Chapter Thirteen
Eryx
“Wow,” I said, devoid of anything else to say, really. On the wall where I thought movie posters and permits would go was a huge mural, laying out the history of movies and theaters from musicals to celebrities and all kinds of movie cultural references.
It was bright and colorful and reminded me of a theater I’d seen in a magazine.
It was everything I didn’t know I wanted. And not what I asked for. Not what I could afford either.
It was brilliant.
“What is this?” I asked, knowing what it was but again being short on words.
“It’s a mural,” Joaquin answered, staring at it from beside me.
“Yes. Yes, it is. It’s incredible. Did you uncover it? Was it underneath the paint?”
Joaquin turned, only his head, and furrowed his brow. I imagined it was the same look he would give me if I’d grown a second head. “With modern day movie stars on it?”
A fair point. “Oh. I see that now. But who did it?”
“Didn’t you hire me to paint?”
I scoffed. “This is not the painting I hired you for. This is art. Who helped you? Who did this?”
“You hate it.”
“I’ve only been gone a week. And I bought the paint. It was…not this.”
I turned, rushing to offer Joaquin whatever he wanted, I found a crowd instead. “Where is he?” I asked.
“He rushed out. He…not in a good way. He was upset.”
“What? Why?”
“He thought you didn’t like it.”
Fuck me. Now I’d done it.
The others working there pointed to the front door and I took off, not knowing which direction to go after I got through the door. My wolf prompted me to head toward the center of town. I walked at a sprinting pace until I saw Joaquin up ahead.
I called his name. Nothing. Boy, he was fast.
“Joaquin, please. I love it!” I yelled out at the top of my lungs. Townspeople stopped to look at me. Some snickered. Some waved.
I’d make a spectacle of myself every day if it meant not hurting the omega. My omega? No, not mine.
Not yet.
He stopped walking but didn’t turn around. I realized he was waiting for me. Somehow I’d hurt him and I had to fix it. My wolf demanded I do it and so did my frantically beating heart.
“Hey,” I said, breathless as I caught up to him. His cheeks were bright red, and his hands were balled into fists at his sides. “I was surprised. Caught off guard. I didn’t understand.”
His eyes flickered to meet mine but he said nothing.
“I love it, omega.” The name flowed from my mouth as though it had always been there, waiting to emerge.
Of course, biologically, he was an omega.
But alphas and omegas didn’t go around calling each other by those names unless it meant something, and it wasn’t until that second that I realized it did mean something.
He meant everything to me, and I’d hurt him. The scent of sadness and hurt and anger swirled around me, originating from this beautiful, talented man. I had to make it right.
“You do?” His chin quivered, and I gave in to the instinct I’d denied before and opened my arms, an invitation for him to accept or reject. Goddess, I hoped he accepted it.
“I do. I reacted badly and there’s no excuse for that but I’m so sorry. Please come back and tell me all about it. I want to know how you thought of the idea and how you got it done. It looks like so much work.”
He blew out a long breath. “I wanted you to love it so badly, and when I didn’t see that, I bolted. Kind of dramatic.”
I released him even though my wolf was screaming at me not to. My body felt the absence of his warmth. I hungered for it more than my next breath.
“Not dramatic. You were hurt. It happens to all of us.”
We walked back to the theater together and, while I wanted to hold his hand, I didn’t.
“It’s a mural. And those are traditionally community efforts. I designed and drew it, and many members of the Oliver Creek community popped in and helped.” He gave me that information as I escorted him back inside.
“How did you manage that?”
He shrugged. “They are all so excited to see the theater open. Then word got around that I was working on a mural and before I knew it, it was a community project.”
I walked away, thinking of how much I owed the omega. The mural was incredible, but now I had to rethink how much to pay him and how this would positively impact everything from the customer’s experience to the draw of the theater.
The mural was priceless. And by bringing in community members, they would feel a vested interest. They’d want to come back and visit their art as well as see us succeed.
We stood in front of his art, their art, and I now saw it through new eyes. Oliver Creek came together to work on a mural for the theater, for me.
“I had several awful fights with my father while I was in the city.”
Joaquin reached out and took my hand in his. “I’m sorry.”
I shrugged one shoulder but continued, “He told me I was going to fail. That all of this was a dream not a career. I would never make money, but you know what stung the most?”
“Tell me.”
“He told me that this community would never accept me. That small towns like Oliver Creek didn’t take to newcomers. I’d never be a part of this place like those who already lived here.”
“First of all, what a rotten thing to say to anyone, let alone a son. Second, I think this proves that wrong, don’t you? They all came in and added something. They branded this theater as approved. This is their seal. You belong here, Eryx. Fuck anyone who says otherwise.”
I snorted. It was the first time I’d heard the omega curse. Maybe he did all the time and I didn’t know him well enough to realize it yet, but it seemed forced. Like someone who never did, but the occasion called for it.
And he was right. Fuck my father.
“I can’t thank you enough. I owe you double your rate.”
“No.” He turned and took the other hand and squeezed both of them. We were standing so close, and somehow the room had emptied since he ran away. “I…we did this for you. For the town. Seeing the smile on your face is worth every stroke of the brush.”
We stayed there, staring at each other. Sharing a moment that didn’t require words to understand or convey.
“I’d like to take you out to eat. Tonight. Now if you’re available.” I pushed the words out before I lost my courage.
“Eryx, I told you, there’s no need for repayment. I…”
I stepped closer, so close that our chests touched. Lifting my hand, I grazed my knuckles across his cheek. “Joaquin, I’d like to take you out to eat. Not work. Not payment. Eating together.”
“Oh. Yes, I’d love that. I know a place.”