Chapter 85
It’s been over a week since we got back, and I miss the guys so much already.
They followed us to the airport, and Paul went with Greg to return the van while Spence and Al waited with me and Shaggy.
The big guy didn’t want to put me down and gave everybody who got close the stink eye.
I can see where some people might think he looks scary, but he’s just a big, cuddly cinnamon roll as far as I can tell.
Al just rolled his eyes and gritted his teeth in a poor imitation of a smile.
Nothing to see here, move along. Paul extracted promises from me and Greg to message them as soon as our flight landed, and once again when we reached campus.
The guy is protective, I’ll give him that.
I still don’t know what to do. I’ve been trying to reach John so we can talk about everything and try to figure out if what we have is going anywhere, but he just sends me straight to voicemail, and has since before I got back. I had tried calling him right after my heat too, but still no reply.
Mamá, on the other hand, has called several times to complain about Greg taking my calls during my heat, and to tell me that the alphas won’t want to put in the work to court me long distance, and I should just settle down with a pack that are friends with my brother. Hard pass.
I had to go see Doctor Terra on Monday. She had a lot of questions about my heat popping up so suddenly and wanted to give me a quick exam and draw blood to make sure I was ok.
She said it’s a good thing to have my heat without suppressants every so often so that my body can keep working normally.
The problem, of course, is that if my body was working normally, I wouldn’t have had an early heat.
It seems to be circular thinking, but I’m not a medical professional, so maybe she’s right.
Though to me, it felt like she was just reading off a script of shit you’re supposed to tell your omega clients.
The administration offices were super friendly and thanked both Greg and me for keeping them in the loop so that no one called the police about a missing omega.
I’m pretty sure that would have been extra awkward for Paul if he got in trouble at work for it.
Still, I had to sign a statement to the effect that they don’t take any responsibility for my having my heat unsupervised and blah blah blah.
Yeah, ’cause I totally did this on purpose.
It was the highlight of my year, causing them stress.
Ok, well the heat part might have been, and the alphas.
Stressing out the head honcho here was just an added bonus.
Right now I’m standing between Greg and Adam, waiting for our food in the commons.
Adam is shorter even than Al since he’s actually an omega, and I want to ask him how Lily’s doing, but he looks exhausted and pretty haggard.
Not that I’d tell him that, but I can still offer to help.
“Hey, how’s it going?” What a stupid fucking question that was.
Hello, brain, are you working? “I mean…shit. You know my social skills suck, man. Just lemme know if there’s anything I can do to help, ok?
I can stay with Lily if you need to go get a haircut or just some time to step away.
” Not that Adam’s vain, but he’s looking a little more fluffy than usual, and I know he doesn’t want to leave her alone.
Of course, my words have him tugging self-consciously at the ends of his hair.
Apparently my filter is completely broken, because I just keep talking.
“No, it’s not bad, it’s just longer than I’ve seen it before.
I just…want to help. I have no idea what to do.
I’m worried about you…both of you. What I really want to do would get me arrested, and probably on some kind of watch list if I said it out loud.
So just…you know, I’m here for you. If you need anything.
” His eyes shift over my shoulder to Greg.
He doesn’t have a problem with my beta, but he’s wary of anyone else being around his mate.
“Not to worry, Greg will stay home and watch Shaggy if you need me to come keep an eye on Lily. I know she’s only met him once, and I don’t want her to be uncomfortable. ”
He nods his head, and I’m uncertain if he’s agreeing to let me help or just affirming that I’ve offered.
There’s not a lot I can do, regardless. Thankfully, I’m saved by the line moving and our food getting handed over.
Greg picks up both our boxes and Adam gets one each for himself and Lily.
We leave, headed back to the dorms, and his eyes are sad when he finally speaks.
“It’s not like she’ll actually eat. I keep trying, but she doesn’t do more than pick at anything I bring her.
I’m worried about her, Sarah. Maybe…maybe you can come by and talk to her.
We go to therapy every week, but she’s not getting better.
Her doctor says there’s nothing physically wrong, but…
I can’t lose her.” His hand rubs absently over the side of his neck where her bonding mark is, and I want to pull him into a hug and tell him it’ll all be ok.
Now that he’s started talking, he can’t seem to stop.
“I’m worried about what’ll happen when she finally has a heat again.
They said that her body was probably still in shock, so she didn’t have one last month when I had mine.
She still helped me through it, but she was distant.
Cuddles with me in the nest are fine, but she flinches when anybody else gets close to her.
She won’t even write anymore, and barely reads now.
She packed away all her books; an entire wall of the main room is just boxes of them. ”
His breath hitches in a rough exhale that’s almost a sob before he straightens his shoulders and blinks several times.
He finally nods to me. “I’ll remember your offer.
Thank you. I can see if she feels like spending some time with you.
Maybe you could bring Shaggy over and see if he can perk her up.
If anything can make her laugh, it might be the little diva bunny.
” He smiles, but it looks broken and forced.
We bid him a brief goodbye at their door, and Greg and I continue on a few rooms down to our place.
Greg opens the mini fridge as soon as we walk in and takes out drinks and a small bundle of parsley for Shaggy.
He really has been a diva since we got home, turning his nose up to his hay and waiting for fresh greens before he’ll eat anything else.
Sam spoiled him, but he needs a balanced diet. Not every day can be bunny treats.
While I’m setting our cartons out on the table and grabbing drinks, there’s a knock on the door. Greg looks at me, and I’m not expecting anyone either. Maybe Adam changed his mind already?
My beta answers the door and chats for a little while, while I start eating.
Nachos only stay fresh for so long, so I need to eat them as soon as possible.
Clearly, Shaggy isn’t the only one who got food spoiled with treats during our trip, and I chide myself that I’ll need to get back to the gym this week and work off some of the weight I gained from overindulging on vacation.
I’m almost done with the cheesy goodness when Greg comes back, carrying a box.
“Hey, you got a package from Mississippi. Guess who it’s from!
” His eyebrows waggle at me as he sets it on the coffee table next to his food while I almost spill nachos over the floor, scrambling to pull it into my lap and peel off excessive layers of tape. Seriously, who wrapped this thing?
There’s a note lying on top of brown paper. The penmanship is neat and professional.
Dear Sarah,
I am loath to admit how much we have all missed you, but Spence insists I be honest with myself and you.
We’ve all been thinking of you, myself included.
I’m not obsessively retrofitting a bedroom and ripping out carpet for a rabbit run like he is.
Nor am I mooning about like a kicked puppy while also meal planning for when you visit again, as Paul is.
However, I shall say that the house feels quieter and too big without you here.
I never got a chance to discuss literature with you, or to show you some of my favorite books…
or the space I cleared for you and Greg to put your own in the library.
It feels odd to be admitting this after such a short time, but I’ve apparently grown rather fond of your outbursts, though I’ll hardly say that in front of Spencer.
He wanted to send you something special, and we weren’t sure what your favorite animal was; a rabbit seemed too obvious.
Also, clearly they don’t purr, so that was twice as superfluous.
Regardless, I hope this finds you well. Paul is on the right hand, I am on the left, and Spencer took both the feet since he can’t seem to stop purring to save his life.
I figured we might as well use that to our advantage.
Best wishes, Omega, and I hope we can see you again soon.
Sincerely,
Alistair Miller
Paul has signed below, his own signature nearly illegible in short, spikey letters. Spence also signed at the bottom with huge looping script that took up the lower third of the page.
My hands fumble, pulling out the brown paper to see what they could have sent me that purrs. My fingers close around something furry and soft with a hard center. Spence’s loud purr rumbles to life as soon as I tighten them to pull it out.
A stuffed paw appears first, then a leg, followed by a butt with a stubby tail.
I pull harder, excited by the plushy, purring gift that will let me feel closer to them—then scream and nearly throw it at Greg when the stuffed bear pops the rest of the way out of the fucking box.
Yes, even stuffed bears freak me the fuck out.
It doesn’t have to look realistic; bears are just horrifying.
The purr tapers off after a few more seconds, while I’m attempting to climb over the arm of the couch and escape.
Greg is laughing so hard that he starts to choke on his own hoagie sandwich.
Serves him right for eating that many carbs in front of me and laughing at my fear of an animal that can legitimately rip your head off.
I know it’s the thought that counts, but right now my mind can’t decide if it wants to send a thank-you letter to the alphas, or return this monstrosity in pieces…
after I take out the sound boxes so I can sleep with them close by.