Chapter 6 #2
"Can you sign this for me?"
"I'd be happy to," I answered, coming a little out of the funk I'd been in. Maybe I did like this part of it a bit. The issue was the ones who ignored me had those childhood feelings creeping back in.
The girls gushed over our dancing, saying we had the most chemistry on the team. Then they were on their way.
If only Henry had overheard that. He’d lose his mind. The rookie loved the game, but loved the attention more.
"You good, bro?"
"I am," I told him honestly. "It's not every day that I'm told I'm someone's favorite player."
"Dude, we tell you all the time how awesome you are," Griff said. The fact he was offended had me biting back a laugh.
"Yeah, but you live with me and we’re pack. It's hardly the same," I shot back. "That and you aren’t an attractive woman."
He chuckled, the sound deep and rumbling. "No, I'm not. But I’m hot as fuck."
Just as we reached the car, Cy's phone started to ring. He pulled it from his pocket, flashing us the screen where unknown number was on display.
Was it our girl?
Or a telemarketer? Damn, those people were annoying.
My heart started racing as he tapped the green button to answer, looking just as hopeful as I felt.
"Hello?" he said, placing the call on speaker.
"Hi, my name is Taryn," a female said before another voice jumped in. "I'm Bea."
The first voice shushed her, making me bite back a laugh. They definitely had energy. "Sorry about that, but we had a teenage girl come and put a flyer up in our bookstore and the girl on it is our best friend."
The world came to a screeching halt. I couldn’t breathe.
No more chattering crowds or car horns. Just pure silence as my pulse thundered through my ears. Griff put a steadying hand on me, squeezing my upper arm.
“Breathe, Jackson,” he said, voice gruff and demanding.
Internally, I was freaking the fuck out. The rational side of my brain was worried this was a prank call. The alpha in me was desperate for his mate and demanding to know if we truly found her.
One glance at my packmates faces and I could see the confusion and excitement warring there as well.
“She is?” Cy said, trying and failing to sound calm. They warned him it was crazy to put his personal cell on the flyer, so he’d put the PR department’s contact instead. If the call made it this far, it had to be legit… or at least convincing to some degree.
Fuck, I was overthinking.
"Yes.” The woman’s voice was firm. “We brought her to the last game and she almost got hit with a ball, but Cy saved her," Taryn explained. "I can send you a picture on text for proof."
"That would be great," Cy managed, his voice fully shaking now. The story lined up but we had to play it safe. The last thing we needed was a boundary stepping fan. Something I never thought I’d have to worry about until our team’s socials blew up.
Why didn't their friend call herself? Did she not realize that Cy was her mate?
"You said you work at a bookstore? Where is it located?" Cy asked, casting us a pointed look. No, it couldn’t be the one we were just talking about. It couldn't be that easy.
"Willow Lake. Dani doesn't know that we called. I think she's still in shock, to be honest. She has her picture on a flyer,” Taryn snorted, her sass coming through again. “Subtle, by the way.”
"Well, what do you know, we’re headed that way soon. Is Dani working tonight?" Cy questioned, a smile on his lips. He had the cocky player mask on, but I saw the way his jaw was tense, face flushed, eyes bright with excitement.
"She’s at the bookstore now,” Taryn clarified. “It's supposed to be her day off. If you guys make it before closing, text me and I'll make sure she's out front.”
"Perfect, when you send the picture will you include the address?" Cy asked.
"Of course," she answered. "Thank you."
"No. Thank you," he said before disconnecting.
"OH MY FUCKING GOD!" Griff yelled, letting out a whoop and literally hopping in the air as he fist pumped. That was the most enthusiasm I’d ever seen this alpha show. Even his scent was flooding the air, his alpha as excited as he was.
Cy and I shared a look but we couldn’t even judge the man. Hell, I was two seconds from doing the same, if I wasn't still trying to process it. Even as my mind tried to overthink, my alpha made it hard. We were far too excited as the reality kicked in.
"Don't get your hopes up too much," Cy started, trying to ground us. "They said it's her but even with a picture, I won't believe it until I see her face and smell her scent."
"You and me both, brother. Let's get our bags packed and head over there as soon as possible," I told them. “I’d rather not miss her. My anxiety won’t handle it well if we do.”
"I agree. I want to get to that bookstore and see for myself. We need our mate," Cy agreed before he climbed in the driver's seat.
I took my place in the back, buckled in and leaned my head on the headrest before closing my eyes.
Was it really just a few hours or less until we met our omega? It felt too easy. After years of looking and then a week of searching for her, a quick phone call felt too simple.
Then my anxiety kicked back in like the asshole it was.
Would she accept me as well? I didn't know if I could take the rejection, but I always knew it was a possibility. I wasn’t the typical alpha.
I was shy, semi-introverted, and even I knew I was considered a nerd.
Not that I minded, I didn’t care if people knew I was into all bookish stuff as well as all the movies and TV shows that came with that label.
"Jackson, get out of your head, man," Cy said as I opened my eyes to see him looking at me in the rear view.
"It's all or none," Griff promised. There was conviction in his voice but it was much easier said than done.
"Nah, I won't keep you two from your mate," I told them in an easy voice that was completely forced. "We all deserve to be happy."
"No, it's all or none," Griff said again, this time on a growl.
If she didn't want me as well, I wasn't going to let them give her up for me.
"Let's get home, pack, and head to Willow Lake," I told them. "Then we’ll know if they were lying about their friend or not." It was a distraction, but at least it worked.
Cy's phone dinged twice and he handed it over to Griff.
"One is a text from the unknown number with a picture attached and the other is an email from Coach," he said.
"We can open it up at home, where all three of us can see it at the same time," Cy told him as he turned onto the street our apartment was on.
We were almost home and I was itching to see that photo, but god, I was terrified, too. This felt like a dream and I was waiting for it to turn into a nightmare.
"Is it just me, or was that the longest ten minutes of our lives?" Cy asked as he put the car in park and we exited the car.
"Not just you," I snarked as I rounded the car. Griff joined us and Cy opened the message, pulling up not just the photo from the game, but a candid shot, and a selfie.
It was her and she was even more beautiful than Cy described. Her hair was wild and free, her smile a bit sassy and just as sweet. Her figure… fuck, she was my dream omega.
Hope had my breath catching in my lungs, my alpha edging closer as if he could reach her through the phone. A low rumble echoed out of me. Cy and Griff looked up at me in shock before Cy barked out a laugh.
“See, I knew it was her,” he said. Griff just shook his head and waved us on.
“Let’s get to Willow Lake and find our mate.”