9. Saylor
Saylor
The retreat hosts a huge welcome party later that evening in the main lodge’s patio area, and I stay close to Daisy’s side the whole time.
She introduces me to several of her author friends. I meet one author who writes monster romance, and another who writes sports romance. Another Omega even got signed recently by FatedBond Press just like me, and we have so much to talk about.
These people discuss word counts like other people discuss sports, and I truly have found my tribe.
We swap business cards while chatting over cocktails and sandwiches. Several authors even talk about the differences between first and third-person perspective, and I really am having the time of my life here.
At one point, I even bump into Nicola.
“I’m so glad you could make it here safely, Saylor,” she says.
I smile at the Omega. “You too, Nicola.”
She matches my grin then turns toward a large, bearded Alpha behind her. “Of course. You know of my uncle, Nicholas Merrick.”
I’m starstruck as the Alpha approaches me, shaking my hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Saylor.
I give a nervous laugh. “Yeah, you... you too. I’ve been a huge fan for years.”
He laughs. “Well, I’m certainly a fan of your work too, Saylor. Your story is inspired, and I can’t wait until it hits the shelves. It will be a bestseller, I’m sure.”
Nicholas grins broadly next, and he really does look like Santa Claus. He’s so jolly and so, so positive and friendly.
And I sure hope to become a bestselling author, just like he says. It has always been my dream since I was a child. Ever since the other kids laughed at me at school.
Writing and reading were my only friends for a while.
As the night wears on, I soon find myself letting go. I even dance at one point when the music comes on, having the time of my life.
Now, this is living—writing and then partying until the sun comes up.
It’s just me and a bunch of other Omega authors.
Before long, I find myself alone with Daisy by a cozy outdoor firepit as we laugh about our days spent at Silver Grove.
“Oh, I hated that teacher!” Daisy exclaims next, taking a swig of her beer. “She always insisted that I wrote in British English since I was at a British school.”
I laugh at her comment because I get it.
Sometimes, I alternate. If my character is American, then I write in US English. And if they are British, then I write in UK English.
Now we both gaze up at the night sky as we lounge back on our cushions, contemplating the stars that wink back at us from millions of miles away.
I try not to read too much into them, but there doesn’t seem to be any Alphas blinking down at me from that black canvas above.
Wow. I am so drunk. I’m pretty sure the stars start swirling at some point.
Daisy speaks next, startling me, and that’s when I look her way.
Her green eyes are earnest when she whispers in a voice that only I can hear, “I thought you ought to know, Saylor, that my brothers are here at the retreat with me. I’m…
I’m not sure exactly what happened between you and the three of them at Silver Grove High, but whatever it was… I get it.”
I close my eyes. I knew she knew on some level. I bet it was written in my eyes. They’re just so big and convey so much emotion.
“I know.” I sigh. “I ran into River on the plane.”
She giggles, reaching up to cover her mouth as she lets out a burp. “Yeah, he may have mentioned that.”
We go quiet again as we contemplate the fire for a little while longer.
She talks to me yet again. “They will leave you alone. I will make sure of it. That’s if you don’t want to see them?”
There’s no missing the question in her sentence.
Do I want to see them? I’m not so sure.
They broke my heart, but I won’t deny the excitement that I felt when I looked upon River Rose again.
I won’t deny the thrill I felt when he said my name. That was the first time his sculpted lips had ever uttered the sound.
And it sounded so good flowing from his tongue…
As if his mouth was meant to say it.
Even though ten years had passed, I still remember the way his eyebrows furrowed whenever he was concentrating on his art. He was always very good at art back at school, and I wonder if he ever achieved his dreams of becoming a comic book artist.
That’s why his fingers were always covered in charcoal. He was always drawing whenever he got the chance. Even when teachers told him to pay attention in class, he would never stop.
I breathe in deeply, letting it all back out again as I keep my gaze on the stars. “It’s fine, Daisy. I don’t mind. If I run into them, then so be it. In the end, this trip is going to be all about me and now you. No Alpha can take that away from me.”
She grabs my hand, squeezing it tightly. “Don’t you worry. This trip will just be all about us. Even my own Alphas are keeping their distance.” She corrects herself then, eyes widening. “Sorry. I... I never meant...”
I smile. It was an easy mistake to make. They may not be my Alphas, but they’re my scent matches.
But I couldn’t care about all that now. I’m having the time of my life. I’m at a writing retreat living my best life.
Life is good.
For the first time in years, I stop checking every doorway; I stop wondering who might be looking at me.
I stop waiting for someone to laugh.
Instead, I’m the first one to laugh.
These people don't know the quiet girl from Silver Grove. No. They only know Saylor—the author. The writer who somehow managed to land a publishing deal.
Perhaps this really can be a fresh start.
But then my good mood sours, and suddenly I have the sensation of being watched. It prickles at the back of my neck, making my hair rise on end.
Then slowly, I lift my head.
My heart jumps to my throat. Just across the patio, beyond the firelight… he stands in all his Alpha glory.
A familiar pair of piercing, green eyes regard mine carefully next, and I’m pretty sure the world slows in that moment.
River.
Now, it is just the two of us.
I’m not sure what I see in those burning eyes, eyes that capture the flames of the fire so perfectly. At first, it looks like an apology. And then a confession as he doesn’t look away.
But the moment soon fades as he finally looks away.
My Omega dies a little inside as she just wants his attention on her once again, yet I stick up my nose, looking away from him too.
I don’t need him. Or his brothers.
I can be happy on my own.