27. Jordan
Chapter twenty-seven
The massive basket in Lanie's arms obscures her face as she walks through my office door, grunting, "This came for you."
I scurry out of my chair and take it from her, setting it on the small table in the corner of the room. My office is larger than it needs to be, so I added this table and a few chairs to fill it up, but it rarely gets used. The basket gives it purpose.
"Who in the world sent this?" Lanie asks, shaking her head. "The flower design is… something. It's not cohesive at all."
I roll my eyes at her before examining the gift. Wisteria, peach roses and peonies, and several varieties of maroon flowers are artfully arranged with dark greenery in the back of the basket. A giant stargazer lily in the middle gives away who it's from. The front has a massive teddy bear that is cradling…
"Mangos!" I squeak, grabbing one out of the basket and squeezing it. It's firm, just how I like them, for a sour, crispy bite. Limes and an odd round tool are also on the teddy's lap.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who this gift is from.
"Do we have a salt shaker in the break room?" I ask my assistant. Without waiting for an answer, I snag the fruit and the tool and squeeze past her, determined to prepare a snack.
"Are you going to eat that right now?" Lanie calls behind me.
"Yep!" I shout over my shoulder.
Several colleagues give me odd looks, but I don't care. It doesn't take long until I have a bowl of mango chunks tossed with lime juice and salt. I grab my cell phone and snap a picture, texting it to Rafe.
Thanks for the afternoon pick-me-up! I've been feeling sick today and this hits the spot
Rafe
We're not in school anymore but technically this was when you'd have your afternoon snack
If it's not the right ripeness yes it is
I don't want to hear anything stating otherwise
Popping a piece into my mouth, I groan at the flavor that explodes on my tongue. By the time I return to my office, Lanie is back at her desk, whispering into her phone.
I don't know why she feels the need to whisper. I've never given her grief about personal calls.
It's not until I sit back down at my desk that the teddy bear in the basket catches my attention again.
With the maroon bow around its neck.
Rafe is making it hard to stay upset at him. But this is how he's always been. Thoughtful, remembering even the smallest thing I've told him. It was one of the things I loved most about him.
His fathers were like that with his mom, too, so I think it's just something he was raised to do. I remember fawning over how much his dads worshipped his mother. I would watch them together, with the casual touches and whispered words that led to giggles, just because gifts of flowers or candies, and daydream about what it would be like when I had my own pack.
I had that daydream until I was eighteen when the boys left for Lunarcrest City.
The mango loses its taste on my tongue, and I push the bowl away, the memory of that heartache souring it – but not in a good way.
I was so close to forgetting what they put me through.
Is that how pathetic I am? Is a single video call and gift basket all it takes to undo thirteen years of hurt?
Before I have time to slip into that spiral, my calendar dings with a five-minute reminder for a conference call, and I push all thoughts of Pack Stargazer from my mind and focus on the job I love.
"Thanks for coming to lunch with me," Athena says, wrapping both hands around her water glass. "I know how busy you are…"
"You're family, Athena. I'm always going to be here for you." It's nice to have a distraction. Tonight is the dinner with Pack Stargazer, and I have been spiraling about it all morning. "What's going on?"
"What, can't I just ask to see my sister in mating for lunch last minute on a random Wednesday?"
"You can," I say slowly, "but you typically don't."
"Fair," she says with a chuckle. "I really do want to spend time with you, you know that, right?"
I close my menu. "Athena, you don't need to justify anything. I'm always here for you. We may not be blood, but I don't have any siblings. It's been nice getting to know you." I lean forward, resting my chin in my hands. "Now, do you want to tell me the real reason you asked me to lunch?"
Before she can begin, the server comes over to take our orders.
Only, they don't take mine.
"And what will your Omega have?" they ask Athena.
She wrinkles her nose. "Uh, how would I know? Ask her."
I open my mouth to speak when the server speaks again, cutting me off. "I'll come back when you're ready, then."
"We're ready now," I snarl, slamming my menu into their chest. "I can order for myself."
Their blue eyes dart to the bonding mark on my neck and then back at Athena, probably finally realizing that Athena isn't a part of my pack. Reluctantly, they write down my order.
"That was fucking weird," Athena says, watching the server as they put our order in at the computer. "Why wouldn't they take your order?"
"People have been strange to me since I presented. Sometimes, it's like they're seeing right through me. This is the first time it's been so obvious, though." Somehow, now that I have an Omega scent and a bonding mark, I'm seen as a different, less capable person.
I know our government isn't the most progressive there is for Omega rights, but I had assumed that, as a whole, our society was different.
I guess I was wrong.
Scrubbing my hands down my face, I plaster on a fake smile. "Anyways, what did you want to talk about?"
My question seems to startle Athena out of her thoughts, and she rests her head on her hand. "I got this new job -"
I interrupt her. "Oh, that's wonderful! Have you told Vick?"
"No."
Just the one word carries a weight I can't identify yet. Still, I pick at it. "Why not?"
"I needed to tell you first."
Now, my interest is even more piqued, and I straighten my spine before smoothing my cream blouse down my front. "Well, let's hear it."
"I'm a PA for ABOSS."
"The sports channel?"
She nods tightly. "Yeah. Specifically, most of my tasks are for the Sin Bin team." I chew my bottom lip. Something in the back of my mind is lighting up with recognition, but I can't seem to pull it to the forefront. She puts me out of my misery. "It's hosted by Cyrus Stargazer."
Well, there it is. That's the bomb. That's why she wanted to tell me in person and first. It explains the nerves, at least.
I inhale deeply, pushing past the conflicting feelings that are starting to rise in me like bile. "I'm happy for you, Athena. It's a great career move." Icarus has shared with me her struggle to find her passion, and this could be a good stepping stone for her future career moves. I genuinely am happy for her. But knowing that she'll be spending so much time around Cyrus sours my throat a little.
"Thanks. I didn't realize who he was to you when I applied. I hope you know that."
I reach my hand out to cover hers. "Even if you had, I wouldn't have stopped you. Your happiness is important. The Stargazers and Valentines will work something out."
I still get a little chill whenever I think of myself as a Valentine.
While I think this is a great opportunity for Athena, I know Cyrus. He's not always an easy person to be around. Rough around the edges is the nicest descriptor most people can give him.
"Is Cyrus an asshole to you?"
Through a mouthful of her burger, Athena responds, "Cyrus is fine. We've barely interacted. I doubt he knows my last name, so he's probably not put it all together yet."
"So that's why you called this lunch," I muse between bites of my buffalo chicken wrap. "You're not asking for my permission, are you? Because you don't need it."
She smiles broadly after taking a sip of water. "I know I don't need it, but I did want to tell you and not have you just stumble upon the information."
"Well, I appreciate you telling me all the same." We eat in comfortable, companionable silence for a few minutes before I casually say, "I'm meeting them for dinner tonight."
Athena nearly drops her burger, eyes wide.
"It was Icarus' idea to agree!" I insist. "I think he wants to know them."
"He's always wanted a pack," she says gently. "I know this situation is far from ideal, and I don't know the nuances of it…"
"I don't either." I rub my temples, the beginnings of a throbbing headache forming, and let my eyes drift shut. "I don't know all of it. I haven't let them explain."
"Oof. Yeah, that's something to find out. I mean, it's hurting all of you at this point."
I throw my napkin at her, smacking her in the face. "Stop making sense. You're supposed to be the goofy younger sister archetype."
"And I am!" she chuckles, tossing my napkin back at me. "You know I worry about you both, and you both deserve happiness. And I hate to say it, but I've been there before." Her smile drops for a moment, and I want to ask more, but she starts talking again before I can.
"Plus…" she looks around the restaurant conspiratorially, like she has a massive secret for me, "I've seen all those men. Holy fucking hot, Jordan."
"Ugh, don't remind me. Why can't they be hideous and make it easy to ignore them?"
It's an oversimplification of everything, of course. Even if the guys had grown unattractive from when we saw each other last, they're still my scent matches. I'd be drawn to them regardless. And despite what happened between us, I know they're good guys deep down.
I'll admit, it's getting hard to hold a grudge.
But then I take my anxiety med every morning, and I remember all that I went through because of their choices, and I find it easier to steel myself against them.
We finish up our lunch, chatting about Athena's love life, or lack thereof, and her shitty landlord. She has a lot to say about that landlord.
After we part ways with a hug and a promise to get together again soon, I trek back to my office to finish the work day.
Lanie looks up when I come in, a tight smile on her face. "Long lunch?"
I glance at the clock on my phone. It'd only been fifty minutes.
Besides, I'm the boss here. It's not her job to police my schedule like this.
"No longer than standard. Do I have any meetings this afternoon?"
She pulls up my calendar on her computer, clicking her tongue. "Just the two o'clock call with the C-suite."
"Perfect!" I clap my hands together. Despite the conversation, spending time with Athena energized me. Her positive energy is contagious, and I needed that kick in the pants. I've been feeling so worn down lately. "Are we still on for brunch this weekend?"
Lanie's brows raise in surprise. "I assumed with the whole packing up stuff that you wouldn't want to go out as much."
"You're my friend, Lanie! I'm not giving you up." She chuckles and shouts an affirmative to me as I saunter into my office.