Chapter 11 Faye
ELEVEN
Faye
I smooth down my dress. It’s periwinkle blue with white polka dots in a milkmaid style. The fabric is super soft and a favorite of mine, despite it being faded from hours spent in the sun gathering flowers in Clover Hollow’s meadows.
Outside, the sun is beaming, so I grab my new straw hat—courtesy of Threads, the on-campus clothing store—then stash my laptop in my backpack.
I quickly check the mirror. I hope I look okay.
I head down the stairs into the heat of the kitchen. Delilah’s dark curls are swept into a messy bun and flour covers her cheeks. Three loaves are cooling on the counter, and she’s busy kneading the dough for a fourth, deep in concentration.
“I’m trying out some new recipes, but they're not quite right.” She rolls up the sleeves of her rainbow crochet cardigan to really put her arms into it before she sprinkles more flour over the counter. “I’ll get it soon!”
Sabs already left for an early morning Pilates class, claiming that the best way to get over a hangover is to sweat it out. Kady’s still in bed, planning on catching up on reading.
I draw in a deep inhale. “Well, it smells delicious.”
“You’re meeting Ren, right?”
“Yes.” I smooth down my dress. “At the library.”
She pauses from her work to wrap up a loaf. “You can give him this chocolate, orange brioche loaf. He can share it with the Silverwoods.”
“Thanks.”
She checks out my outfit then arches one eyebrow with an almost knowing look. “You look too nice to be studying.”
Yep, I knew it was too much.
I turn to head back upstairs. “I’m gonna go change.”
“No! You look lovely, Faye.” She smiles, her bright white teeth on display. “Although, I’m not sure Ren will be able to focus with you looking like that.”
I tuck the warm bread into my backpack with fumbling fingers. We’re just studying. It’s not like it’s a date or anything, right?
“Have fun.” Her brown eyes glimmer mischievously. Was I really that obvious last night when at the club? Delilah’s too perceptive for her own good. “Happy studying.”
I hurry out before she has a chance to see my blazing cheeks.
I get to the library over half an hour earlier than needed, taking a seat on a bench outside the entrance. I rub at my stomach where my nerves form knots. Why am I so worked up? All I’m doing is helping an alpha with his homework.
I check my phone to find a picture message from Gram. It’s a little blurry, but I make out a stack of pamphlets promoting an Omega Unite rally. I read, “Proudly Sponsored by Blooming Brew” at the bottom alongside the promise of free samples for omegas.
Underneath that, the text says:
GRAM
Miss you, Hedgey!
As well as being a tea making extraordinaire, Gram is a feminist badass and omega rights activist. After Mom died, she helped start Omega Unite, now one of the biggest omega rights groups in the world.
She’s been a spearhead figure in the community ever since.
She makes a few big trips every year to attend some of the larger rallies.
She’s always claimed I’m too young to attend, but secretly, I think she wants to shelter me.
After what happened to Mom, I don’t blame her.
Hearing from her makes me feel a pang of homesickness. Ordinarily, I’d be with her, helping her pack for her trip and painting extra banners for campaigns.
“Faye!” Ren’s breathless voice brings me out of my wistful thoughts. “You’re early! I didn’t want to keep you waiting.”
I check the time. He’s also early, just not as early as me.
He towers over me, holding four drinks: a smoothie, a giant milkshake piled with whipped cream, an iced coffee, and a bubble tea. I should’ve known it’s a group study session.
“Are the others joining us later?”
Puzzlement tugs down at his lips. “The others?”
I look pointedly at the drinks he’s holding.
“It’s just us.” He tugs at the collar of his crisp, white shirt. “I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so I got a few options.”
“You really didn’t have to.” I eye the milkshake. “But if that’s a chocolate milkshake…?”
“You like chocolate. Noted. It’s all yours.” He hands it over with a smile as I stand. “Chocolate fudge with sprinkles on top.”
“Sounds like heaven.” I moan when I take a sip. “Mm, that’s so good.”
Ren’s Adam’s apple bobs as he looks at me. He shifts from foot to foot, avoiding my gaze.
“Do you want to get a table inside?” His voice is a little raspier than usual. “It should be quiet today.”
With many students outside, lazing around on the grassy lawns–most probably not having much work yet with it being the start of the semester–we don’t struggle to find a table.
We choose a spot in the group study area where we can talk without getting the stink eye from the librarian who was incessantly shushing people as we passed.
“I’m not sure how much help I’ll be with your essay,” I tell him as we take a seat. “You seem pretty good at the subject already. The blend you gave me to help with putri flower exposure was perfect.”
“I’m glad it helped.” Ren sets the drinks down, pulls out some papers then slides them across the table.
His essay is about using the California poppy to help with sleep.
It’s a niche topic, but insomnia is a common ailment that we treat a lot at Blooming Brew.
“I’ve tried a few combinations.” He pinches the bridge of his nose.
“But I feel like I’m missing something.”
I glance over the first page that contains formulation recipes. He’s left scribbled notes in the margins. “Do you have a pen?”
He roots around in his satchel then hands me one. As he does, our fingers brush, and what feels like a lightning bolt shoots through me. Every nerve ending in my body sets alight. Ren’s pupils dilate.
I jerk my hand away quickly, gripping the pen with all my strength as I turn my attention back to his paper.
“Actually…” My voice wavers while I try to compose myself. “This is something I’m able to help with.”
I scribble down a suggestion to add skullcap, adjust the quantities, then consider including lemon salve to make it creamier.
“Wow.” He sounds impressed. “You really know your stuff. How did you learn all this?”
“I’ve worked with my gram most of my life.” Again, that pang of homesickness resurfaces. “She runs a teashop where we sell many herbal remedies. She’s the absolute best at what she does.”
“So that’s why you came to SVU?” He inclines his head. “To continue your family business?”
“Maybe.” I realize we’re veering off-topic, but he seems genuinely interested. “I wanted to come here to learn more to help her and to eventually help omegas. Plus, part of me thought it was time to spread my wings a little. I come from a small town, and Gram is a little protective.”
Ren nods as I talk, hanging off my every word like he’s mentally filing away everything I’m telling him.
“I love helping Gram out, though,” I add hastily.
“I’ll do whatever I can for her and the shop.
It’s just me and her most of the time, brewing, collecting, shipping orders.
I guess I want to prove to myself that I can do things on my own, you know?
Gram helped me through everything. She took me in after my parents died, so I guess I want to make her proud and give something back to her to thank her for everything.
” I stop myself from rambling on too much.
“Sorry. I’m talking too much about myself.
You wanted help with your essay, not to listen to my life story. ”
Usually, I’m quiet and reserved, but Ren’s energy makes it easy to open up to him. I feel like I could sit and talk to him all day, spilling my secrets, looking into his dreamy eyes. And he’d listen like I was the most important person in the world.
“No.” He sets down his smoothie, replying quickly. “I want to know more about you. I mean…” I can’t help but notice the pulse leaping in his neck, one of his scent points. “You’re Sabs’s housemate, and I’m her brother’s packmate. I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of each other.”
“What about you?” I change the subject. “Why did you pick health botany as an elective when you study literature?”
“I’ve always found plants and their uses fascinating, but I’m most at home around books. I’m not much of a people person.” He laughs wryly. “You can’t disappoint books. My parents, on the other hand, are a different story.”
At the mention of his parents, his shoulders dip, like he’s shrinking and withdrawing into himself.
Although we’ve only met a few times, he’s proven himself to be kind, smart, and considerate.
Not to mention gorgeous in a charming, nerdy way.
I don’t see how anyone could view him as a disappointment.
“My dads always wanted me to be like them. A real alpha, you know? Sports, hunting, but none of that really appealed to me,” he sighs. “I’m too soft.”
“I don’t think much of those macho, alpha-holes anyway,” I smile at him. “I think being into books is way more manly, and if your dads can’t see that, they’re idiots.”
Ren’s blue eyes widen.
My hand flies to cover my mouth. “S-sorry.” I don’t know what came over me. First, I over share. Next, I insult his family. “I shouldn’t have said that. I mean, I’m sure they’re great.”
“They’re not.” He chuckles. “It’s just … no omega has ever said that before.”
I stare down at my lap. “I guess I’m just not very good at the whole omega thing.”
“No,” he disagrees. “You’re very good at it.”
Have they turned off the air conditioning? Suddenly, it’s gotten very warm.
Ren turns his head, and his scent causes my breath to catch in my throat.
Hoping it will help, I slurp down the last of my milkshake, Ren’s eyes lingering on my mouth.
The way he’s looking at me makes butterflies flutter in my belly.
Although he’s handsome in his charming, book-smart way, the look in his eyes tells me he’s hiding a wild side.
“Maybe we should look for a book on herbal tinctures?” I suggest, more for my benefit than anything else. “It’ll help with your essay.”