Chapter Sixty-OneGrace
Chapter Sixty-One
Grace
“ H ey, did you have fun?” Rami asked me as we left the Daedalus Society meeting. The omega science association met regularly at a beautiful library.
“It was great, thank you so much for encouraging me to join,” I told him. His friends were nice.
It was very interesting that it was named after Daedalus. In my world, he was an inventor from Greek mythology. But in this world, he also had a soft spot for omegas and would teach them, going as far as helping some of them hide as betas so they could pursue their dreams.
Katie was waiting on a bench, along with many other alphas. She got off the phone. “Hi, how did it go?”
“Great as usual.” Rami melted into her arms.
She looked around. “Please tell me that you’re not here alone.”
“Spencer’s getting me. He had a late meeting.” Honestly, I was glad for the break. I’d only been in the hospital overnight, but the guys had been smothering me. Sadly, we couldn’t prove that Caroline pushed me.
It wouldn’t surprise me if she did.
“I’m right here, Katie.” Spencer walked in looking debonair, phone in his hand. “Sorry, my good doctor. My meeting went long.”
“It’s fine.” Giddiness bubbled up inside me. While we hadn’t kissed again, he’d been very attentive, bringing me treats, playing games with me, making me a cheat sheet of terms so that I’d feel more comfortable when I started work.
He offered his arm, and I took it.
“Goodnight! Thanks again for introducing me to everyone.” I waved, and we left.
“Do you want to go home or would you like to do something?” Spencer asked as we left the library and went onto the street.
“More potato balls?” I asked, recalling our post-science dinner snack.
“I was thinking more like a drink at a rooftop bar? Selfishly, I wanted to spend a little time with you alone. Wes and Evan have been plastered to your side since you got out of the hospital.” His look went wistful.
“That sounds great. It’s nice just to be out and about. Even if this boot is clunky.” I kicked out my foot, showing off my glamorous removable walking cast. The wrist splint wasn’t much better.
My phone buzzed.
Wes
How was it?
Me
Fine. Do you need me to rush back? Spencer wants to take me out.
I wanted to check, just in case someone had planned something special. Yesterday, Riley had come over with bubble tea and a new video game.
Wes
Have fun. Love you.
Me
Love you, too.
We walked down the street to a hotel and took the elevator all the way up to the roof. The air was crisp still, but heat lamps and little lights greeted us as people chatted at small tables or around fireplaces. There was a long bar with more lights. It was both cozy and sophisticated.
Spencer led me to a small fire pit. We took a seat together on a free couch.
“Is this okay?” he asked me, getting close.
“Perfect.” My heart skipped a beat. Was this a date?
We ordered drinks. A merlot for him, a whiskey smash for me.
He leaned in and kissed my cheek. “Hi, Darling.”
“Hi, Spencer.” I leaned my head on his shoulder, the action feeling right. “Is this okay?”
“Perfect.” He put an arm around me. “How did the meeting actually go?”
I sighed. “Some people were nice–like all of Rami’s friends. But some of them were weird. Is it because I’m not an omega?”
“Did you tell them you work for me? That could be part of it,” he replied as the server brought our drinks.
“You do great work, so why would people be weird?” I took a sip of the drink, grateful for the warmth of the fire–and him.
“It’s not our biotech, it’s the work we’re doing with qubits. Some people think that we should stay in our lane. The thing is, I have the money to fund such projects, and they fill a need. Why should I not?” He took a sip of wine.
Everything made sense.
“Oh, okay. I mean one of the things I love about your company is that Special Projects is basically a mad scientist incubator. The people who were most standoffish were talking about the symposium PIIP is having. It sounds nice, because then I could see Dr. Harlowe’s particle cutter.
But when I asked about it, I got snapped at, and told it was exclusive.
” It felt pretty unprofessional considering the Daedalus Society was supposed to be about omegas in science supporting each other.
“That is mean, but unfortunately not everyone is nice. I’m sorry they were like that.” He squeezed my knee. “You wish to go?”
“It would be fun. But there’s always next time.” I took another drink, then swirled it in the glass so that it caught the light.
“What if I told you I got us on the list?” His look went hesitant.
I perked. “You did?”
“It was supposed to be a surprise. Mrs. K is finishing our travel arrangements. We already have people going from Compass BioTek. I simply asked if we could be added. The conference hotel is full, but I found someplace better for us to stay. I know that you wanted to see the particle cutter. I hope I didn’t overstep. ” His brow furrowed with worry.
“Overstep? Spencer, it’s perfect. Thank you.” I leaned in and kissed him.
“Now you can arrange for your tour.” He beamed.
“This is an amazing surprise.” I got to go? It was going to be fascinating, not to mention the people I’d meet.
“I like you, Grace, and I intend to court you. You’re all right with that when I do?” He took my hand in his, the warmth searing right through me in all the right ways. His eyes met mine and didn’t leave as he brought my hand to his mouth and he kissed the back of it.
“Spence.”
“We’re going to have so much fun, Darling.” His eyes gleamed, and he told me more about the symposium and the plans he’d made as we finished our drinks.
“Do you want another?” the server asked.
“I’m fine, are you?” He looked at me.
“I’m fine, thanks.”
Spencer settled the bill, then stood and offered me his arm. “Are you hungry? I’ll warn you, I was told not to feed you much because someone is planning on ice cream sundaes.”
I laughed. “They are? I knew they’d do something. No, this was perfect, thank you.”
“No, you’re perfect.” He led me to his car, and we drove home.
On the way, he told me some of the topics that my future co-workers would be presenting on and the topics he was excited to hear about at the symposium.
“I’ll send everything to you so that you can see what you’re interested in,” he told me.
“I can’t wait.” It was perfect.
“This is only the first of many trips. I want to show you so many things. I want to teach you tennis and golf, and take you scuba diving,” he told me as he drove down our street.
“Please. They all sound fun.”
We pulled into the driveway. He got out and rushed around to my door to open it and help me out.
When we entered the kitchen, Wes and Evan, both shirtless, were putting out ice cream and toppings on the table.
“Perfect timing.” Wes kissed me. “Science club was fun?”
“Rami introduced me to nice people.” I kissed Wes, then turned to Spencer. “Thank you.”
Spencer leaned in and kissed me on the cheek. “The pleasure is all mine, my good doctor. Goodnight, everyone.”
With a wave, he went up the backstairs.
Evan got a giddy look on his face as he grabbed the ice cream scoop. “So? Where did he take you?”
“A rooftop bar. We just had a drink and talked. That’s okay, right?” I grabbed a bowl and looked for the container of cookie dough.
“Always.” Wes gave me a reassuring kiss. “If anything is too fast or weird, let me know. I will run interference.”
“Thank you.” I put some ice cream in my bowl.
“Are you two courting now? What did he give you?” Evan put chocolate ice cream in his bowl.
“We’re not yet, but he said he’d like to.” I added chocolate syrup.
Wes’ arms slid around my waist. “I knew it was coming. He mentioned it to us the night of the dinner.”
“I got a gift, though.” I added sprinkles. “He’s taking me to the PIIP symposium, and I can see the particle cutter. It’s fun and thoughtful. Um, I hope he checked the calendar, so it doesn’t interfere with anything?”
“He did. This is the exclusive science fair on the beach, right??” Wes put vanilla in his bowl.
I nodded. “I’m excited.”
“Good. Please, have fun traveling with him.” Wes added chocolate, caramel, and nuts.
“While I’ll take you anywhere you want to go on vacation, I'd rather stay home than travel for business. He’d make a great partner for conferences and when you start giving speeches and things.
I mean, I’ll go if you want, but he’ll go and enjoy himself because he’s that guy who finds everything interesting, and you can take him anywhere, and he’ll blend in. ”
“That sounds good.” Relief that he wasn’t jealous flowed through me. I eyed him. “Me give speeches?”
“You will one day.” Evan kissed my cheek. “Let’s go upstairs.”
We took our ice cream up to our living room on the third floor, and squished together on the couch and watched an episode of Evan’s favorite show, which they’d been trying to catch me up on.
After we finished, Evan gathered our bowls and gave us each a kiss. “Good night. I’m going to let you have this human pillow to yourself, and I’m going to go snuggle the other ones.”
“Thanks. Have fun. Good night.” I snuggled further into Wes.
“Mmmm. I love this. Are you doing okay? I wanted to check in with you. I feel like I don’t do that enough.” Wes kissed my forehead.
“I’m okay. Promise. Will you take me to your beach one day? The one you went to with your sister? Oh, I was so jealous you’d get to go every year.” Cozy and full of ice cream, I leaned my head on his shoulder.
“That sounds like a great idea. I want to show you anything that you’d like to see. You’re my everything, and I love you.” He kissed me long and deep.
“You’re my everything, too.” Finally, I had everything I wanted–including a place where I fit. Who would have thought I belonged in another world?