Chapter 88
Adam is waiting by the elevator this morning when I leave our room.
He waves at me, his voice a mild inquiry as I stop beside him.
“Breakfast?” I nod once in reply, not fully awake enough to make conversation.
“Commons?” My response this time is a hum in the key of affirmative, and he nods in reply as we step in together and he pushes the button for the bottom floor.
Here we are, two well-spoken, eloquent gentlemen going to retrieve food for our ladies.
In truth, it isn’t that early, but Sarah’s been super restless in her sleep since we got home and keeps kicking me. She finally stopped flailing about four this morning, and I’m running on fumes.
Bring on the coffee and sugar!
We walk side by side across the campus and into the union to the food court.
It’s a bit different from the normal cafeteria in that it has several different stations with a variety of flavors.
I debate briefly hitting up the burger chain—they usually have a good bacon, egg, and cheese croissant, but it sounds way too heavy this morning—and head straight for the crepes and coffee bar with Adam hot on my heels.
We don’t speak to each other while I order three crepes—banana and Nutella, lemon custard, and cheesy egg and sausage—and two coffees.
I’m never sure what Sarah’s in the mood for, but these are her top three and they’re all good, so I’ll eat whatever she doesn’t want.
She may not realize that I’ve gotten her decaf though as I fill both to-go cups and add six packets of sugar and a quarter cup of almond milk to hers.
She enjoys a bit of coffee with her cream and sugar.
Adam comes over to me after placing his own order.
He fills one cup with decaf and the other with hot water before dropping in a peppermint tea bag from the stack in front of us.
“Thank you…for keeping an eye on Lily today. I know she can stay by herself, but she sometimes gets panic attacks, and I think spending time with Shaggy might help. I’m glad she agreed to visit your rooms, she needs to get out some.
Plus, I’ve been thinking about sneaking in a pet for her as well.
Probably not a bunny. Let’s be honest, that one’s a diva, but maybe a mouse or a hamster.
Something with cute little fingers that she can feed seeds to.
You know, she loves books where the heroine has an adorable animal companion.
” His smile looks sad, and I pat him on the shoulder, careful to not maintain any prolonged contact.
Adam isn’t as jumpy as his mate, but like a lot of the omegas I’ve met here, he’s wary of physical contact.
I can't even blame him. There are some bastards out there who think that touching a strange omega is their right as an alpha, and after what happened to Lily, well, I hope they die a horrible and painful death.
Before I can get too lost in my own head, the guy behind the counter calls my name and passes me three triangular boxes full of flat pancake goodness.
He takes a look at my precariously balanced drinks and boxes and lets out a put-upon sigh before handing me a cardboard drink carrier and a paper bag big enough to fit my boxes in.
Less than a minute later, a much perkier young woman calls for Adam, smiling shyly at him as she hands him a bag with his two crepe boxes and unfolds a drink carrier before setting it on the counter.
Hey, I get it; the man is cute, if I was into men and not already incredibly taken.
He’s downright fucking cherubic with his soft eyes and blond hair.
But unfortunately for her, the cheesecake-scented omega is hopelessly in love with his bonded mate, and no other woman is ever gonna turn his head.
He told me when we first met that he never knew he could be attracted to a woman until he met Lily, but she’s his and neither of them could see a future without the other person in it.
I get it, really. I feel the same way about Sarah.
Not that I would hold her back if she found a pack that hated me, but with Pack Miller that’s not something I’m worried about—they all seemed happy to have me there as Sarah’s mate.
Those guys are like best-case scenario for my little spitfire.
Paul, who’s very much a caretaker, and Spence would be a great workout buddy and somebody she could also be soft around.
Even Al, the surly little alpha, brought out her playful side when she was teasing him.
Not to mention whoever had all the BBC movies hidden away behind the couch will be one of her favorite people.
My money’s on Paul, but Spence could surprise me.
“It’s all good, Sarah misses you both. She’s been worried about you.
” Adam looks over at me, surprise on his face—though if it’s from my statement or how long it took me to reply is anybody’s guess.
“After what happened”—we don’t address the elephant in the room very often, but it’s there nonetheless—“Lily kind of turtled.” I wave my hands to wipe away any confusion.
“Which is completely understandable. I can’t even imagine…
I mean…shit.” He nods, his lips turning down in a frustrated grimace.
“I just mean that we’re happy to have her visit whenever she feels like it or whenever you need some time.
And you know Shaggy is pretty much always up for attention. ”
His laughter is dry and forced. “Yeah. The therapist offered to write a waiver so she could have a pet, something small. Like I was saying before. She needs more interaction, not just with animals, but people. And we both trust Sarah…and you. Even if it wasn’t your job, she knows you wouldn’t let her get hurt.
Let’s face it, you’re huge…and I’m sorry when we get weird around you…
after everything else…” His voice trails off and my own laugh is shaky in reply, wondering what he would say about Spence if he thinks I’m big.
Of course, I don’t know if Lily could be around any alphas or what would trigger her, because I’m probably not as big as any of the pack that attacked her.
My breath wheezes out in a startled laugh.
Maybe I’m just not pretty enough to be a problem, despite what Sarah calls me.
There’s no point in speculating anyway; I’m not a registered mental health professional and I haven’t lived through what she did—I’m hardly in a place to offer anything more than emotional support.
I shrug off my maudlin thoughts and notice Adam staring at me.
“Sorry, I was lost in my mind. Sarah calls me Pretty Boy. You know how she likes to give people nicknames? I was just thinking I’m not attractive enough to be threatening. ”
His laugh is more genuine this time. “Yeah, no…when Lily and I first got together, we were Thing One and Thing Two…she told me it was either that or Gemini for both of us since we reminded her of the creepy twins from The Shining.” My eyes scan the omega beside me and I nod, clearly seeing where my mate is coming from.
Adam and Lily are close to the same height, both fair-skinned with pale blond hair, and waifish in appearance.
Though her eyes are an almost shocking blue to his deep green.
My breath comes out in a loud snort at imagining them meeting my mate for the first time because I can picture how that would go.
Speak of the devil…Just as we’re approaching the door to Dorm F, it slams open and Sarah comes barreling down the steps.
“Be right back! They’re here! Can you go grab my phone?
I dropped it in the mad scramble…meet me in the visitor center!
” And just like that, she’s gone, short legs pumping fast to get to the front of campus.
Adam lets out a loud burst of laughter behind me, still staring in the direction my omega disappeared.
“Who’s here again?” His chuckle tapers off as I hurry towards the building. Pack Miller has been planning a surprise visit this weekend because they missed Sarah, but their flight should have just landed. How did they manage to get here so fast?
An uncomfortable sensation churns in my stomach as I wave my food at Adam.
“I better go catch up before she climbs anybody. I wasn’t expecting them for a couple more hours…
but don’t worry, if they’re early, we made plans with Lily first…
or she can come outside so Shaggy can get some fresh air.
These guys aren’t going to mind either way, even if they have to wait all day. ”