Chapter 34
Charlie
“Hi!”
I blinked. Then blinked again.
From someone who was up before the sun most mornings, my brain had yet to process what was before me. Or why.
Adrian didn’t bother to wait for my brain to wake up. He threw his arms around me as though he hadn’t seen me in years instead of just a couple of days. With my arms pinned to my sides, I was saved from having to return the action.
After a full minute, or at least it felt like it, he pulled back. Still in my personal space, he peered at what I was doing.
“What’s that?”
“Scrambled eggs with vegetables.” The jalapenos were close to being tossed, given another day or two. Along with tomatoes. I had just tossed it into the pan, and it looked unappetizing.
Adrian scrunched up his nose. “Glad I already ate. Moore stopped to get donuts on the way here.”
Well, that explained a few things. No one needed that amount of sugar in the morning.
Using the spatula to mix the eggs as they cooked in the pan, I kept my eyes on what I was doing. No one liked burnt eggs, nor did they like the smell that they gave off.
“So…” Adrian leaned on the counter with his elbows. I shot him a warning look. Had he completely forgotten the rules in his time outside of Lockswell? “Guess what?”
“Elbows, Adrian.”
“Opps. Sorry. But guess what?” he didn’t stop long enough for me to even think of answering, but did take his elbows off the counter.. “I get to spend the entire day with you! And the night! Ain't that exciting?”
“Adrian.” I sighed, shaking my head. “It’s too early for all this.” I waved my hand up and down, indicating his energy level.
“Says the one who was up before six o'clock. Again.” Vincent said, Moore trailing behind him.
The other Alpha wore blue scrubs, and he looked like the day started too early for him, too.
“I didn’t start making breakfast, or your coffee, until I heard you moving, Sir.” I squared my shoulders, straightened my posture as Moore called his Omega to him.
I had sat on my bed, gazing out the window while I had waited for over an hour before I had heard Vincent move around.
I was back in the guest room, Vincent in his, like he had set up when I first got here.
Although, his room was slightly bigger, having my own space was nice, in a way.
I could shut the door and didn’t fear him coming to me each night to use my body.
He didn’t even pause in front of the door or anything.
“Adrian will be staying with us until tomorrow. Moore has to work,” Vincent went on.
The eggs were almost finished, so I turned off the stove, letting them finish for a second before moving the pan off the hot burner.
Thankfully, Vincent grabbed two bowls from the cupboard, which saved me from having to get through an Alpha and his Omega.
Moore and Adrian weren’t exactly in the way, but stepping around another Alpha that I didn’t know all that well put unwanted nerves flickering through my bloodstream. I didn’t know him well, nor did I want to.
He wasn’t my Alpha to serve, either.
“You are to be nice and follow the rules that Vincent has in place.” Moore’s words were spoken a bit louder so everyone could hear.
“Yeah, I know. I’ll be on my best behavior.”
“That also means don’t get on Charlie’s nerves, hon.”
“I’d never do such a thing!” A total lie. But I knew how to handle my friend. Or at least I used to.
Moore made a bit more small talk, trying and failing to draw me in. I kept my focus on scooping the egg mixture into two bowls. Before I could take them to the table, Vincent was already there, taking them.
Moore said his goodbyes, leaving his Omega in the care of the owner of this home.
“Go take your bag up to the guest room for now, Adrian. Please. We’ll figure out sleeping arrangements later.”
“Yes, Sir.” Adrian gave me a bright smile before doing what he was told to do.
Vincent waited a moment before speaking. “He gets scared by himself sometimes, so when Moore has long shifts, Adrian hangs out here. If it's a problem, I can call Moore and he’ll find someone to take over the shift.”
“No, it’s okay. Adrian can stay.” It was too early, but it was okay.
“Glad to hear it. You are welcome to do almost anything. Watch TV, talk, and spend time outside. You are not to be at my feet, unless you are unsettled or bothered by something. Also, remember those colors if you need to use them.”
“Yes, Sir.” I stuffed a bite of egg in my mouth to keep thoughts from spilling out. I hated not being able to be at Vincent’s feet. It was my place.
“No one will take your spot, Charlie. Adrian will never serve me. I’m a friend of his. Nothing more, nothing less. So don’t let those thoughts that swam through your mind take effect.”
“Sorry, Sir.” How he could read me so well was almost scary.
“I will make sure you get your time. But it’s also good to spend time with a friend. He can shed some light on how the world works outside of tall fences.”
I nodded once, the eggs sitting like a rock in my stomach.
I didn’t want my time to be spent with an Omega. I wanted it to just be Vincent and me, where I could sit at his feet and serve him.
“You are not to serve me until lunch.” That was an order, and although I hated those words spoken, I nodded once.
“Go find your friend. I have work to do. If either of you needs food or water, help yourself to it.” With that, Vincent left me in the kitchen. Alone.
I couldn’t remember the last time I ever wanted to cry because of my emotions. I was always able to keep my feelings under control, no matter how much someone hurt me. I was used to being hurt. Ether physically or with words.
So why did Vincent’s words make me feel so small and left out?
I sniffed once, then shoved every thought into the black box I kept buried deep, locked tight, sealed shut. Feeling nothing was safer than feeling everything. Omegas weren’t supposed to be emotional. That led to punishment. That led to being noticed.
I stayed exactly where Vincent had left me. Not a step out of place.
Adrian found me seconds later. Of course he did. I didn’t look at him. Just blinked myself out of the haze and turned toward the mess on the counter.
Breakfast cleanup. Easy. Familiar.
He stepped beside me like it was normal. I washed. He loaded the dishwasher.
Repeat.
We moved like muscle memory, efficient, silent, mechanical. Not a crumb was left.
But the tension between us? That stayed. Thick. Unspoken.
And I didn’t dare name it.
“Wanna go outside?” Adrian asked, all chipper and happy like he wasn’t intruding.
“Sure.” No. I dried my hands, then followed the Omega to the back porch. It felt like I was breaking every single rule by stepping over that threshold. My chest felt heavy as I closed the sliding door behind me.
Adrian was already sitting on a step, gazing out over the yard. Although I wanted to go back inside, I sat beside him.
“The view’s nice,” Adrian said.
“I guess,” I muttered, arms wrapping tight around my stomach. My fingers pressed into my sides enough to feel it, not enough to bruise.
“You don’t like it?” he asked, turning to face me, leaning back against the banister like he belonged there. “You used to talk about wanting a yard. Flowers everywhere.”
I nearly said something sharp. Something I’d never let myself say before. But I swallowed it down and took a breath.
I kept my eyes on the tree line, where the wind moved through the leaves like it didn’t care who was watching.
“Vincent said I can plant sunflowers in the spring.”
I didn’t say it to share. I said it to remind him; I said that this was my space now.
Adrian shifted beside me, his voice softer than I remembered. “I didn’t mean to make things weird. I just… It’s been a while.” Like two or three days, when I was so out of it that I had to have help to go pee.
I kept my eyes on the tree line. The wind moved. I didn’t.
“You used to talk about sunflowers like they were magic,” he added. “Said they made you feel safe.”
I swallowed hard. He wasn’t wrong. But that didn’t mean he got to say it.
“I don’t remember saying that,” I lied.
He didn’t push. Just sat there, too close, like he thought proximity could fix what time had broken.
When had my thoughts changed so drastically? When did my jealousy grow for someone who was my friend?
“Sorry.” I sighed, shoulders slumping. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“A lot of things have changed for you. Me showing up today probably wasn’t the greatest idea, but I really, really hate being alone when Moore has a double shift.”
“I don’t think I like changes.” My words were quiet, more for me than anyone else. But they were true.
I never did much care for change, and the past week had way too many of them. Too much back and forth. Too much overall.
“You never have.” Adrian shifted, his foot touching mine. He didn’t pull back; he just kept it there. Which, oddly enough, helped to ground me in a way I didn’t know I needed. “When we got our adult rooms, you panicked at least once a day for two weeks straight.”
Don’t remind me, I thought. “I still hate you.”
“I highly doubt that.”
“I did, like ten minutes ago.” I turned so my back was against the banister too. “I didn’t want you here”
“I know. I wouldn’t want another Omega around when I was just getting used to an Alpha, either.”
“I should be okay with it. It’s not like you’ll try to take my spot.” I did feel bad, but only slightly. My emotions were still locked away.
“We were trained to think another Omega could take our spot. It took me a while to see life differently out here. All the Alphas I’ve met are just that. Alphas. They won’t want me, because I already belong to one.”
I didn’t know what to say to that. I was Vincent’s Omega, but I still didn’t know what that exactly meant. I served him and his needs. Or I at least tried.
“I’m failing at this.” I sighed, letting my eyes stray to the yard again. “Failing at being Vincent’s Omega.”
“Why do you say that? Is he not happy? He seems like he truly cares about you. And he’s not mean. I’ve stayed here at least once, maybe twice, a month since Moore took me in. Vincent has never harmed me, or spoken ill of me. At least not that I know of.”
“He won’t let me serve him.” Mentally, I pouted as I spoke the words.
“Charlie, honey.” Adrian leaned forward, putting us a bit closer together. “He’s not a sexual type of man. Surely he’s told you that.”
“It’s not that.” I waved a hand in the air, trying to find the right words. “Today. He won’t let me serve him. He told me that with you here, I’m not allowed to sit at his feet. Or…well, yeah.” My heated cheeks were impossible to hide from him.
“You two were connecting.”
That really was the best way to put it. “Yeah.”
“Moore should have thought about that,” he said, dropping his eyes to his feet. Then, he lifted them back to me. “I can keep myself entertained. I’ve done it before.”
“No.” I sighed. “Vincent already said I can’t bother him until lunch time. No serving allowed.”
“I’m really sorry.”
I shrugged. I was about to say it wasn’t his fault, but it sort of was. If he weren’t here, I’d be at Vincent’s feet right now.
“So,” Adrian shifted, again, like he couldn’t stay in one spot for long. “Will you be doing a garden, too?”
“I don’t think so. That’d mean I’d have to be out in the heat.”
“Well, there’s time to change your mind.”
“Maybe.” I paused. “Vincent didn’t push the idea.”
“He’ll only push something if it’s for your benefit. You’ll see soon enough. He wants the best out of everyone in his life. He’s not mean or rude about it, though. Just…gentle comments here and there.”
“He is nice.”
“Nice in what way? Kindness? The way he looks?”
All I could manage was to blink.
“Vincent is nice on the eyes. He’s like a professor vibes, you know. All business and smarts. Then those eyes.” Adrian fanned himself, even though his tone was more on the teasing side. My brain didn’t catch the drift of his voice, though.
Anger and jealousy began to simmer past the locked box all of a sudden.
“It’s truly a shame that you got him wrapped around your finger already. I saw the way he looks at you. Like you’re his entire world.”
Wait…what?
“He…no?” I shook my head. My anger quickly turned to shock and denial. He didn’t look at me in any specific way.
Adrian pulled a leg up, wrapping his arms around it loosely. “He likes you, Charlie. How can you not see that? Just like you enjoy him.”
“I hardly know him!” I hissed.
“But you didn’t like me pointing out how nice looking he is,” Adrian stated as though it was natural to talk about such things.
“Adrian,” I spoke his name through gritted teeth.
“It’s true.” He smiled at me, one who often got him into trouble. “I have to wonder, if he actually liked sex, how would that be? Would he be gentle? Bossy? Ooh, I bet bossy and would make-“
He didn’t get the chance to finish.
Before the words could land, I moved, fast, and instinctively. It wasn’t full of anger, just the feeling of being done.
I closed the space between us in a single breath, grabbing hold like I needed to stop the sentence from existing.
It wasn’t violent, just a silence that’s enough wrapped in motion.
And he knew it. Because for once, he didn’t try to speak over it.
I landed more on top of him, hand over his mouth. Adrian’s eyes were slightly wide in surprise.
“He’s mine.” Deep down, Vincent belonged to me. It didn’t matter that I knew him for barely eight days, or however many it was now. I kind of lost track. But it didn’t matter.
Because Alpha Vincent Harris was mine. Mine to serve. Mine to think about. Mine to take orders from.
Adrian nodded once. Then, because of who he was, he licked the palm of my hand.
“Seriously?” That was gross.
I dropped my hand, then in another move that I’d have never dared to do before, I wiped the spit over the front of his shirt. All that did was cause the Omega to bark out a laugh.