Chapter 16 #2
Nodding along to whatever it is Mamá is rambling on about, I pull open the fridge and find a couple of large pizza boxes and pull them out onto the counter.
I open the top one and see several variations have been stored together.
I grab what’s left of the Rat Trap for me and Greg and toss it in the microwave for a couple of minutes.
I don’t mind leftover pizza, but I’m not a huge fan of cold cheese that smells of old feet.
But room temperature or warm is totally my fucking jam, and Greg’s the only person I’ve ever met that I can share this culinary delight with.
I’m actually surprised that there were five slices left.
Normally I have to beg, borrow, and steal to get one ordered when I come home.
Mamá is still talking behind me, and I watch out of the corner of my eye as she sets Alicia down and nudges her towards the door before turning back to me.
She squares her shoulders and I turn my attention back to her, letting her words wash over me.
“If this is about kids, don’t worry. You don’t need to have them.
I have enough grandbabies. Your papa says that I’ve been putting too much pressure on you for that, and it wasn’t my intent.
If you don’t ever want kids and just want to have a pack and a bunch of bunnies, we’re fine with that.
We want you to be happy. You aren’t obligated to have children. ”
My eyes sting because I know this is her attempt at being supportive, but she also missed the fucking mark by a mile.
Taking a deep breath, I straighten my spine.
“It’s not that I don’t want kids.” It’s impossible to miss the way the tension leaves her body.
“But we’re both aware that I don’t know if I can even get pregnant.
You know the doctors said the PMOS can cause fertility problems. My heats are all over the place. ”
I hold my hand up to cut her off as she starts to interrupt.
“It’s not the suppressants, Mamá. I’ve told you.
I’ve talked to the doctors at the omega center.
I might never be able to have kids, or it might be really difficult.
If I even find a pack. I’m one of the oldest unbonded omegas on campus.
And I’m fine with that. You need to be fine with it too.
If it’s just me and Greg, I’ll be fine. He’s mine, and he means the world to me.
He already accepts everything about me, even if I am broken, he doesn’t care.
Besides, I’ve seen the way he is with Shaggy, if it comes to that, he’ll make an amazing dad. ”
Instead of being happy that I’ve found someone I care about, her voice is snappy.
“Of course you would say that, Mija, he has you fooled. Taking care of a rabbit is hardly the same thing as taking care of a child. The two aren’t even comparable.
You give it food and water and a place to exercise.
It isn’t a child. I mean, your uncle Marco is great with the chickens, but I wouldn’t trust him to care for a human. ”
I can understand that—Marco is very sweet, but the man would forget his own head if it wasn’t attached.
The chickens are loud enough he can’t forget about them, and I’m pretty fucking appalled at what she thinks pet care entails.
We had barn cats growing up, but I don’t recall ever having an indoor pet.
I always just thought she didn’t like cats, but maybe she’s not an animal person in general.
Still, her disregard for the care and affection that I have for Shaggy is really fucking frustrating.
I don’t give many shits if my family are assholes to me.
They’re my family and I’ll deal with it.
But nobody fucks with Shaggy or Greg, they’re mine.
Still, I’m trying not to argue. If I argue with Mamá, then my dads will get involved and it’s just not a road I want to go down.
My relationship with her has always been strained because I’m not girly enough.
I don’t like pink; I don’t like dresses.
When I wanted to join band and play the drums, she about had a fucking aneurysm, telling me I needed to play something feminine, like the flute.
What the hell is feminine about blowing into a stick?
Wait…no…don’t answer that.
Trying to stop the snicker at my wandering mind, my attention turns back to Mamá, who is openly glaring at me.
“This is no laughing matter, Mija. You need to settle down and stop running wild; you need a pack. I won’t say anything else because it’s almost Christmas, and we’re supposed to be charitable.
But I don’t want him back in my house unless you have some alphas as well. ”
The microwave beeps at me, and she takes that as her cue to leave, turning and walking calmly out of the room before I can remind her that this isn’t her house.
If Greg wasn’t so fucking tired, I’d bundle him into the van right now and be back in the dorms before midnight.
While it’s really soon, I already know I love him, and I want my family to at least like him.
But if they don’t, then that’s their loss.
It’s their choice if they don’t want him, and by extension me, as part of their lives.
Putting the pizza boxes back in the fridge, I grab a couple of carrots out of the crisper for Shaggy. They don’t have as much of the green tops as I’d like, but beggars can’t be choosers, and I need to get out of the kitchen before anybody else walks in.
The tears don’t come until I’m closing the door to my bedroom.
When Greg sits up and opens his arms, I fall into them, dropping Shaggy’s snack on the bed and almost burning us both with flaming hot cheese.
I don’t know why she can’t see that he’s the best thing that’s happened to me since I moved to the omega center. And right now, I don’t care.