14. Avery
Avery
W hitaker Brews was the only place in town to truly celebrate. At least if we wanted to have a real toast.
“We should have opened up the kitchen, turned this into a proper pub,” Nash said as we walked in. “I was too nervous over this to eat.”
“Oh, really?” I asked, laughing because I knew damn well he ate today.
Me on the other hand? Not a chance.
“Pizza all around? We have two hours before opening,” Maverick said, giving me his signature raised eyebrow. That was my sign to answer.
“Only if I get something spicy,” I said. Maverick was always a tough guy… unless it came to spice. Nash, Cam, and I made it our mission to eat all things spicy, occasionally slipping something into his food.
“If you keep it to yourself, you can eat the whole thing for all I care,” he grumbled, heading for the bar and grabbing the phone.
“Wait, are you picky? What’s your pizza of choice?” I asked Cohen.
“I’m not picky at all,” he admitted. “Regular pizza still feels like I’m being a rebel. If you knew my parents you’d understand.”
“Let’s grab a drink and you can tell me about them,” I offered, sliding my hand in his and leading him toward the bar. He looked shocked, but happy, at the simple touch.
My ability to get close to him still surprised me but I was rolling with it. I took Sadie’s words to heart and refused to let my exes ruin anything with Cohen.
Because our scent match was not a fluke. He knew nothing about me, in fact, I found his shop, not the other way around.
“What can I make you?” Nash asked, sliding behind the bar right as we walked up. He was eyeing Cohen with that calculating, cold way only a brother could.
“Nash, this is Cohen,” I said, giving him a look that begged him to behave. “He volunteered to do my first interview; that resulted in me landing that job.”
I grinned at my mate and his expression shifted from uncomfortable to sweet. Reaching over, I squeezed his hand before letting it go.
“I’ll have a glass of champagne. Cohen?”
“Same,” he offered, pulling out his wallet.
“Nah, you’re on the house this round,” Nash said, his expression shifting now. “I haven’t seen the footage, but it must have been impressive.”
“I’m sure Avery’s editing skills made it look that way,” Cohen agreed. “If she can take my awkwardly painful interview and sell it, then she’s a witch.”
“Just wait, dear brother, you’re all my next focus,” I sang out. Nash grinned but I heard Maverick and Cameron groan in unison behind me.
“You’re lucky we love you.”
Maverick’s words had a smile forming on my face. “I am lucky.”
Cohen and I shared a smile before Nash interrupted it by sliding our glasses over. I snagged mine and took a sip, the bubbles and sweet champagne the perfect combination. It was like the tension was slowly unwinding from my body now that I was surrounded by family and friends.
“So, your family,” I prompted. He didn’t even get a chance to answer before my mama was sliding in next to me.
“Who is this?”
“Mama, meet Cohen. Cohen, meet my mama,” I said, giving her the same introduction I did to my brother.
“Ah, the one you were smiling at your phone over,” she teased, giving him a warm smile. “Nice to meet you.”
“You as well, Mrs. Whitaker,” he said, the formality making Mama shake her head.
“Ugh, no. I’m just Lucy,” she protested. “Mrs. Whitaker was my mother-in-law. That woman was… something.”
“Noted,” he said. “Nice to meet you, Lucy.”
She beamed at him before giving me a wink and hurrying away.
“So, that’s my family,” I laughed. “Sorry you got thrown into the deep end.”
He glanced around the room, his expression one of longing more than anything. I had a feeling whatever he was about to tell me about his family would be worlds apart from what I’d experienced.
“I grew up in Stonefield. It’s a couple hours away,” he started. “My parents were always involved in what they called ‘high society’. I’m talking country clubs, haughty events in tuxedos, and I was always taught to be the quiet beta who blended into the crowd. The big parties were for the debutante omegas and the alphas becoming ‘true men.’”
“Ew,” I managed to say, shocked at how blatantly disrespectful that was. “I never understood anyone who acted like betas were just disposable.”
He shrugged. “I guess I’m used to that by now. I know not everyone thinks like that but it didn’t make me want to stick around much. My parents shipped me off to my uncle from the moment they could. Soon, I was begging to go.”
“Where did he live?” I’d shifted closer, both of us close enough to be touching. There was no real hiding the connection we had. It was a different level of intimate than I was used to. There was attraction, sure, but this was an emotional connection.
“He lived in Ashville, running a small hobby farm. He mentioned preparing for some festival, I wonder if it was the same one I keep hearing about,” Cohen mused, his hand finding my hip. He didn’t tense or act unsure, it was like touching me was as natural as breathing.
“It might be. I’ll have to dig up some old information on them,” I said, “maybe even do a historical section when I get my hands on the website.”
“That’s a good idea,” he agreed, smiling softly down at me. When we were this close all I could focus on was his complex blue eyes and the scent of herbs and citrus.
My entire body was relaxed now, even though I’d only taken a few sips of my champagne. He was so different than anyone else in my life and I had a feeling he had no idea how great he was.
“So, how does this tie into pizza?” I asked. It broke the moment we were locked into, but the last thing I wanted was to make this celebration weird with all my family surrounding us.
“Well, high society and dinner parties meant that we ate gourmet meals. We had a private chef and the only pizza I had was on my trip to Italy. Mom was terrified of carbs.”
“Was it just your mom and dad?”
He nodded. “They were an alpha-omega pair, picked by two affluent families. In their circle, packs weren’t common or celebrated. In fact, I know of only one that was part of their circle and they were mocked behind their backs. They eventually moved away.”
I wrinkled my nose. “They sound… pleasant.”
He let out a humorless laugh. “They’re something. I’ve only heard from Mom once since moving and that was a Christmas card she didn’t even fill out herself.”
“What happened to your uncle?” His eyes shadowed again, like they did before.
“He got sick. At first he was just a bit weak then my Aunt Clara said he collapsed. He went to a treatment facility and they found cancer. She is really cagey on the details and doesn’t want anyone to see him like that. I checked in recently and she said he looks frail. I write, but…”
The way he trailed off, eyes sad and voice broken, had me pulling him into a hug. He easily melted into the touch, his arms circling me and holding me close while his nose teased against my neck.
“Do you know where the facility is?” I asked quietly. “We could ignore her protests and simply go visit. Maybe he’d like that.”
“If she’s the one calling the shots, she likely blocked that from happening.”
He sounded so broken and my heart shattered all over again.
“Uncle Glenn was always so full of life. I’ve been such a coward, afraid to push and ruin the image I have of him.”
“That’s not cowardice, that’s self preservation, and sometimes that’s how we cope.”
“Pizza!” Sidney’s voice echoed over the room and we took a step back, releasing each other.
“Shit, I didn’t mean to bring down the mood on a night of celebration,” he said, wincing. “Sorry, Avery.”
“Don’t be. I’m glad you told me,” I reassured him. My stomach growled and he took that as an opportunity to keep the night moving, leading me to the bar where my brothers were setting everything out.
“A toast!” My mama called out, raising her glass in the air. “To Avery and her willingness to bring Rockwood Valley back to life like it deserves. This town has been quiet for far too long.”
“To Avery!” Everyone raised their glasses while my face burned at being the center of attention.
Even I could admit that seeing this many people celebrating you and your success was humbling. Maybe it was time to think about other things in my future, like a new car and having someone look at my property so I could move forward with building my own place.
“Thanks, Mama,” I said, raising my own glass before taking a drink. “Now, let’s eat.”
We were like a pack of starving animals, everyone snagging a plate and pizza, clearing box after box. Within thirty minutes, Mav was carrying out the empty boxes while Nash wiped down the counter.
“We open in fifteen. If anyone wants to escape before the crowd comes, now’s your chance.”
“That’s my cue,” my mama said quickly.
“Mine, too,” Sidney said, rushing by and tugging me away from Cohen. “Sorry, girl time.”
She stopped in front of the music kiosk and set the music to country music she could dance to. I’ve never been as coordinated as her but she didn’t care and tonight, I didn’t either.
When we were on the dance floor, she cast me a grin. “So, details. How is the new mate thing going?”
I groaned. “I couldn’t even admit it to my family yet.”
“Oh, girl,” she laughed. “They know. We all know you better than you realize.”
I rolled my eyes. “Trust me, if they knew they’d corner him.”
She stopped dancing and raised an eyebrow. “Like right now?”
I whipped around to take in Cohen standing calmly between my brothers. He seemed at ease but there was a tick in his jaw.
“Don’t intervene. They need to have this moment and he needs to know just how involved your family is.”
I gritted my teeth and tensed my muscles, refusing to let myself take a step toward them. She was right. My life was chaotic at best now and my family and I were always close. That had only gotten worse since I’d been back.
They were more protective than ever. He needed to see all my crazy and I think I needed to see how he’d handle it.
Sidney and I just watched, ignoring people coming in for the night and the crowd moving around us. They weren’t yelling and no one was getting worked up.
Hope ignited in my chest.
My exes would have caused issues, they were always combative at best. I’d been able to calm them but seeing this beta, unshakable facing my three alpha brothers, was as if something clicked within me.
He was my mate. Right now he was witnessing the chaos of my life and was facing it head on.
“Oh my god, they just laughed,” Sidney cheered. Nash clapped Cohen on the shoulder and the others took a step back. When Maverick turned to me and nodded, I knew that I had their approval.
Maybe I didn’t need their approval, but having it unknotted my chest. Having it would not only make my life easier, but it made me feel like this decision to accept Cohen was the right one.
When my mate turned my way, seeking me out in the crowd, I knew then and there I was going to give him a chance. I would also do what I could to find out more information about his family. He deserved to have someone in his corner, too. And if that didn’t work, he’d have the Whitaker clan on his side.
Cohen started walking, not stopping until we were toe to toe. My head tilted back and a smile tipped up my lips.
“How did that go?”
“Wonderful. They know we’re mates and they were asking about me and my intentions. I think we’re all on the same page.”
“Good,” I grinned. “And Cohen?”
“Yes, Gorgeous?”
“Kiss me.”