Chapter 6 Teddy
SIX
Teddy
Morning came all too quickly, and I worried the dawn of a new day would destroy the acceptance and comfortability we had fallen into.
But it didn’t, so I found myself thinking, “What now?”
Suki turned to look at me, her head cocked to the side as if she was debating something or wondering why she was still here, sitting next to me as the sun began to shine through the blinds.
“I don’t know.” It sounded as if she were admitting something to herself more than an answer to my question. “But I do know I’m fine with how this started, so stop worrying.”
She kissed the tip of my nose before smiling down at me.
“Oh well, excuse me for being concerned. I’d be halfway across the state by now.” I stood up, stretching my arms above my head. I needed a long hot shower and to get out of this house.
“Liar.” I ignored her besides a small smirk.
I knew she saw it, but she didn’t mention it.
Suki was right. If it had been reversed, I’d still fall for her scent and how adorable she was.
Not that she’d ever pull this despite her kinky preferences.
She was too nice to jump in with so few words about it.
Thankfully, she didn’t mind it the other way around.
“Showers, then coffee date? I can still smell the Omega pheromones, and it’s annoying me.
” That sounded very Omega, but I didn’t care.
Suki brought out a different side of me too, and I wouldn’t lie and say I hated it.
I was a little more Omega than I cared to admit, but I also had Alpha traits as was the curse of a Beta, one who grew up surrounded by the other two designations.
I liked both just fine, and Suki seemed to like them as well.
“Imagine how I felt. It was irritating from the beginning. I never want to smell strawberry and vanilla again.” She scrunched her nose as she adjusted on the couch to watch me walk toward the master bedroom door.
“So I shouldn’t have ordered a new shampoo in that scent? Damn.” Suki glared at me, but she knew I was joking. I wanted everything to smell like her. “The guest bath is down the hall. It’s all stocked up. Get ready, and let’s go have some fun. It’s going to be a nice day.”
I didn’t wait for a response and made my way into the room, then the bathroom, stripping as I went. I turned the shower on and let the water get as hot as I could manage. The stream of hot water made me sigh as I stepped in and let it wash over my shoulders.
Last night was a lot even though I had planned it. Clearly I didn’t plan it as well as I had thought, but hey, maybe that was fate or whatever universe garbage meddling in the lower lifeforms’ lives. Either way, it didn’t matter to me.
We made it through and were about to go on a coffee date.
Sure, we did things out of order, but that happened all the time.
Plenty of people went out to have an intentional one-night stand, and the next thing they knew, they were married to that person with a house and kids.
Not that I wanted that anytime soon, but I did want it eventually.
So this was fine. A little crazy night and now a happy morning with a hot shower, a very naked hot Alpha in the next room, and a hot coffee coming up. I might melt before the day was over, but that’s fine. I’d melt happy, and that’s what mattered.
I went on with my normal routine: shampoo, face wash, conditioner, face wash round two, body wash, and a quick shave.
I was a well-oiled machine, stepping out into the steamy room to continue getting ready.
I brushed my teeth, combed leave-in conditioner through my hair, slathered my face and neck in lotion, and did a simple makeup look with black eye liner, mascara, and a peach-tinted lip gloss.
A white crop top, pink and twirly midi skirt, and white tennies completed the look.
When I stepped out into the living room, Suki was already waiting for me.
She had on a loose black tee with a character I didn't recognize on it, short jean shorts that emphasized her long lean legs, and her tennies.
Her short black hair was pushed back with a red headband, and my jaw nearly dropped at the sight of her.
She was cute and hot, and it took everything in me to get my feet moving out the door and not right back into the bedroom.
Logically, I knew this was the right move. I was still sore and didn’t want to push it, but still…
“Let’s go before I choose you for breakfast.” Her hand easily slid into mine as I grabbed my purse and pulled her through the front door.
“Do you want to drive?” I could, but I also wanted to stare at her the entire time and knew I’d end up crashing us into a wall if I wasn’t careful.
“I don’t mind.” This all felt so natural, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t waiting for the bubble to pop. I feared our little honeymoon phase was going to be shorter than most.
Suki pulled her keys from her purse and rounded the car, letting go of my hand as she went. With two clicks, the doors were unlocked, and we hopped in.
“So where are we going?” The car started up nice and easy, and I pulled up the coffee shop on the GPS.
“Sullivan’s Cafe. Great coffee, delicious muffins, and if you know the right buttons to push, they’ll top it all with marshmallows.” I hit Start, and we were off. Suki pulled out onto the quiet street, and I placed my elbow on the center console, my arm jutted out with the palm up.
Suki easily slid her hand into mine, adjusting her grip on the steering wheel to accommodate one-handed driving.
“Marshmallows on a muffin? Like raw, unmelted mini marshmallows? Won’t those fall off and make a mess? Coffee, I understand, especially a mocha or even a cappuccino to add a little sweetness, but do muffins really need more on top?”
“Wow, didn’t peg you for a muffin hater. The more you know…” She rolled her eyes but kept her attention on the road in front of us.
“I don’t remember you pegging me, but I am not a muffin hater, just a muffin questioner.”
“Pfft. No? Damn, guess I didn’t fuck you hard enough.
What a shame.” I gripped her hand harder, loving how comfortable this was.
“They will add a few on top and stick it in the toaster oven for a few seconds to get it all warm and gooey. It’s the best on chocolate chip muffins, a s’mores moment.
But I would never say no to a lemon blueberry muffin with mini marshmallows melted on top. They don’t always have those though.”
“So you go there a lot?” We made a left turn, making our way through the suburb I lived in.
“Yeah, if I’m tired of staring at computer screens in the dark hole I call my office, I’ll go there. I can get work done while enjoying some sun and good coffee. Do you have a place like that?”
“Not to that level. I do go to my local cafe every now and then, but a few of the restaurants know my order by name alone though.” I leaned over, getting as close as I could while not impeding her driving.
My face was maybe a foot away from hers as I stared up at her, watching the light of the morning sun flash across her dark eyes.
The hints of brown and gold that weren’t normally there were very visible now.
“I am not ashamed to admit that more than one restaurant knows my order. I don’t order out a lot, but when I do, it’s the same places and same order. They caught on pretty quickly to my routine.”
“Oh? Have you not been here long?” Her nose scrunched, and I wanted to kiss it. I chastised myself. Even I was irritated at my behavior, like some lovesick puppy.
“Two years. I move around every few years to keep things fresh.” She gave me a side eye like I was the most ridiculous person she had ever met.
“Says the one who has a very specific routine and probably has a chair with your name on it at Sullivan’s.
” She made one last turn, then pulled into the cafe’s parking lot.
When we came to a stop, Suki turned more quickly than I expected and locked my lips with hers.
“Do you know how distracting it is to drive and not be able to do that, especially with you staring me down like a fucking meal?”
My eyes grew wide. Suki and cussing was a hot combination.
“I will not apologize.”
“Wasn’t asking you to.” She gave me another peck on the lips, then jumped out of the car.
I followed, and we made our way into the cafe. The smell of baked goods and coffee grounds wafted over me, and I took a deep breath. Normally, this would be soothing, but this time, nausea greeted me.
I stumbled slightly, but Suki caught me, wrapping her arm around my shoulders. “Are you okay?” I nodded, but based on the look on her face, she knew I was lying.
“To go?” She nodded and pulled us to the counter. The pressure in my stomach lifted slightly when her skin touched mine and her scent made its way into my lungs.
“Hi! Welcome to Sullivan’s. What can I get for you today?” Patty asked, then looked over at me. “Your usual?” She had worked here for a while, and we were on a first-name basis. She was really sweet, living up to the Omega brand, but that made me want to vomit all over the counter today.
“Um, sure, yep, that’s fine.” I hoped that was coherent enough.
“Teddy?” Patty dropped the sweet barista persona and came around to help me into a seat.
Her scent made me gag, and I nearly spilled the zero amount of food I had in my stomach on the floor.
“Are you okay? Do you need to go lay down, or…” Suki started, but she stopped when I shook my head.
“No, no. I’m okay. Just nauseous. Maybe tea today, Patty?” I watched them look at each other. Neither was convinced I was okay. I had never felt something like this, but something was itching at the back of my mind. I knew what this was, but I couldn’t quite grasp on to the words.
“Whatever she wants. Here.” Suki gave Patty her card. “Nothing for me today.”
Patty got to it, and when she left my space, I felt a little better.
“What’s actually going on, Teddy?” Suki leaned in and whispered, “Is it Patty?”
It wasn’t not Patty, but it wasn’t exactly her either… What was it?
“Maybe I wasn’t ready to get railed.” I shrugged, and Suki snorted.
“Yeah, okay. You wouldn’t have gotten that far without practice.” She held my hand and looked up at me from her kneeling position on the floor. “Is it her pheromones?”
“It’s—” I almost said no, but now that she mentioned it… “Fuck. I know what it is.” I didn’t elaborate and even covered Suki’s mouth when she tried to ask me to. “Tea first, then to your house. Mine is contaminated.” I gave a grimacing smile because I fucked up. I fucked up so bad.