28. Rosie
Chapter 28
Rosie
Kelly: Checking back in. I haven’t heard from you.
Delivered.
* * *
M y spunky grandmother isn’t herself today. She looks weak and so very frail, the pain making the lines of her face sharper. I squeeze her hand, listening intently to the surgeon as she finishes walking me through the procedure.
“Your grandmother should be in recovery by around one this afternoon, and they’ll bring her up after post-op,” the older alpha explains as she scribbles onto a chart the nurse holds. “This is the most common injury for omegas at your age, Ms. Lily, but I’m confident. We’ll get you back in your dancing shoes in no time.” The silver-haired alpha turns toward me. “Bailey will keep you updated and show you to the waiting area.”
I lean down and kiss Grandma Lily’s forehead, using all my reserves to not let fear or worry bleed into my scent. “Love you. See you on the other side.”
“Love you.” She squeezes my hand. “See about making me a dancing dress.”
“Promise,” I say as the nurse wheels her away.
“Don’t think I missed that you smell like an omega or that a handsome man was hovering in the hallway outside my room,” she calls.
I laugh. Even in pain and down for the count, her spirit is fierce. I follow the nurse and my grandma until she’s lost to me behind the OR doors. Another staff member directs me to a series of elevators that leads to twisting hallways. Eventually, I find the right place.
Quinn is waiting for me, standing up from a table where he has a laptop set up. “How did it go?”
“They’re taking her to surgery now.” I settle into one of the plastic chairs, nerves hitting me all at once, and I can’t keep the tears from leaking.
Quinn hands me an honest-to-gods handkerchief that he pulls from his pocket. It’s embroidered at the edge with the initials QKD. The KD tugs my memory, reminding me of something I’ve seen before but can’t quite place. I briefly rub my fingers over the curly, sloping black letters before handing it back.
“There’s no way I’m snotting on that gorgeous piece,” I mumble.
He chuckles but folds the little blue square between his fingers and grabs my chin with his other hand until I look into his grey eyes. “What’s a little snot?”
Quinn swipes under my eyes, the movement slow and deliberate. It’s such a small thing, but it feels big.
“I work in healthcare, and I’ve seen injuries like this before, so believe me when I say she’s got this, okay? And we’re gonna help her through—not just today.” He swipes his thumb over my lip.
I nod as his warm, cozy scent and soft touch ease some of that rising panic.
“Good girl.” He smiles at me, and it's absolutely devastating. His voice really gets me going, and calling me good girl is just the icing on this cake.
“Let me know when you want me to go grab you some lunch.” Quinn returns to his seat at the table to give me some space. If he was beside me much longer, I was going to sniff him and beg him to purr.
On the TV screen in the corner, my grandma’s name flashes along with the words “In Surgery.” My anxiety and worry return. I pull out my phone and send updates to Bambi and my grandmother’s friends.
Biting the bullet, I text the group chat with my dads and give them an update so they can keep my mother and aunt informed. It’s never easy talking to them. I went no contact with my mom when I moved in with Grandma Lily, but I loosely keep up with my dads, and it wouldn’t be right not to let them know about her fall.
Scrolling through my notifications brings up Kelly’s message thread, and I open it, remembering I left him on read—only he’s sent another message, and I realize I not only left him on read but I missed him trying to check in again.
Crap.
I sneak a glance at Quinn. He’s back to working at his laptop, his eyes focused on the screen. There’s no doubt he’s beautiful. Sweet. If my reaction to his scent at breakfast is any indication, Quinn is also my scent match, my omega mate. My eyes flick back to my phone and my message thread with Kelly. It goes back years, hours of chats about anything and everything. Now, even knowing he’s not meant to be mine, I want him anyway. I wish I could keep Kelly and get to know Quinn. Apparently, I’m greedy.
I type a quick message, refusing to think too far ahead. I miss Kelly, and I want to hear his voice, but I’ll settle for a text.
Raven: Sorry I’ve been ghosting. It’s been nuts. Kinda losing it…
It’s immediately read, those three dots making my stomach buzz with nerves.
Kelly: Are you okay? You’ve had me worried. What happened? I swear the last few days have been the most for everyone.
Raven: I’m okay. Can I tell you something?
Kelly: Please do.
Raven: Buckle up. It’s a messy ride.
Kelly: I like it messy.
Sending a laugh reaction to his message buys me a moment. I type and retype furiously. How exactly do I say this? There are no right words for I met a pack, and it’s not yours, but I don’t want to lose you. And, oh, by the way, my grandma is in surgery while my house is flooded.
I take so long to respond that Kelly starts sending me more and more ridiculous memes.
Raven: Okay. Okay.
I’m fine, but my grandma isn’t. She’s in surgery now after she fell when my shower busted through my room. Basically, everything is a disaster. Those neighbors I told you about are letting me stay with them. That’s not even all of it, and I want to hide under my blankets until everything is back to normal.
Quinn gasps before slamming his laptop shut with a startled curse. I watch as he hurriedly packs the computer into his bag, clearly frazzled by something. Guilt cuts quick. The poor man just got to town, and I’m sure spending the day here isn’t what he planned on, even if he did volunteer. That makes me feel awful. Here I am about to spill my guts to a guy who isn’t meant to be mine while my actual mate is here. Guilt eats at me from all sides.
Quinn pulls the strap of his leather bag over his shoulder and makes eye contact. His cheeks heat, and he gives me this look I can’t decipher but makes me feel equally warm and like the worst human in history. “I’m gonna go grab some lunch. Anything in particular you want?”
I shrug. Eating is the last thing on my mind. “Whatever you get will be good.”
“You got it.” He nods and exits in haste, clearly dealing with his own shit.
I lean back against the hard plastic and pull out my phone, waiting for a reply from Kelly. Except this time, I’m the one left on read.