Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Sage
The next morning, everything is back to normal. I make them breakfast, Steve tells me to eat some fruit, then I clean up and head out for my walk. I look behind me constantly. Fear of them following is a lead ball in my stomach, but there’s no sign of them.
When I turn onto State Street, I see Brooks’ work truck right away.
My heart skips as my breath hitches in my chest. I increase my pace, hurrying toward it, then pause to take in the view of him working.
His hair is only half-up today, and he’s wearing thick gloves and a mask, spraying something along the edge of a garden, muscles flexing as he moves.
“Brooks,” I say, probably too quietly, but somehow he hears.
He spins toward me, releasing the sprayer as he does. Then he takes long strides across the lawn, slipping off his mask and removing and dropping one glove at a time. It’s an overwhelming sight, how intently focused he is on me, and I’m already relaxing from being near him.
“Sage,” he breathes my name, and we nearly fall into each other’s arms before remembering that we can’t.
My face crumples, a shard of glass spearing into my heart, but before it can crystalize into something that truly hurts, he reaches into his pocket.
“I brought you something,” he says, lightening my chaotic mood. Then his gaze turns wary. “But it’s not from me this time.”
“It’s not?” I glance between the small box and his face, realizing the urge to avoid looking at him like I do with other alphas is diminishing. I’m not sure what to do with that, but I like looking at him, and he seems to like it too.
My fingers twist, picking at a hangnail that’s been bugging me for days, and he reaches out with one finger to tap my hands. I drop them to my sides, and he offers an encouraging smile.
Brooks guides me over to his truck, then sits on the curb in the shade of it, snagging a relatively clean hand towel to spread on the curb beside him. My heart flutters at the gesture as I sink down onto it.
Close, but not close enough. He hasn’t handed me the gift yet, and my omega wants to reach out and snatch it. Instead of handing it over, though, he pulls out his phone and opens a string of messages, scrolling up.
“When we were at the lavender farm, I saw you were connecting with Riley. He’s a scent-match for both of us, I think. Right?”
“Yeah, I thought he might be. He is for you, too?” I ask, hope lining my voice.
“He is. I also met his alpha, Neveah, the one he mentioned a couple times that owns the lavender fields.”
“Oh, um.” I stumble over the words. I thought I smelled another alpha on him, but I didn’t realize she was there. “Did his alpha not want to meet me?”
I don’t notice that I’ve said the uncertain words aloud until he replies.
“She absolutely wants to meet you, but she thought it might have been too much all at once to introduce herself that day. Her and I exchanged phone numbers, though, and we’ve been chatting. They both want to see you again. Here,” he says, pointing to a string of messages from Riley and Neveah.
My eyes skip over them, confirming what he said. I blink, then fold my arms around my stomach, trying to contain the roiling emotions that are twisting around inside me.
“It’s okay if you don’t want to,” he says, voice soft. “I know it’s a lot, it is for me too, and it probably feels overwhelming. But Riley really liked meeting you.”
“I liked him too,” I say. The affirmation that I’m not alone in my feelings helps bring me back from the edge of zoning out.
“And,” Brooks says, a note of humor entering his voice. “I think Neveah is jealous.”
“What? Why?” I look up at him, bewildered of what she would have to be jealous of.
“Because I get to see you nearly every day, and Riley got to spend a couple hours getting to know you. She hasn’t even been able to talk to you yet.”
“Oh,” I say. Huh.
“Would you want to talk to her? And Riley? It’s okay if not, if it’s too soon.”
“No, yeah. I… I do want to talk to her. Both of them. I think I’d like that. Could you… Would you be able to…?”
“Would you like me to add you to this group chat? They’ve already asked me to. They want you to be in it, but I didn’t want to put that on you without asking first.”
He’s so incredibly thoughtful it’s overwhelming. I’ve never been presented with choices like this, over and over again. The answer is easy, though.
“Yes. Please, Brooks. I’d really like that.”
“Consider it done,” he says. “And now, your gift. It’s from Neveah.”
My eyes flare, shooting from the small box up to his.
“Neveah?” I cringe when my voice comes out squeaky. But honestly, why is an alpha I haven’t met giving me a present?
“Yep,” he says, grinning. “But if you don’t want it…”
Brooks moves to put it back in his pocket and I snap my hand out, snatching it from his loose hold. He laughs, then leans back on his hands as I hold it in my lap.
“Well, go on then,” he says, nodding for me to open it.
I take a deep breath, let it out, then take the lid off the top.
A beautiful locket, shaped like a book and perhaps a bit over an inch tall, is nestled inside. A pretty necklace that I won’t be able to wear, because Steve and Josh would never let me keep it.
“I told her you won’t be able to wear it,” Brooks says, putting voice to my thoughts. “But I also told her you’re very sneaky. Excellent at hiding things. And I think you’ll like what’s inside.”
I stare at him a moment, then bring the locket closer so I can carefully open it. A small piece of lavender fabric slips out onto my palm. It’s incredibly soft, like the cloth I use to clean the TV and computer screens, and I rub it between my fingers.
But then the combination of scents hits me.
Eucalyptus and cedar wood, sharp and strong, deep and warm. That must be Neveah. I want to roll around in it, soak it into my lungs and never breathe out ever again.
Earthy patchouli and comforting chamomile. My big alpha, Brooks.
And beneath them, a bright, refreshing hit of lemon. Riley.
I blink up at Brooks, unable to fathom this incredible gift.
“Your scents?”
“Yes, Petal. It was Neveah’s idea. A way for you to carry all of us with you, even if we have to be hidden for now.”
“I love it,” I whisper. “Please tell her thank you.”
“You can tell her yourself soon, Petal. For now, you better head back.”
I carefully fold the fabric back into the locket, then close it and tuck it into the waistband of my skirt.
“I wish I could give you a hug,” I say, chancing a glance at Brooks. He looks pained at my words, and I almost regret saying them.
“Sage, I’d love nothing more than to scoop you up right now. Please know that if I could be holding and hugging you, I would be.”
I tuck his words close to my heart, letting them form a comforting buffer around me as I walk back to my prison.