Chapter 36 #2
“He did. But when we stopped dreaming of each other, he thought I was dead.” I took a sip of my drink.
“But you found each other, eventually.” Worry creased his brow.
“We did. Sometimes I wonder what it would have been like if we’d found each other sooner.” It was a pointless thought. If she hadn’t made me forget him, we wouldn’t have found each other sooner, I just would have had him to keep me company.
And if I’d grown up with the professor…
My childhood would have still been shitty, because I would have been 100% parentified and there would have been resentment from the other parents.
“I don’t understand why she would make you forget him. Dreaming of your soulmate is a beautiful thing. Pip and I didn’t even do that. Yes, Rosalind wasn’t the best person, but how hard would it be to take you to a Center and have them help find him?” Anguish rolled off of him.
“It was a threat to her existence. I don’t think she gave much thought to what raising kids would mean. Until we grew up.” I was glad my brothers were in another world and didn’t have to worry about illegal genetics.
“Oh.” Nate nodded. “I can see that. It’s still awful.”
“Yeah. Did she even love me? Or was I always just a tool?” I sniffled. I’d been wondering about that. Maybe when I was little?
“Honestly, I’m not sure she’s capable of love. I’m sure marrying, having kids, and everything else was just all part of the construct she made to protect herself without thinking about how her actions affected those around her,” he admitted honestly.
“True.” While she didn’t seem as harsh towards some of my brothers, I wasn’t sure that she loved them, either. As for the man who raised me, she was kind to him in a way I seldom saw her be to anyone else. Sometimes I saw them being flirty and having little stolen moments.
She could have loved him–or lusted.
“Wow. This looks cheerful.” Creed stood in front of us. “All the food here is free? And you can get whatever you want, whenever you want?”
“Yep. Hot food service opens at ass-crack for breakfast and closes around five. But it’s open twenty-four hours for drinks, snacks, and grab-and-go. Ice cream machine flavors change on Wednesdays," I added.
“Amazing.” He disappeared.
“I’m sorry,” Nate said softly.
“The fact that you didn’t stop looking for me means everything–so does you letting me get to know my siblings. Riley is so excited to go to camp with Mercy.” I pushed away my food, done with it.
Nate smiled. “It’s silly, but I’m hoping Riley’s academic drive will rub off on Mercy. I mean, Riley’s a year behind her in school and already is thinking of things like internships.”
Yeah, I wasn’t going to pop the professor’s bubble.
Creed plopped down with us with his food. “This is going to be great.”
As he ate, he told us how his meeting went.
Nate’s phone rang. “I’m going to get that.”
He grabbed his phone and went out to the courtyard.
“That went okay? As much as Mum wanted to be close, Harry thought that you needed some time with him.” Creed shoveled food in his face.
“Yeah. I… I don’t know how much I can do, Creed. I mean, the woman Adriana sold me to literally made me forget my soulmate. But I want to love all my siblings. Even the ones I don’t know.” I’m sure they were getting overlooked in one way or another. I could already see it with Verity and Mercy.
Okay, and the fact Tru could just leave and come visit me without anyone noticing was alarming.
They all needed a sibling who didn’t give a shit what their parents thought.
Creed hugged me. “It’s enough, Grace. You just made him so happy. And Tru is so excited about her special trip.”
“Verity can come, too. We’d have a lot of fun.” I swirled my drink cup, like it would magically refill by doing so.
He laughed. “Oh, you will. We’ll get her out here for visits.”
“How’s move in?” I finished my drink.
“They didn’t move me into the dorms when I went to Natty.
I don’t know why they suddenly want to be all parental.
” He rolled his eyes. “For now, I’m sharing an apartment with some other Compass BioTek fellows.
They seem okay. At least I have my own room.
You know, that’s what I liked about Natty–at home I shared with Hale for years. ”
“That sounds chaotic.” I looked out the window at the professor.
“Dad’s fine. It’s probably just Mum.” Creed continued to eat. “I didn’t realize what an incredible project they put me on. I thought I’d be in R no one is expecting it. Though it would be super funny to see Mum try to make nice with that Greek man.
But I guess we’ll see that next year. I’d love to come, thank you.
Verity would like to attend, I’m sure. She just loves weddings.
Well, mostly. But I think that’s when her modeling thing is,” he said.
I groaned. “The one they want her to cancel. Fine, we’ll just bring all the kids over so she can go. I can have a bouncy castle at the country club.”
We hadn’t ended up getting one because there weren’t that many kids.
“Hale’s not allowed in a bouncy castle, just to warn you,” Creed laughed. “We’ll figure it out.”
Did I want to know?
Creed finished eating, and we cleaned up, and I led him over to Special Projects.
“I can get myself back to my place, you don’t have to worry about me. The public transportation seems good here, and I should get used to it. But you probably get chauffeured by your alphas,” Creed teased.
“I have a truck, sometimes we take that. When Riley starts, we’ll probably take my motorcycle. Also, Evan said something about going on a date tonight,” I replied.
As we entered Special Projects, Tish and Jordie were leaving.
“Awww, it’s Tall Grace,” Jordie joked.
Tish waved. “See you later, Grace, Tall Grace.”
“Yeah, that’s not going to get old,” Creed chuckled.
I’d have to tell Verity about that.
“Here’s my lab.” I showed him and told him about the project.
“That is fucking cool shit,” he told me. “But it makes sense, considering what you saw on your field trip and your being at the PIIP Symposium. Can I tell Ina?”
“Absolutely. Maybe one day she’ll work with us, too. Let me take you to Narif’s office.” I led him down the hall and knocked on Narif’s door. “Special delivery.”
Narif looked up from his laptop. “The resemblance is uncanny. Creed, I am so excited for you to be joining the team.”
“I’m happy to be here.” Creed shook his hand.
“That’s my cue to go.” With a wave, I left. Then I went into the office and shut the door.
That was… a lot. Sitting on the floor under my desk, overwhelmed with too many emotions, I brought my knees to my chest and cried.