Chapter Twenty-FourEvan #2
The young server came by with our food. “Aww, you have such a cute family.”
“When did we start looking old enough to be Ri’s dads?” Wes asked, after she left.
“Four dads. I’ve never seen that,” Grace murmured.
“His pack is massive,” Riley replied. “He’s a day student. It’s not that uncommon. You grew up fundie or someplace where there are no packs?”
Grace blinked. “My parents were pretty conservative.”
Right, at some point we’d need a backstory for Grace.
The lights dimmed, and we watched our movie and ate our food. Grace got her popcorn, and Wes decided to feed it to both of us.
Partway through the movie, my phone kept vibrating. I peeked at it.
Work
I know it’s your day off, but there’s stuff going on with Rose. Can you come in?
Me
At the movies. Is it an emergency?
Work
It can wait.
Me
I’ll come by soon.
“Everything okay?” Wes whispered, leaning into me as I put my phone away.
“Work, I need to swing by after the movie,” I whispered back.
We finished the movie, and I stood in the lobby texting, waiting for Riley and Grace to return from the bathroom.
Wes wrapped his arms around me. “Ri has a boyfriend ?”
“She’s fifteen.” I nodded. “I should have another talk with her about healthy relationships.”
Her test had come back confirming she was a theta, so things were going to be different for her–especially relationships.
“Have fun with that,” Wes snorted. “One of the dads is famous.”
I shrugged. “We have Spence and Bren.”
“Which is still weird.” He grinned.
Wes and I were from working-class families.
I hadn’t realized that Spence’s family was ultra-rich, and slightly famous, until I was an adult.
While Spencer liked nice things, Brennan’s upbringing and family were way flashier, and it took a little getting used to.
Jett’s family was more upper-middle class–not Brennan and Spencer rich, but better off than Wes and me.
Riley and Grace joined us. Grace looked at Wes holding me, and ducked under my arm, so she was with us. She smelled like Wes and felt so very right in my arms.
“Is this okay? We’re in public,” Grace murmured.
“Always,” Wes assured. “Look.”
We looked at other families in the lobby.
A woman between two men, a baby on one man’s chest. Two men holding the hands of several kids.
Three women with their arms around each other, one visibly pregnant.
A group of teenagers jockeying for hand-holding positions.
Two young Goths gazing into each other’s eyes.
“You’re cute, but I’d like ice cream,” Riley demanded.
“I have to handle something at work. Drop me off, get them ice cream, go to the store, then call me and we’ll see where I’m at.” Since I was only just getting to know Rose, it would be better to see her face-to-face.
I drove us to the Center, and they dropped me off. Checking in at the desk, I went to find Rose.
She was in her room, making a beaded bracelet. “Evan!”
“Hey. Sorry, we were across town. What’s up?” I took a seat.
She sighed, focusing on her bracelet, not me. “Am I making the wrong choice by not getting mated straight away?” Her head bowed, and she pushed her phone to me. “Should I drop the charges against my mom? I mean, she was just looking out for us.”
“You’re sixteen. In this class of crime, and given your age, charges will be pressed even if you don’t want them to,” I told her. “Also, there is nothing wrong with wanting to wait. In fact, considering you’re sixteen, if you wanted to take a mate, we’d have to get a judge involved. May I?”
Rose nodded, sniffing a little.
I looked at her texts. Oof. The one from her sister was pragmatic, and along the lines of If Mom’s in jail, and you’re not mated, how are the rest of us going to survive? I can’t pay all the bills with the job I have.
Her brother was more like I miss Mom, why did you take her?
It was the vile texts from other family members, especially her uncle, about her being ungrateful, calling her names, and other mean and even strange things.
The only supportive one was from her stepdad. Stay in the city and go to school on the scholarship. I’ll figure it out.
But this wasn’t Teatime-Era Britain. Some young omega didn’t have to put aside her own dreams and marry someone she didn’t like in order to save her family.
“I can send a social worker to see what sort of aid your family qualifies for.” I didn’t want Rose to think for one moment that she had to trade her life for theirs.
“Oh, that sounds good. I just worry. I don’t want my siblings to starve because I was selfish.” Her head bowed.
“Of course. But you’re not selfish. I’ll do what I can. How is everything else going?”
She told me about what she’d been learning. I got a text from Riley asking if I was done. There were also messages in the group chat about tonight.
“Do you need anything else from me? Sorry, my packmates are having a cookout tonight,” I said.
“I’m okay, see you tomorrow.” She smiled.
I left, making the social worker and aid requests through the system, then met Wes in the parking lot. Climbing into the back seat with Grace, since Riley was in the front, as usual, I leaned over the seat to give Wes a kiss, which tasted chocolaty.
“Here, we got you some ice cream. We went there last. It’s only a little melted.” Grace held up a small paper sack.
“Thank you.” I gave her a kiss, too.
“Ugh.” Riley made a face.
“Do I apologize or flip you off? I don’t have it sorted.” Grace giggled.
“Scratch your nose with your middle finger; maybe kiss him harder,” Riley replied.
Grace kissed me harder. She tasted of cookies.
“Wowza.” Wes laughed as he drove off.
“We’ll make it up to you later.” Grace kissed me again.
“Let’s go home.” I opened the bag, took out the lidded container, and ate my ice cream while Wes and Riley debated hacker things and Grace snuggled into me.
You have such a cute family. Yes, I did.