Chapter 46
Billy promises to have Josh call me later so I can ask him courting questions.
It’s probably stupid because I could have just asked Billy since he’s the mate in question, but that feels weird.
Not that Billy’s an omega—he’s a beta, an all-around cool guy, and my best friend’s soulmate.
He’s attractive enough in his own way, but doesn’t really do anything for me, which is fine.
I don’t think I’m into men. Though I’ve never really tried.
But I’ve never met a guy I found sexually attractive.
Sure, Teddy smells nice, but the big burly dude thing doesn’t do much for me.
Hell, if I wanted to see that, I’d look in a mirror.
Still, Billy and Josh have been together for years, and they’re still so in love it’s embarrassing sometimes.
So maybe my bestie can give me some tips.
If that doesn’t work, I’ll need to call Tiffany to figure out what girls like.
But if she finds out, they’ll all know, and then they might try to put pressure on Sarah about it, and I don’t want to make her uncomfortable.
Shit, that reminds me.
Pulling my phone out, I dial my parents’ house phone.
I’m not sure why they haven’t switched completely to cell phones yet, but they like having a landline, so who am I to argue?
Mom answers on the second ring. “Hi, Boogerbear! How are you doing? Is the new place ready for a housewarming yet! We were hoping to see you sometime this week, and I know Penny would love to stop by while she’s back in town. She missed you.”
I can’t stop the grin that splits my face; I miss her too.
Most of my family still live in the area.
All my sisters but Penny still live at home, since the college is within driving distance and housing is so expensive.
Still, with work and all the new house stuff, it’s been a couple of weeks since I saw them.
Knowing Mom, she already has something planned, like trying to fill our freezer up with pre-made meals or something.
She worries about us, even Alistair. She just kind of adopted him when he first joined our pack.
Now she makes us all matching scarves each year for Christmas.
I don’t know how she has time to knit that much, but he got super misty-eyed the first time it happened.
Still, I don’t want her to feel obligated.
I think he misses his family sometimes, but he doesn’t want to talk about it.
They’re actually really nice, but he doesn’t know I talk to them sometimes.
“Honey, are you still there?” Her voice is less exuberant, and there’s a mumble in the background followed by, “No, he might have gotten cut off, you know this stupid phone is almost as old as he is. God, I feel ancient now.” Her laugh is one of the sweetest sounds I’ve ever heard, and if I’m not careful, I’ll get all nostalgic and weird.
“Sorry, Mom, I’m here. I was just thinkin’. I actually need Penny’s help if she’s around. I broke my nose again, and you know she’s the best one at resetting it.” There’s silence for a few beats.
“Spence, Love…what happened this time? Was it someone at the gym? Oh. Do I need to call and speak with your bosses? I won’t have you—”
I cut off her overprotective tirade before she can get traction.
“No, no, nothing like that. I got head-butted today and I wasn’t expecting it.
” That probably sounds worse than it is.
“I mean, ok…a friend of my bosses is visiting and she kind of fell asleep on me, and woke up confused. I was bent over her…but I promise I wasn’t being a creep or anything; she was lying on my chest. Anyway, she woke up startled and managed to bash me in the nose with her head.
She’s fine, a little sore. But I just need some help making sure this stupid thing heals right, ya’ know? ”
She’s quiet for several seconds, making me worry her phone really did hang up the call.
“So, you said ‘her.’ This girl fell asleep on you? Oh dear, you started purring again, didn’t you?
Honey, are you ok? I can send Penny right over if you need her.
Or we can wait until she’s gone if you don’t want us to embarrass you in front of her.
Just let us know what works best. Is she pretty? I’m so excited for you.”
“Mom, no, it’s…it’s not like that.” Yet…please, I want it to be like that. “She’s a friend of Teddy’s, and yeah, I started purring; I couldn’t help it. She’s fucking adorable, and—”
I’m cut off by her curt voice. “Language, young man.”
My voice is sheepish as I continue. “Sorry. But she is adorable, and sweet, and she’s here with her mate.
” My mom sucks in a sharp breath. “No, it’s ok.
Greg actually said it was alright. We talked yesterday about it.
He’s fine with her dating other guys. Basically, anybody who’ll treat her like the goddess she is. ”
My mom’s voice is cautious. “Oh, and who is Greg again?”
Shit, I know I wasn’t explaining this well.
“Lemme start over. Her name is Sarah; she’s an omega that used to live across the hall from Teddy before he moved here.
Greg is her beta mate, and scent match. But she’s only here for a week, so I don’t know how that’s gonna work.
We saw her today at the nesting store, and I started purring and she fell asleep on me in the store.
So Teddy’s pack gave me a ride home, which is when she broke my nose. ”
“On accident?” my mom clarifies.
“Yes, on accident, she was surprised when she woke up suddenly in a moving vehicle. But Greg was there. She calmed down and felt really bad about it. And now I need to see if Penny can come over and help me fix my nose…when she has a minute.” Whew, finally, we got back to the point.
A honking horn makes me jump, and I look over to see Al waving at me from the front seat of Nadine in a come-on motion.
Shit, I guess they’re all done. “Hey, sorry Mom, I’ll call you back tonight, but if you could send Penny over…
or whoever wants to stop by, but Teddy’s whole pack is coming over so it’s not the best time.
But if Penny can come by soon and help me fix this, I’d appreciate it. ”
She hums quietly to herself as I climb back into the minivan, trying to take up as little space as possible and talk quietly.
Sam pulls out of the parking lot, the poor van dragging over the high spots in the road as we follow Al to the house.
“We don’t want to scare away your omega by having the whole family descend at once.
Penny can come by and fix you up real quick, no problem.
Is it still bleeding?” I pull one of the tissues out and sniff a bit, but nothing starts dribbling.
“Nope, that’s stopped. I just don’t want it to heal crooked. Plus, the sooner I can get the swelling to start going down, the better. I’ll get it iced once she’s done.”
Mom gives another thoughtful hum, and then I hear her call my sister’s name.
“Oh, Pen, dear, can you go over and fix your brother’s face real quick?
He broke his nose again. Yeah, no, we’ll all stop by soon.
He has a girl over, but he wants to get this sorted out before he…
Yes, lovely. Thank you.” Then she turns her attention back to me.
“She’s on her way out the door now, so she should be there in the next ten minutes or so.
We’ll get you fixed up, and they don’t even have to know she was there.
We don’t want to risk your handsome face. ” I blush even though she can’t see me.
She sounds almost smug, like she’s being sneaky, and I grin at her attempts at covert matchmaking.
My family are all awesome, and she and Dad have always been my biggest cheerleaders.
I quickly thank her, tell her I love her and Dad, and that I’ll talk to them soon before hanging up right as we pull into the driveway.
Al and Paul get out of Nadine and go inside, and I wave Sarah, Greg, and all of Pack Carpenter that way, hopping from one foot to the other while I wait for Penny in the driveway.
I could go inside and get the blood washed off, but my nose is probably gonna start bleeding again, so it’s best to just wait.
It’s only a few more minutes before her little Honda pulls up in front of me, and she pops out, quick as a flash.
She’s tall for a girl, just over six feet. Which is funny since Mom’s a tiny thing and Dad is barely five-eleven. Tiffany topped out at five-eight and Kay is five-four. Claire is still growing, so she might be as tall as Dad, but she’s about even with Kay right now.
Penny’s grin is huge as she wraps her arms around me.
“Damn, bro. I missed you. Wow, she got you good, huh?” She pulls back, looking at my face, scrutinizing my nose.
“Yeah, this’ll be easy. It’s not crooked or anything…
one second.” Penny reaches up, grabs my nose, and pushes lightly until I feel the pressure decrease.
There isn’t the same crunch feeling as when it breaks, but things feel more normal, if still swollen.
She takes a step back, her eyes flicking from me to the front of my house, and her grin widens before she scrutinizes my face.
“Well, not much I can do for the rest of it, but that should fix the nose.” Her laughter is loud and raucous as she slaps me hard on the arm.
“Call Mom tonight; she’s about to go out of her mind being nosey.
” Then she gets back in her car and drives off before I can reply.
I turn my attention back to the house and see the front curtains twitch closed. I’m not sure who was watching me, and I’m torn between hoping it was the sweet omega wanting to make sure I’m ok, and not wanting to look like a freak.
Turning abruptly, I march back inside and up the stairs to my room.
It’s really nice having my own bathroom here, and I peel off my shirt before I’m through my bedroom door so I can clean up and get back downstairs to grab some ice.
I grab a washrag and run it under the cold water to scrub off the blood and blot around my still tender lip.
Suddenly, Al is standing in my bathroom doorway, looking over the crowded countertop at my various cleaning products. He picks up a bottle of Shake and Wake face scrub, turning it around to read the back before setting it back on the cabinet. “What is this? When did you get all this stuff?”
My nose itches, and I grab a new tissue to stop the fresh bleeding. “I’ve used most of these since high school, but Kay sometimes suggests new stuff for a changeup.” He looks flabbergasted, gaping like a landed trout.
“But…but you never. Neither you nor Paul ever left anything in the shower or on the countertops other than your toothbrushes and a razor. What?”
“Well, that’s because some of us have manners when it comes to sharing bathroom space.
” I point to my shower caddy that’s currently sitting on the side of the tub with a bottle of two-in-one shampoo and conditioner, ’cause let’s not get crazy with the manscaping here.
“I kept my stuff in Paul’s room when I wasn’t using it.
” He still looks flustered, but he was the one who kept leaving his crap all over the counter.
I don’t know why he’s being pissy about this.
He stares from the plastic tote to me a few times. “How did I never? What other secrets are you hiding? Is your name really Spencer?”
What a silly question. “Um…sort of. It’s technically Spencer Rafael Baudelaire, or it was.
Now it’s Miller.” Sarah snorts laughter as she walks up behind him, and I’m suddenly super self-conscious of my unmade bed and worried I might have left dirty underwear on the floor in my room. Why is she in my room?
“Holy shit! Moose, your parents named you after a fucking cartoon turtle? I thought that the mall store names were good, but damn. I really need to meet them; they sound fucking awesome.”
My fingers run through my hair, scratching my scalp as I think long and hard. “No…No, my dad’s best friend in high school was named Rafael, so I got named after him. But he might have been named after a turtle. I don’t know.”
Alistair huffs out an annoyed breath. “Or, I don’t know, he could have been named after a famous painter from the Italian Renaissance. Just throwing that out there.”
“No…no, he wasn’t real smart from what I remember, but he did have a super hard head, so it was probably the turtle.”