6. Bea
A WEEK LATER
It had been almost a week since my heat. A full week of avoiding my scent-matches and everyone I knew outside of Taryn and Dani.
Even then, my best friends had noticed something was wrong, but they hadn’t pressed me too much. At least not yet.
They weren’t walking around acting like I needed kid gloves, at least. That was a win for me. I don’t think I could take anyone treating me like I was fragile.
I was the first at the store today thanks to another shitty night of sleep. The bell chimed as I pushed open the door, ready to do my usual check-in routine and get the coffee on. It was honestly the only thing helping me keep it together at this point.
After I had a hot mug in hand, I turned to the front computer, booting it up and sorting emails. I’d tried to take over after Dani’s stalkers kept sending threats through and never gave it back when that was handled.
Sorting emails was mind-numbing work but I did it quickly, adding notes in our shared book to make sure anything important was flagged.
It was the usual mix of people asking for book orders or brands wanting to collab for our book box.
What I didn’t expect was to see my twin sister’s name on display, just when I’d gotten myself together and started to feel normal.
This was the last thing that I needed. She was the epitome of toxic and I knew whatever was inside was going to piss me off.
Despite my mind screaming at me to run away, at the end of the day, she was my sister. Though she’d proven to not care about me, I still couldn’t stop worrying about her.
The two of us couldn’t have been further apart.
She had a way of expecting the world to bend to her.
She was one of those kinds of people that claimed to be unique but really just wanted to stand out and call attention to themselves.
We’d never truly gotten along. She’d ruined every achievement and surprise for me without fail.
My parents always had some sort of excuse for her because she was the ‘fragile’ one.
Pushing down years of suppressed anger, I finally opened it.
Bea,
I’ve been thinking a lot about you lately. Life has been getting kind of hard, and you were always the strong one. I realize I’ve driven you away, but I’d like to change that. You’re still my sister, and I love you.
I had to hold back an eye roll reading that portion. If she loved me, then she would’ve shown it a long time before now. With her, it was always about her and no one else.
She got pregnant in high school and expected everyone else to handle it. I felt terrible that I never connected to my niece, but I had to distance myself or I would have ended up raising her myself. I wasn’t even sure that I ever wanted kids and I wasn’t about to practice with hers.
Taking a deep breath, I forged ahead, wanting to get through this letter so I could put it far behind me. The chances of my sister actually following through with a meeting were less than zero.
I’ve got a new job opportunity, and I’ll be heading there in about two weeks. We should be passing through the area, and I’d love to swing by and see your new bookstore and reconnect. Maybe we could have lunch before I head out? I promise it’ll be a short visit, but I’d love to see my sister.
Love and kisses,
Dee
I reread the email again twice, wondering how the hell she even found me.
I kept my location a secret on purpose. The last thing I needed was Cameron finding me.
The socials for the shop never showed my face, even our website barely mentioned me, per my request. Taryn and Dani were the face of the business.
I had to be a background character, and they respected that.
Now it seemed my secret was out.
The door was opening before I could shake my mood, Dani walking in with her usual burst of curly red hair and smiles. She looked like her old self more and more now that Wrigley was sleeping through the night.
“I take it you had another good night’s sleep?” I questioned, forcing a smile.
She flashed me a grin as she shoved her purse under the desk. “Sure did. Being a mom is the best, but some days I really miss sleep,” she admitted. “We’re on a streak right now.”
As she rambled on about her night, I gave her a half-hearted smile and nodded along, trying to be supportive and hide how shaken I was.
Of course, she saw right through it. Her eyes narrowed and she cut herself off. “What’s going on?”
I sighed, knowing there was no chance of me keeping this to myself for long.
“So, I don’t talk about her often, but I’ve got a sister,” I admitted. Just like I suspected, her eyes widened in shock.
“What? Really? I thought you didn’t have any close family.”
I let out a humorless laugh. “I’ve been closer to acquaintances than I ever was with her.
My parents are just as bad as she is. They were huge enablers who never thought twice about my feelings.
She’s my twin, but we are not the kind that you read about.
We can’t stand each other. We’ve never gotten along.
She’s manipulative, lies, and she makes everything about her. ”
“Ouch,” Dani said. “That’s awful.”
If anybody knew what it felt like to have a family that didn’t really care about you, or at least didn’t act like it, was Dani. Hers was not far off from mine. They didn’t know what to do with an omega and she learned to handle it all herself.
Maybe that’s why my friends and I got along so well. All three of us had toxic families, and as a result were fiercely independent.
“Was she the golden child?” Dani asked as she started to clean up the desk.
“Pretty much. And it’s not like my parents encouraged any kind of peace between us.
She was diagnosed with bipolar in high school, and I’ll just say that it was rough.
She wouldn’t stay in counseling, refused to take her meds, and she was a pathological liar.
Anything she could blame me for, she would, and everybody went along with it because it was easier than having to deal with her crashing out. ”
“That’s bullshit,” Dani said, angry on my behalf. My chest warmed. It was honestly nice to have people in my corner.
“When she got pregnant in high school, I distanced myself as much as I could and threw myself into finding friends. That’s how I ended up with my ex.”
“Sometimes, we just really need someone to help us escape,” Dani said gently. “You can’t blame yourself for that.”
“I’m working on that.” I let out a shaky breath and waved the air between us to clear it, getting myself back on track.
“Anyway, she just sent an email to the company, so, apparently, someone’s found me.
Which is scary in its own way because I told no one that I work here.
My parents don’t even know what I’ve been doing or where I went. I’m careful.”
“You are,” Dani agreed. “We haven’t even posted your face on our private socials.”
“I know,” I said, shaking my head and fighting tears. “Knowing her, she probably hired someone to track me down. That, or I’m not as hidden here as I think.”
“Well, I can tell you that you’re not alone here,” Dani said firmly. “You guys stuck by my side with all the Henry drama, and I will be right by your side through this, no matter what.”
“Thanks,” I said, swiping angrily at a stray tear. I hated crying. I’d been a mess since finding my mates. I don’t know if it messed with my hormones or something, but going through that heat has been nothing but trouble.
We were quiet for several minutes, going about our work as I tried to wade through the emotions and issues piling up one by one.
“We’ve never really broached this topic,” Dani said, breaking the silence.
“I know that I’m probably overstepping, and you can tell me to fuck off and I won’t be offended, but I found a really great counselor in town.
She’s an omega. She’s very professional, and she makes you feel safe.
It might not hurt to talk with someone. We’ve been worried about you. ”
I guess I haven’t been as good at hiding all this as I liked to think.
Honestly, I know I’ve needed to talk to someone for a long time. Cameron fucked me up in so many ways, one of them was by constructing walls to protect myself. But, it was no way to live.
I couldn’t rely on my friends to talk me out of every breakdown, and I hated feeling so out of control.
“I’ll take her info,” I finally said.
Dani smiled gently, reaching down into her purse and pulling out a business card before handing it over. “No pressure from me. I’m always happy to listen or help how I can, I just can tell that you’re struggling and I care about you.”
“You guys read me so well, don’t you?” I said, shaking my head.
“That we do,” she said with a shrug, her red curls bouncing at the movement. “We do it for each other. You’d call my ass right out if I needed it.”
“I absolutely would,” I agreed. Letting out a breath, I propped my hip on the counter and turned to my friend.
“All that to say, my sister wants to meet up, and I just… I don’t know if I can.
But I might regret it if I don’t go. I have a niece that I barely met.
She doesn’t know who I am and I think that hurts the most.”
“Well, if you want to change that, then you could always bring one of us along. We’d be happy to support you and maybe even drop some habaneros in your sister’s food.” There was humor in her words, but also a hint of anger. They definitely would if I asked.
I was already shaking my head, more out of embarrassment than not wanting them there. “No, this is something I think I need to handle alone. Plus, I need to know that Phoenix is safe. She’s fourteen. I haven’t seen her since she was three. That’s a long time spent with my sister.”
“We’ll be here after,” she offered. “We could do a girls’ night and you can vent. Oh, maybe one of those rage rooms.”
That didn’t sound like a bad idea.
“Maybe. For now, I’m going to go make a phone call,” I said, flashing the business card and heading for the back.