Chapter 42
Am I staring?
Oh god, I’m staring!
She’s gonna think I’m a freak.
I mean, I am, but not for that staring thing.
That’s just for her.
Use your words, Spence.
You got this.
I don’t fucking got this!
Paint colors! Yes, thank you, Greg! Pulling out the different colors I chose for the nest, I spread them out, watching Sarah’s face for any indication of her thoughts.
It’s not her nest, but I want it to be—after I finish it, of course.
I’d like it to be perfect before she sees it, though.
Paul doesn’t date, and Al only dates betas, but maybe that’s ’cause omegas aren’t exactly free-range.
That sounds bad, even in my head. They always have a lot of security, either family or pack.
You just don’t see them in the wild often.
Fuck, that sounds worse.
Am I breathing heavy?
I am!
Shit, it sounds like I’ve been running a marathon.
She’s gonna leave, and it’s ’cause I can’t get my shit together.
*internal screaming*
A small, warm hand comes down on my arm, jarring me out of my panic.
Sarah smiles up at me and drags my attention back to the paint colors.
She’s pointing at two of them, her eyes bright.
It’s the dark blue I want to use for the top of the room, and the not quite aqua I’m going to be using for the base.
Basically, the two colors I got a full gallon of so that I can blend going up the wall.
That’s good; I hope she likes it. I hope she’s around long enough to see it.
Maybe we can invite her to dinner later this week.
I’ll need to hurry and get it done while she’s still here, but that’s not a problem if I stay up late for the next couple of nights.
I’ll have to give it time to dry between layers. Shit…
Paul will need to cook if we invite her and Greg over.
I don’t think I could impress her that much with just rice.
Also, I haven’t figured out all the settings on the darn thing.
The forums made it look so easy. Dammit.
But Paul can cook better than anyone imagined.
Their whole family can; it was one of his dad’s rules that once they got old enough, they each had to take a night of the week to make dinner.
Josh offered to teach me when I got older, but I set the stove on fire and their dad said maybe I should ask my parents for help learning.
Oh, he makes great stuffed peppers. They’re a pain in the butt, but maybe if I help, he would agree! Plus, those need rice, so it’s win-win.
She’s still smiling up at me, but I have no idea what to say.
“So…um, you’re an omega. How’s that going?”
Oh my god, kill me now!
Sarah’s laugh is loud and contagious. There’s even an adorable snort in there at the end before it tapers off.
Her hand comes up, patting me on the arm; she’s too short to reach my shoulder.
“Oh, shit, Moose. You really do look a lot like him...Being an omega’s ok most days.
Some are, obviously, worse than others. But I’m pretty sure that’s normal for every designation.
How’s being an alpha treating you?” There’s still laughter in her eyes as she stares up at me, and I can feel an idiotic grin spread across my face.
“Oh, you know…hard. Um, wait, no, I don’t mean.
Shit. Uh…fuck. Not hard like that.” Her laughter is back, and she’s wheezing as she leans against my stomach.
“My family are all betas, so it’s all kind of a big learning curve.
” Why did I tell her that? She was just being polite, she doesn’t need my life story.
Her laughter dies off as she stares up at me.
“Oh…that’s…well. It’s not sad; it just sounds kind of confusing. Is it just you and your parents then? Any brothers or sisters?” She stares up at me hopefully, and my grin stretches to near maniacal levels.
“Four sisters, all younger. They’re great and all super smart.
They help me out with stuff sometimes. Like Tiffany, she’s only a couple years younger, but she always knows what to do.
She’s my go-to for advice. Then there’s Kay, she’s studying to be a vet tech right now, so she’s really smart too.
She’s really into self-care and keeps me in the loop for when new skincare stuff comes up.
She helped me set up my regular routine, ’cause moisturizers are confusing.
Penny just started college in the fall. I can’t remember what her major is, but I think it has something to do with bones…
or dead things. She had to move out of state, ’cause there isn’t a program for it close by, but she’s visiting this week for spring break.
And last is Claire. She’s sixteen now and always worries about me.
She says I don’t keep my chakras cleared well enough, and it’s causing me undue stress.
I keep meaning to look into what that means, ’cause she always looks really somber when she says it.
But there’s a lot going on with the house and stuff. ”
Somebody help me, I’m rambling! She was just being friendly, and I can’t seem to stop the word vomit.
Al, Paul, Greg? I don’t care. Can somebody please step in and save me from myself?
Sarah looks up at me thoughtfully for a minute.
Her eyes are shiny with unshed tears, and my brain scrambles through what I could have done to upset her before she barks out a loud bray of laughter.
“Wait…hold up. Um…Spencer. Kay, Tiffany, Penny, and Claire. Um…you were all named after shops in the mall, weren’t you? ”
Her hand lands on my thigh as she doubles over, laughing so hard she can’t breathe.
I don’t quite understand her reaction, so I just answer honestly.
“Yeah, Mom and Dad met at the mall food court when they were in high school. They thought it was fitting as kind of an…what’s that word?
Home-age? It means sort of paying respects to… or something.”
Her wheezing turns into a loud hacking cough, and finally Greg comes over and scoops her up before she can collapse. Tears are streaming down her red face as she tries to breathe.
Oh fuck, I’ve killed my omega!
In true, inappropriately timed fashion, my purr rattles to life in my chest, and I just want to crawl in a hole and die.
Why can’t my body have a better sense of timing?
The only thing worse right now would be an erection after she collapsed.
I stare down my body, making sure that didn’t happen since she was gripping my leg earlier, and thankfully, no.
Everything looks in order below the belt.
I’m pretty sure even my pack would have a hard time with me popping a chub in this situation.
Sarah is flailing, red-faced as she reaches out to me and snags my shirt, pulling me closer to the beta that’s holding her.
Her face is still red, but at least she’s taking deep lungfuls now.
My chest still sounds like a motorboat, and I can feel the tops of my ears burning.
She hitches another deep breath that comes out in a sigh, as she pulls me close enough to rest her forehead on my chest. Her voice is shaky when it comes out.
“I’m sorry, big guy. That was really fucking rude.
I actually like that your parents paid homage to where they met.
It just hit my funny bone way too hard for some reason.
I mean, my mom and dads just gave all my brothers names that started with a J and my sisters and I all got S.
I don’t even know why. Parents are weird as fuck.
Yeah?” Her voice has taken on a sleepy edge as she rubs her cheek against me more firmly.
“You smell nice.” She takes a deep hit of my scent, her nose pressed against me, and lets out a long, shuddering moan, making Greg clear his throat and try to step back.
Her hand fists tighter in my shirt, and the only way he can move away is if I take it off or he sets her down.
Sarah rubs her jaw against my chest, her eyes scrunched shut as she holds me close. “No, I wanna stay here. It’s relaxing.”
The poor beta swallows and nods at me, staring intently at my arms and making motions to hand her over.
My heart swells at the thought of cuddling this tiny, feisty woman when Al’s voice pipes up.
“This may not be the most appropriate place for a nap, girl. We are in public.” One of her eyes pops open and she sticks her tongue out at our de facto pack leader.
My arms come up, ready to take her from Greg as he steps closer, a look of sad resignation on his face.
She clings tightly to both of us when we’re close enough to make the pass off.
“No, Pretty Boy, you stay too. You’re mine.
” Her own purr is a soft murmur below mine, one that I feel more than hear as she’s sandwiched against my side.
Greg looks up at me over her head. He squeezes her tighter.
The relief to have her in his arms is almost palpable, unfortunately, so is his discomfort at being so close to a stranger.
His voice is soft and lyrical when she’s close.
Not that it was harsh yesterday when we spoke, but it seems to take on a soothing, relaxed quality when she’s nearby.
“So—” He’s interrupted by a soft snore, turning his attention down to Sarah.
“Sorry about that. She hasn’t been sleeping real well lately.
I had hoped that the change of scenery would help, but not so much. ”
He presses a soft kiss on her forehead before trying to step away, but her hands tighten again in both our shirts. We seem to be stuck together for the moment. Never really saw that happening with a beta.
I don’t do quiet well, but my voice is a harsh whisper, trying not to wake her. I barely notice Paul staring towards the front of the store before he gives me a little nod and leaves that way, leading Al with a hand on his shoulder. “Why is she having trouble sleeping? Is everything ok?”
His look is long and considering before he says, “I…it’s not really my place to say.
She’s having some issues back home with alphas and her family.
” His voice is a low murmur to her as he nuzzles against her short hair.
“Scent matching is apparently bullshit sometimes. But you’re stuck with me, Spitfire. ”