand on the porch with our omega.
I call my mom’s cell. My dad rarely answers his, he hates talking to people, but after four rings he picks hers up. “Hey, Sprout, everything go ok at the ceremony? Your mom was just about to call you after she gets back inside. She went out to the garden to get some basil for the spaghetti tonight. Are you having dinner over at Candice’s or with Stephanie? I know Sal was there, she sure is a sweet girl.”
Ugh, I don’t need Dad in my love life!
Also, why did he only mention girls?
“Um, Dad, you do know I like men and women, right? I mean, Sal is great, she’s an amazing woman, but we didn’t have much in common. Also, I kind of think that she has a thing for Stephanie now, so…neither one is really a possibility.”
My dad just chuckles. “Well, Sprout, I want you to be happy. I worry about you being lonely, especially since you’re almost done with college, and you don’t exactly meet a lot of people other than at work.”
My stomach does a barrel roll, and I swallow to keep the nausea down. I really wanted to talk to Mom about this before Dad. But here goes. “Well, Daddy, it’s actually kinda funny that you mention that. Um, I met a pack today.”
Dead silence on the other end, Dad isn’t even breathing for a long count. “Ok, Sprout, I need you to come home now, ok? I’m glad you made some new friends, but Mom’s expecting you for dinner, we’ll see you by seven alright?” Dad hangs up the phone without waiting for a reply and I look down at my screen. Shit, it’s already six-fourty-eight...there is no way in heck I can get home by seven.
I turn back to the porch, Sam and Teddy are both watching me. “I…I need to go home, my parents are expecting me for dinner in about twelve minutes, and I’m already gonna be late. I’m sorry. Are you…are you coming with me?” I look hopefully at Teddy. I don’t want to face this alone, but I also feel bad dragging them into my family's drama especially after having to deal with their own.
Sam takes a deep breath, his shoulders straightening. “Of course, Sugar, we won’t leave you hanging.” He turns to Teddy. “Are you comfortable in my clothes, or do you need to change real quick?” Teddy looks back at me, silently asking my opinion.
“You look fine the way you are…better than fine, but I don’t have time to show you just how much.” He blushes and ducks his head—he has an adorable blush.
“Alright, same driving arrangement as before, or do you wanna ride with us this time, Sugar?” Sam leans in the front door, grabbing his keys from the hook. I bite my lip, this should be a no-brainer that I ride with them, but I think my parents will take it better if I show up in my own car. The guys get in Sam’s truck and Sam tells Jake to keep watch before we pull away.
The drive over takes about eighteen minutes, so I’m almost over ten minutes late when I get there. To be fair there was no way to make it on time, and I’m pretty sure Dad knew that when he said it. Still, he and Mom both look upset when I walk in the door. Mom might be upset, though, because I don’t immediately take off my shoes—she’s staring down at them…and all the dust they picked up in Sam’s yard. Yikes!
It’s ok, take a couple deep breaths, these are your parents.
They love you, and they will accept that you are inexplicably falling in love with two guys at once.
Yeah, I didn’t think so either. Crud.
Dad’s scowl deepens as the front door opens behind me, and I feel Sam and Teddy at my back. “Mom, Daddy, you’ve probably seen Sam in town before, but he’s the alpha of the pack I was telling you about, and this is Teddy, he’s new in town.”
There, that went over well, I can make introductions. Go me!
My dad’s scowl is now snapping between my alpha and omega, but he manages to grind out a greeting nonetheless. “Hello, boys, it’s nice to meet the…people our Kelly’s getting herself involved in. Sam, I’m happy that you’ve found a pack. I hadn’t heard the good news until Kelly told me...just now. And Teddy, is it? Well, young man, it’s nice to meet you. Did you leave your omega at home with the rest of your pack, or…?”
Teddy leans into Sam, and honestly as much confusion as there has been today about him, I can't blame him for his exhausted sigh he. He’s still taller than my dad, who’s about average for a beta.
I reach my hand back, taking theirs together, and Teddy stands a little taller. “Actually, Sir, I am the omega. This is my pack—Sam, Kelly, and me.” He says it with confidence, but his fingers shake in mine.
Mom looks surprised, but Dad’s scowl grows even more. “Um, Son, last time I checked most omegas are girls. I mean there’s Brice, but he’s like the exception to the rule.”
Sam and Teddy both twitch at the mention of his cousin. But Teddy’s voice stays strong as he replies. “Yes Sir, I know. Brice is my cousin. I was actually here visiting him, and I met Kelly at the community center today. She smells like mine, so does Sam. They’re my pack now.”
My dad snaps, “Now you wait just a minute boy, you can’t come into my house and just take my daughter saying she’s yours. Did she agree to this?” His gaze flicks to me while Mom stands still and quiet behind him. Tuck walks out of the kitchen, probably trying to find out what’s going on with all the raised voices, and Rufus bounds in after him, sliding on the rug and wiggling his way over to me. He slides between me and Dad, sniffing at my legs and whining up at me when he smells Jake.
Now I need to make the dog feel better.
Crap.
One thing at a time.
“Dad, I want to be in a pack with Teddy and Sam, I really care about them. Being with them feels right. I don’t know how to explain it better.” Dad continues to scowl but Mom steps forward.
“Oh, Kelly, honey, we’re not saying you can’t join a pack…we just want you to take it slow. Get to know the guys better, make sure they have the proper intentions.” I hear Sam and Teddy both growl behind me at what she’s insinuating.
“Mom, what the heck? If I was that rude, I would be in so much trouble, are you kidding me right now?”
The look she turns to me switches from placating to glacial in a fraction of a second. “Really now, Honey, you don’t know these men. They may be perfectly fine gentlemen. But you just met…Teddy, was it? You just met him today. I know he says he's Brice's cousin, but we don’t really know their family either. I just want you to take some time to think about this. Betas don’t join packs, and it’s a bit strange that they just met you today and suddenly they need you to join? I don’t want you to get taken advantage of, Kelly. And I don’t want you to feel pressured into something you're not ready for.”
I can understand where she’s coming from, I had some of these same ideas go through my head earlier. But I can feel the answers, I know how good it feels just to be near my guys. I don’t know how to explain that to either of my parents in a way they’ll listen.