Chapter 41
FORTY-ONE
Faye
Cole glowers at Laz in the rearview mirror. It’s a good thing he’s riding up front next to Frank. “If we’re late, Laz. I’m blaming you.”
“Blame Faye for trying to seduce me.” Laz laces his fingers through mine as he downplays his nerves with a joke. “When you have a hot omega practically throwing herself at you, what would you have done?”
“Don’t worry, Cole.” I try to reassure him. “We have plenty of time. Gram always runs late.”
Cole booked us a table at a restaurant in Forestville, close to where she’s staying.
Ren peeks inside the gift bag he’s clutching for the third time as if he’s afraid its contents will disappear. “Do you think she’ll like my gift?”
“Of course.” I squeeze his knee. “Although you really didn’t have to get her anything.”
I sense Damon’s nerves too. There isn’t enough room in the car for all five of us, so he’s following behind on his motorcycle. I’d have happily ridden along with him, but Gram would have a heart attack if she saw me.
I thought I’d feel more nervous, but the worst is already over, in my eyes. Telling her about the pack and the bond was the hardest part. Now I can’t wait for her to meet them.
I peer out the window as we drive through Forestville.
It’s a quaint town that looks tired in places but still holds a certain charm.
It has a handful of restaurants, pubs, and stores that look like they’ve been around for decades.
Dotted among them are newer buildings and stores with bolder colors made to attract SVU students.
“Here we are,” Cole announces as we pull up outside an Italian restaurant called Marco’s with a green and white striped awning and circular tables outside.
To my surprise, and the guys’ dismay, Gram’s already waiting.
She’s wearing a glittery, purple shawl over one of her best navy dresses.
I squint to get a better look at her face.
Is she wearing berry lipstick and blue mascara?
It’s the first time I’ve seen her wear makeup, but she looks great.
She waves wildly as we come to a stop, and Damon parks in front of us.
Frank is out first, practically leaping to open the door while simultaneously bowing in Gram’s direction.
“I thought you said she was always late,” Ren squeaks.
“She normally is,” I mutter, watching Frank stumble over his words as he greets her.
Laz bounces over to her with the grace of an overenthusiastic puppy. “It’s so good to see you again, Ms. Nightingale! I’m Laz!”
She eyes his T-shirt. “A Zelda fan.”
“You know Zelda?” he gasps.
“Admittedly, I don’t know a lot about video games, but a customer once left their Game Boy behind and insisted that I give The Legend of Zelda a try. I had to return it. I was hooked and got no work done!”
I immediately sense his relief. Before he can talk any more about games, Cole clears his throat.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Cole hands her the bouquet of sweet peas and white lilies he’s been carrying. “I’m Cole. These are for you.”
“Why, thank you.” She buries her nose in the flowers. “Some of my favorites. Did Faye tell you?”
“Don’t look at me.” I hold up my palms. “I had nothing to do with it.”
“I may have seen Blooming Brew’s new website,” he admits. “I thought the colors looked like they’d match the shop.”
Gram’s cheeks crease even more from her wide smile. “That’s very thoughtful, Cole.” She then turns to Ren. “And you must be Ren?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Radiating shyness, he holds out his gift bag. “I thought you might like these. I picked and harvested a selection of seeds and herbs from the university greenhouse myself. I’m not as skilled as you or Faye, but I hope I’ve done a good enough job that you can make use of them.”
She opens the gift bag to find a selection of glass jars.
“Chocolate cosmos seeds?!” she gasps. Most people don’t understand why chocolate cosmos are a big deal.
They’re getting rarer every year and are tricky to import.
Contrary to the name, they can’t be eaten, but they smell delicious and butterflies love them.
“And Lompoc yerba santa?” She picks up another jar to inspect it.
“You’ve done a wonderful job.” She’s beaming. “I couldn’t have done better myself.”
“I’m glad you like them,” he replies, shifting nervously on his feet.
“Like them?” She pulls him into a giant bear hug. The look on Ren’s face is priceless, his cheeks pink when she releases him. “I love them!”
Damon strides over to join us, holding his helmet.
“And you must be Damon,” Gram says. He absolutely dwarfs her. Gram is only an inch taller than me, but her petite stature doesn’t make her afraid to say what she thinks. “The alpha who bonded my grandbaby.”
Damon doesn’t know where to look. “I…”
“Well, don’t just stand there.” She clucks her tongue. “Come here, and give me a hug, big fella. We’re family now.”
I feel Damon’s worries melt away the instant she squeezes him.
“I’ve heard you keep my Faye safe,” she says.
“Yes, ma’am.” Damon nods solemnly. “I’d give my life for her.”
“Well, that’s nice, dear,” she replies. “Although, I hope it doesn’t come to that.” She links her arm through his. “Why don’t we go inside?”
Laz runs to hold the door open for them while Damon escorts her inside. The owner who Cole knows by name, leads us to a large table in a quiet back corner.
The restaurant has a relaxed ambiance, with melodic piano music playing in the background. The rich smell of slow-cooked tomatoes and freshly crushed, smoked garlic fills the room while red and white checked tables add to the easygoing environment.
Ren helps her remove her shawl, and Damon pulls out her chair, proving what gentlemen my alphas are. It’s no less than she deserves, but I can’t help feeling a little sad. How long has it been since she’s had someone to dote on her? It’d be nice if she found someone to spoil her.
Once seated, we settle into easy chatter.
Like me, Gram is a good listener, but she also asks the right questions.
She spends time speaking to each of the guys, finding out about their studies and hobbies without prying too much.
The conversation doesn’t turn to pack life or bonding, which I’m relieved about.
We all enjoy enormous bowls of fresh pasta, hand-rolled pizza, the best garlic bread I’ve ever eaten, and some indescribably tasty risotto. I can see why the guys are regulars.
It’s not until dessert that Gram drops the big questions.
“Now, there are some important things I’d like to discuss.” Gram pushes away her half-eaten tiramisu. “First, I’d like to know that you’re being safe.”
“Safe?” I almost choke on my pistachio cannoli. “Gram!”
Laz bursts out laughing, Ren reddens, and Damon’s green eyes nearly pop out of their sockets before he drops his spoon and almost knocks over the table, trying to retrieve it. Cole is the only one who stays composed.
“I know, I know,” Gram tuts. “What does an old lady like me know?” She arches a gray brow. “However, suppressants don’t always work around scent matches, so heats are bound to happen. I want to make sure she’s well taken care of. Heat safety is important.”
I slink down in my seat. Are they really talking about my heats right now?
At least Cole is capable of talking, the rest of us seeming to have temporarily lost our voices. “I assure you that everything we do is in Faye’s best interests.”
“She will need a nest, of course,” Gram continues. “A proper one. We had the space for one in our apartment, but obviously, things have changed since then. It’s important that she’s comfortable—”
“This isn’t an interrogation, Gram.” I have to step in. “The guys have made sure I’m more than comfortable. They took me to Nora’s Nest Nook and practically bought me everything in the store.”
“I know this may be uncomfortable for you to talk about, but it’s been my job to look after you for all these years.” She gives me a small smile. “If I have to hand the torch over to these alphas, I need to be sure I can sleep easy at night.”
“We have a temporary nest at our pack house and a cabin up in the mountains where we go to get away from campus,” Cole explains.
“Now that Faye and Damon have bonded, I’ve lined up some prospective house viewings over the next few days so we can find permanent accommodations.
Faye’s nest will be our top priority as soon as we move in. ”
“We’ll do everything we can to make sure she has everything she needs.” There’s no missing the sincerity in Ren’s words. “Faye will always have input and the final say.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” A long breath whooshes past Gram’s lips. “With the work I do for Omega Unite, it breaks my heart to see how many alphas still hold the view that omegas are simply their property to claim.”
Laz gasps in horror, Damon’s unruly eyebrows lower in anger, and Cole nods in grim understanding.
“We would never treat an omega like that,” Ren proclaims. “Ever.”
“I know you wouldn’t, sugar.” She pats his hand fondly. “You all seem like honorable, young men, but I know bonding can come with compromise. My Faye has dreams of her own. Dreams she’s worked hard for. I can’t let her give that up. She has a bright future ahead of her.”
“We all want what is best for Faye.” Cole’s quick to respond. “We know she wants to graduate. We’ll do whatever we can to support her with her studies and her plans for afterwards. Her happiness is our number one priority.”
“Are you done with your questions, Gram?” I ask, hoping she is.
“I’m sure there’s room for one more.” Her eyes sparkle. “While you all have a lot to accomplish first, what are your eventual plans for expanding the family? Is that something you’d like?”
Babies? Damon chokes loudly on his biscotti, Laz thumping him on the back until he coughs. Is she serious?