Chapter 34
Iheld fast under the scrutinizing gaze of Allie’s best friends. I would be meeting her mother later this evening, but she hadn’t wanted me to be overwhelmed with all three women descending on me at once.
“How old are you?” Luna asked.
The petite blonde omega sat rigid, arms crossed over her chest, eyes narrowed in my direction. The dark-haired alpha was more relaxed, but stayed quiet, simply observing me while Luna handled the questioning. I didn’t mind being grilled. I’d appeared out of nowhere to them and bonded their best friend, so it was natural they’d have some feelings about it.
“Twenty-eight,” I responded.
“Tell us about your job,” Luna demanded.
“I have a nursing degree with a specialty in omega care. I work full-time at the clinic, primarily days unless they’re short-staffed.”
“How long did you work as a heat helper?”
“About six years on my own, and a few years extra as a support.”
I told them about my siblings, Nicky and Luca; my parents; and the extensive Marino clan. Luna grilled me about my past and previous relationships—few that there were—while we devoured a charcuterie board and cocktails.
It wasn’t all focused on me, though. Once they were satisfied I was a decent human, they started to let me in. I knew it wasn’t so simple to gain their trust, but I had no nefarious intentions, and they would accept that in time as long as I took care of Allie.
In return for my candor, I learned that Meg and Allie had become best friends during college, and she and Luna had become best friends when they’d started at the same firm—Luna in finance, Allie in architecture—as interns. Meg was a perpetual student pursuing her PhD, and Luna was a finance whiz who also taught yoga.
Whenever Allie seemed stressed, I reached over and took her hand, stroking my thumb on the back of her hand until she relaxed again.
“So, what’s the plan going forward?” Luna asked.
“Basically, we’re treating this like dating with a lot more sleepovers, at least until the initial bond calms down.”
“What about Allie’s apartment?”
“What about it?”
“I’m keeping it,” Allie interjected. “I only signed the lease on it a few weeks ago, so I’ll keep it until that’s over, and then we can figure out if we’re ready to live together full-time.”
That seemed like a relief to Luna, if the drop of her shoulders was any indication. Meg nodded thoughtfully, apparently pleased by that as well. I could easily accept that Allie came as a package deal with her friends, and I was glad that she had people who loved her so much. It made me realize how much I had neglected all of the relationships in my life, save very few. I was friends with people at work, but I hadn’t strived to maintain anything in my years as a heat helper, where tending to an omega and recovering afterward meant that I was off the map for two weeks at a time. I should let Carla know what happened with Allie…
The best I had maintained was my family, and while that wasn’t out of obligation, I knew that that relationship had thrived because of how we were connected and not because of the effort I put in.
I fixed us up a few more snacks, texting Carla a life update while I waited for the spinach dip to warm in the microwave.
Sidney:
So I might have bonded her…
Carla:
HOW
Sidney:
Surprise heat?
Carla:
Fuck
Or I guess I should ask how you feel about it before I swear
Sidney:
It’s not the most ideal but it’s actually really nice so far
Carla:
I’m glad! Cuz there’s no take backsies on a bond
Do I get to meet her?
Sidney:
You HAVE met her
She had you for one of her heats
Carla:
Ooooooooh okay yeah I think she was one of my last clients before I quit
Awwwww I love this for you
“Spinach dippies!” Allie bounced into the kitchen. “Hurry up, I’m ready to eat an unhealthy amount of bread.”
I chuckled and stirred the dip, passed over the plate of baguette slices, and returned with her to the living room.
Allie’s mother joined us about an hour later, and we all sat down to a veritable feast of Chinese takeout. Mama Carmichael was much more trusting than Meg and Luna were. She seemed pleased as punch that her daughter had found a partner, regardless of the circumstances.
“Are you going to have a public bonding ceremony? Or a wedding?” Mama Carmichael beamed, her cheeks flushed as she wiggled in her seat. “I have a friend who does event planning.”
“Mom,” Allie groaned. “It hasn’t even been a week. You’re not allowed to start planning a wedding.”
Mama Carmichael rolled her eyes. “You’re already bonded. A wedding is basically kindergarten graduation next to a convocation.”
“That doesn’t matter. The bonding wasn’t on purpose. You have to give us time to settle in.”
“Fine, fine. I just won’t tell you when I start planning.”
“Mom.” Allie buried her face in her hands.
Contrary to Luna, Mama Carmichael seemed confused why we weren’t immediately moving in together. “That seems like such a strange way to start your lives together. I want my baby taken care of.”
“Mom, I can take care of myself.”
“I know you can, but now you have an alpha.”
“I’m happy to take care of Allie however she wants me to, and to step back where she’d rather be in charge,” I told them. Allie had already been living on her own, and thriving that way from what I understood. If she needed support, I would give it, but I had no interest in taking away her independence. Sure, it would be cheaper and easier to immediately live together, but that wasn’t the goal here.
We had to let our relationship grow organically. The bond would help, but I didn’t want to rely on it. If we were going to make a successful go of things, I wanted to know and love everything about her. I wanted to understand when and how to support her.
I had most things figured out, but having her there when I got home, and watching her play with the puppies, falling asleep to the sound of her breathing, was better than I expected. I had what money I needed, and I had a system in place to care for my home and the fosters. I didn’t need Allie for any of that, but I certainly wanted her to be there.
It would take some practice and some rearranging of both of our lives, but I was eager for both, knowing that she would be there at the start and end of each day. Maybe she wouldn’t want that once the bond relaxed. I didn’t like the thought that she would want to spend days and nights away from me. I wasn’t in any place to judge, though, I had to acknowledge the bond was calmed by us spending time together, and that was influencing my brain.
Halfway through dinner I dragged her chair to sit directly next to mine so our arms and legs could touch. Mama Carmichael grinned at us, while Luna stared intensely, her scrutiny freezing me. I made a mental note to never piss her off.
“Walk with me,” Meg demanded after we had all finished eating, her only request of the night. I followed her outside.
“Is this a shovel talk?” I asked as we turned down the sidewalk.
“Do you need one?” she asked quietly.
“No.”
“Then it’s not. Do you regret the bonding?”
Ah. This was a more personal grilling session. I could manage that.
“I would have preferred it be more choice-based, but even if we weren’t bonded, I’d want to date her. I basically haven’t stopped thinking about her since we met, and I’m happy to take things slow, but I think she’s what I want.”
“Do you love her?”
“I don’t know her well enough yet, but I know I like her, have liked her for a long time, and I’ll take care of her. I’ve known since the first time I met her that she would be easy to love, and that hasn’t changed.”
Meg nodded, lacing her fingers together. “Luna and I love her a lot, and you’re very right about that being easy. She’s a good girl with a big heart.”
“Why didn’t you ask me this during the all-Sidney-barbecue?”
“Some things are better asked in private.” She sighed softly. “To be clear, we don’t think you’re bad or dangerous. Luna’s protective by nature, and so am I, though she’s a lot more vocal about it. As long as we see Allie happy, you have nothing to worry about. Is there anything we can do to support you?”
“Not off the top of my head. I want Allie and me to be happy, to give us a real chance.”
Meg looped her arm with mine, and I let her, the two of us rounding the corner. “She’s talked about you for years. You made quite the impression.”
“I did?” I knew she’d thought about me, but telling her friends another thing entirely.
“Absolutely. I heard all about you after you two shared that heat, listened to her cry when you weren’t available for the next one. The universe is tricky, but I’m glad it brought the two of you back together even if it was heavy-handed about it.”
“Do you really think I can make her happy?”
“Of course you can. She’s been half in love with you for four years. She’s scared, but there’s a light in her eyes I haven’t seen since the first time she met you. I’m glad you’re a kind person. I would hate to have to put strychnine in your tea.”
She said it so casually that I stopped dead in the middle of the sidewalk.
“Don’t worry,” she continued, pulling me along. “I wouldn’t do something like that unless you deliberately hurt her.”
“I thought you said this wasn’t a shovel talk.”
“It wasn’t supposed to be, but I had to make sure. I don’t think you would hurt her on purpose, and with the way that you look at her, I don’t think it will take very long for you to answer yes to being in love with her.”
“I’ve never tried to hurt anyone on purpose, and I think you’re right about the second half of that. I can feel myself falling, but I know I need to give it time and not let a fresh bond answer for me. When I tell Allie that I love her, I want it to be with a clear head and a certainty I would say yes in any circumstance. She deserves that much.”
Meg laughed quietly. “I’m glad to know that all of her gushing about you wasn’t an exaggeration. You really are just like that. You’re lucky to have found each other.”
We rounded another corner, more than halfway back to the house now.
“Do you have any questions you think I could answer?”
“What would you do to make her happy if you were in my position?”
The brunette alpha looked wistful. “Sometimes I wish it would’ve been that easy.”
“Meg…are you in love with Allie?”
She shrugged. “I think I have been ever since we met, but I’ve always known she’s not for me. I’m plenty happy being her friend.”
“Have the two of you ever…?”
“No. We’ve kissed before, and we’re affectionate, but I’ve known since you first came into the picture that she wouldn’t hesitate for a chance with you and I could never set myself up for heartbreak like that. I love her in multiple ways, but more than that, I love her enough to support you loving her.”
I ruminated on her words as we rounded the final corner. “You never thought about forming a pack with her?”
“She’s never expressed any interest in pack life. I don’t know that I would have an interest in it either. I think I appreciate quiet too much to contemplate multiple partners.”
“Allie doesn’t really seem like the quiet sort.”
Meg grinned at me. “She’s definitely not. Another reason why we’re better friends than life partners.” We paused one house down from my home. “Thank you for walking with me. I feel a lot better about leaving her in your hands.”
“I’ll take that compliment. You’re welcome over anytime. My house is her house.”
“Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind. We should get back inside before they think I’ve kidnapped you.”