CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE - Jason
I texted Ozzi to pick me up, and I’d walked half the way to the hospital before he got to me. My fury was fueling me. Not that I was mad with Lyla. I was angry with myself for letting the situation go the way it did.
Once in the truck, I spilled the whole thing to Ozzi. “I don’t know what I said, but she lost it.”
“What exactly did she say?” Ozzi gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles were white.
“Something like is that all Alphas see Omegas for? For breeding more Alphas?” Of course it wasn’t true.
She was immensely more than that, but she wouldn’t let me talk after I said she’d be a great mom.
“I was sure she was going to give in just before that. She knows you really aren’t like your parents.
But I guess motherhood is a sensitive issue with her? ”
“She’s very much into Omega rights and wants to be treated equally.” Ozzi turned down the street toward the hospital. “Do you think us raising her up on a pedestal is too much for her? Not that I can help it.”
“I don’t know. Fuck, I want to worship her as a goddess every second of the day. It’s us who aren’t equal to her.” I sighed and my hot breath misted on the window. “We need to make this right.”
“I need to make myself right,” Ozzi muttered.
I studied him with tired eyes. What did that mean? He was one of the best people I knew. I was the one who got into trouble, and he was always there to help me out. This fight with Lyla had really fucked him up.
We pulled into the employee parking lot near the garage for the ambulances and Ozzi shut off the engine. Sitting there staring out at the city framed by the darkness and snow, my whole soul felt cold. A life without Lyla in it was no life.
“We have to get her back,” I repeated.
“There’s nothing we can do right now. It’s not even five in the morning.” Ozzi looked defeated, and I couldn’t stand it.
Fuck this. I opened the door and hopped out, shutting the truck closed behind me. “I’m going to go see Eloise and see what she can tell us about Lyla.”
Ozzi followed and stuffed his hands into his pockets. “Again, the time, Jason. Don’t go waking her up. She’s recovering from a stroke. She needs all the rest she can get.”
“I won’t wake her if she’s sleeping.” And I wouldn’t, but I was going to talk to her this morning.
We entered the garage and went into the office for the EMTs. Callie, who was partnered with Ozzi this shift, greeted us, but I guess she saw our expressions and didn’t start up her usual chatter.
Ozzi sat in a chair beside the radio and motioned to the twin cots in the far corner. “Get some sleep. It’ll be your shift soon.”
“I will, but first, I have a mission.” I ignored the look he gave me and walked through the other door into the hospital proper. He’d thank me for it later.
Lyla. I didn’t know how I fucked it up, but I was going to find out.
It was quiet in the long term care wing. I greeted the nurses at their station, and they watched as I walked down the hall to Eloise’s room. Neither of them said anything, but no doubt that whatever happened, there would be some gossip.
The room was dimly lit. The woman in the bed closest to the door was sound asleep and softly snoring.
The curtain was pulled between the two beds for privacy, and as I rounded it, I first saw Lyla’s friend curled up in a chair sleeping.
Mariska’s head lulled at an awkward angle and she twitched from whatever dreams she was having.
The poor girl was going to have a bad kink in her neck when she woke up.
Peeking in farther, I saw that Eloise was awake and looking at her phone. She lifted her head when I came into view and motioned me to come closer as she smiled.
“Good morning, Jason. What are you doing up so early?”
I came around to the side of the bed opposite of the one Mariska was on and kept my voice a whisper. “Came by to see how you were doing. You look mighty chipper for five in the morning.”
“I’ve always been an early riser, and since I’ve been sleeping a lot lately, I find myself waking even earlier.” Eloise set her phone down and folded her hands over her stomach. “But you didn’t come here to see how this old woman was doing.”
I widened my eyes, suddenly feeling guilty. “Of course I did. Everyone in town wants to know how you’re doing.”
“Mm-hm.” She nodded and raised a brow. “How’s Lyla doing?”
Shit. There was no hiding it. Heat crept up my neck. Eloise knew what I was about. “She was doing just fine until I said something that upset her. I don’t know what it was, though.”
“Lyla’s very opinionated and believes strongly about a lot of things. Can you give me any hint?” Eloise asked.
“Well, I was saying how perfect she was for Ozzi and I, and not only were we scent matches, but just real good for one another, and that I wanted us to have a future together. House, big Christmases, lots of babies. Then she went on about how Alphas only see Omegas one way…” I was rambling now and getting too loud.
I lowered my voice and my head. “I’ve fallen for her. I can’t lose her.”
Eloise patted the back of my hand. “You poor dear. Lyla shines bright as the sun, but she can burn those who aren’t careful.
” Her smile turned a little sad. “She has issues with her mother. She thinks her mom gave up her dreams to be a mate to her Alphas and have children. Lyla vowed never to be like her. So if you mentioned having lots of babies, that would have triggered her anger.”
Fuck me. “But I would never ask her to give up her dreams. I want to help her be whatever she wants to be. And I don’t want kids right now, but one day.”
“Then tell her that.” Eloise punctuated her advice with another pat on my hand. “She needs Alphas who will support her and can handle her strength and fire.”
“I love her fire.” My heart thumped hard, making it all clear. Pure unfiltered emotion burned my eyes. “I love her.”
She nodded. “I know. I can see it. You and Ozzi are so good for her. Helping her through that storm, bringing the presents to the Big Sisters, mailing off packages, and helping the neighbors. Lyla will see it too. Just go talk to her.”
“Lyla told you all of that?” I hadn’t even realized they chatted much since Friday.
“Some.” Eloise chuckled softly. “The town told me the rest. People have been talking, you know.”
Of course. Gossip traveled at the speed of light in Fond du Lac. Nothing like the hospital as the hub for all that chatter. No doubt my own family knew what I was up to even though I hadn’t talked to them in a few days.
My mind was whirling. I couldn’t just go over and talk to Lyla. No. My apology had to be bigger. Something grand.
“Thank you so much for talking to me, Eloise.” I leaned in and kissed her cheek. “Lyla will probably be visiting today, and I have an idea for later. It’s Christmas Eve and it’s going to be spectacular! Please don’t let her leave today until I come to get her.”
I barely heard what she said next as I sped out of the room, nearly running down the hall. The nurses watched me with wide eyes as I rushed back to the EMTs’ office. Callie startled as I flew through the door, and Ozzi gave me a wary look.
“Lyla has mom issues! It wasn’t me.” I went to sit down and realized I had way too much energy to sit. “There’s so much to do.”
“Wait. Calm down.” Ozzi rose and ran his hands over his head. “Clearly you talked to Eloise. Tell me exactly what happened.”
I blurted it all out and told him my plan. There were still a few hours before my shift. I could go home and get supplies. It had to be just right, and I knew the perfect place for it.
“So, pardon me for listening in, but I know Eloise and I’ve met Lyla a few times.
I love her Christmas sweaters.” Callie leaned forward on her chair, resting her hands on her knees.
“I’m not an Omega, but I’m a woman. Lyla might have mom issues, but you saying you want babies and she’ll be a great mom is not only insulting, it shows you have no respect for what she wants.
I follow her online, and she’s got big dreams. No man is going to stop her.
No matter what Christmas magic you throw together. ”
A flare of anger lit up in my gut, and my first instinct was to snap at her.
This was none of her fucking business. Lyla was mine, and…
That’s when I stopped myself. She wasn’t mine, and Callie was right.
It was disrespectful to assume Lyla just wanted to be a mother.
That had nothing to do with her mom. That was all me. I was the Alphahole here. “Shit.”
Callie nodded and sat back. “Do all the Christmas magic you want, but if you can’t show her that you respect what she wants, then not even Santa Claus can help you.”
Ozzi nodded and heaved a sigh. “Callie’s right. Don’t let your controlling urges loose. You prove to Lyla that you respect her. I already know what I need to do, and fuck, I don’t know—”
The radio crackled and the dispatcher put out the call. Callie and Ozzi were fast on their feet and grabbing their coats.
“I’m still going home and getting the stuff for my plan. I’ll be back for my shift in a few hours, and then you’ve got to finish the preparations, Oz.”
“I’ll help.” Callie offered as she stuffed her arms through the sleeves of her coat. “I know lots of people would be happy to help.”
I wrapped her up in a hug and spun her around. “You’re a Christmas elf in disguise, Cal. Thank you.”
Ozzi held open the door for his partner and nodded once at me before leaving. He didn’t say anything else. It must have been a shitstorm in his head for him to be so closed-mouth about things, but I didn’t doubt for a second he was going to do what it took to win Lyla back.
When I had lost Aurora, it had been my own damn fault. I went from picking the places we went to the people we saw, telling her not to go anywhere without me, and then telling her what she wanted. I’d been so certain she wanted the same things I did and never asked what she actually wanted.
I was a controlling bastard, and she was right to leave me.
Ozzi had been helping me not fall into that same trap with Lyla.
My emotions for her had grown much faster, and her being my scent match only made it more difficult to hold my beast back.
Yet I’d been doing so well, or, at least, I’d thought so.
If I’d fuck this up beyond repair…
No. I wasn’t going to think like that. My plan would work.
Time to make some Christmas magic.