Chapter Seven
Gwyn
I peeked around Carl, not sure what I’d see, but my shoulders relaxed when the bar looked as it had before I’d gone to hide. One of the alphas who wore the vest like Carl’s had returned to his seat and was pouring himself a beer from the pitcher David had delivered, and I saw a tumbler sat in front of where I’d been at the bar once I stepped out where I could see it.
Carl followed as I returned to my seat, his presence soothing the omega side of me. The men might have only been betas, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t be as cruel and destructive as an alpha, and I appreciated that Carl seemed to be looking out for my safety. Omegas might be taught that it was natural for an alpha to be protective, but too many times I’d seen the alpha be the one an omega needed protected from.
I was coming to realize that wasn’t Carl, though.
“So, the dividing wall. You want one side large enough for bookshelves and a seating area, and the other for tables. Have you decided how many tables, or how much space you want to give the two areas?”
It took a moment to remember what we’d been discussing before the interruption, but I took his cue and tried to pretend like nothing had happened.
“Umm, not really. I supposed I should figure that out.”
I chewed my bottom lip before taking a drink of the vodka and pickle juice, trying to ignore the flutters in my belly over the way he looked at me. His laugh didn’t make me feel stupid like Anthony’s had. Carl’s amusement wasn’t at my expense.
“Well, I can build the bookshelves into the walls, which will make them sturdier and safer than freestanding shelves that can fall over. If you’re only going to have a couple of chairs it’ll need less space than if you want a full seating arrangement, and that would leave more room for dining tables. They’re what will be bringing in the money, so you don’t want to short that side, but the front of the building has enough space to be generous with both. Maybe you should find some chairs or tables you like so we have measurements to use.”
I nodded, the weight that had been hanging on me finally lifting from my shoulders. Talking with someone willing to listen and make useful suggestions was novel, and it didn’t help the pull I already felt toward the big alpha. Being good-looking, protective, and thoughtful, on top of his divine scent, was doing things to my ovaries I hadn’t planned for. I had thought I’d had my fill of alphas, but Carl was chipping away at the wall I’d wrapped around myself.
“That’s a good idea. I can do that over the weekend.”
We discussed a few other projects, the lighting in the dining area and installing the kitchen equipment, as well as building a display case for the baked goods I planned to have, and a counter for the coffee maker, before I got a chance to talk to David. He’d disappeared into the back for a bit after the incident with the betas before being called out to handle other customers who’d arrived, but once I’d finished my drink he came and leaned on the bar across from me.
Just seeing him reminded me of the previous night, and my cheeks heated remembering the way he’d had to help me.
“Thank you for last night. I’m sorry for whatever happened when you tried to walk me home.”
His chuckle eased the tension that had grown along my spine, letting me know it hadn’t been anything too serious.
“I’ll pay for whatever was broken.”
He dropped the rag he’d been wiping his hands on, resting his elbows on the counter.
“Don’t worry about it. I already made the idiots take care of it. And if I hadn’t, Carl would have.”
I shot a glance at Carl, wondering what the dynamic between him and the others in his motorcycle club was. Everyone I’d seen wearing their vest had been an alpha, and it didn’t seem possible for that much testosterone to be in one place without leading to fights. I vaguely remembered something between Carl and another alpha when David had walked me out the night before, and David’s implication made it seem like Carl had some kind of sway over the others.
For some reason, my body liked the idea that Carl was the most dominant alpha, and my core clenched. As annoying as it was sometimes, I was still an omega, even if I was ‘past my prime’ as Anthony had put it. The fact that my heats had slowed to the point where I hadn’t had one in the year before he died had made me useless to him, and it was probably why I’d been forgotten about by the others after he was gone instead of being claimed by one of them.
“Are you sure?”
I liked David. He’d become the closest thing I had to a friend in the time since I’d started coming to The Hangout, and part of me had been scared I’d ruined that by getting too drunk. It was a relief to know he wasn’t upset.
“Yep, it’s all good. Did you want another?”
His tone changed a little with the question, and the caution wasn’t unfounded, but I shook my head. I hadn’t come in for a drink. I still had an echo of the hangover headache and was in no rush to repeat my foolishness, even if it had served its purpose.
“No, I only came in to thank you. Oh, and maybe to get some of your nachos?”
I added a hopeful smile, and he laughed, straightening and tossing his rag over his shoulder. I hadn’t bothered to go home to shower and change first because I hadn’t planned to stay, but I’d seen him bring out a plate piled with cheesy goodness and my stomach had rumbled, protesting the neglect I’d shown it. I could have made another sandwich at home, but the thought was depressing, and I was willing to suffer the indignity of sitting there with paint on my shirt and smelling like sweat for something more appetizing.
“Sure thing.”
I had just turned back to Carl and parted my lips to speak when another alpha came up behind him, clapping a hand to his shoulder as he leaned on the opposite side of him. I immediately clenched my lips shut, but the woman behind him and the crescent scar on her neck eased some of the automatic fear the sudden nearness of another alpha caused.
“Hey Carl, you want to head to Jason’s with us? He’s going to grill.”
The new male had dark hair like Carl, but not buzzed as short, with longer hair on top that flopped forward. When he tilted his head to wave at David, I spotted a scar going around his throat that explained the rough quality of his voice, and I couldn’t help the curiosity over what had caused it, even as my chest clenched in sympathy.
My attention turned to the woman, her scent telling me she was an omega like me, and I wondered if they’d been bonded when it happened. Both her mating scar and his were still pink and fresh, although his looked a little more healed. Shifters were lucky like that. Nothing about them made me think his claim on her had been forced, joy practically radiating from her, and I couldn’t imagine the fear and pain they’d have shared if they had been bonded when he’d received the injury.
Motion caught my eye, and I saw Carl glancing at me.
“Don’t say no because of me. We’ve planned about as much as we can, and I’ll be heading home once I eat.”
Carl’s lips twitched.
“You could always come with us?”
Leaning away from him, I shook my head.
“Nope. Not a chance. Those nachos are calling my name.”
David arrived with a plate piled high, saving me from having to give the real reason. The look on Carl’s face said he knew, but I wasn’t going to confirm it by arguing more.
“Go, have fun. I’ll see you Tuesday, unless you keep stalking me and I see you sooner.”
I shoved a chip dripping nacho cheese into my mouth as he laughed, but I could have sworn his cheeks went pink above his beard.
“Okay. But it’s not stalking if you just happen to be where I’m already going.”
Arching a brow, all I could do was hum around my mouthful. The other alpha and his mate gave me curious looks, but they turned away when Carl stood and started walking toward the door. The others with their group had already headed outside, and the bar grew quieter once the door shut behind them.
Something inside me deflated, as if I was disappointed that Carl had left, but I ignored that part and kept eating, even after my stomach complained it was too much. Once my plate was empty though, I had no excuse to linger, and the Friday night crowd was steadily growing. That was my cue to leave.
“Thanks, David.”
He already had my card on file since I’d become a regular, so I gave him a wave while he was pulling down a bottle for a pair of alphas who were paying a little too much attention to me, and made my way out the door. Another group of people were walking across the parking lot, and I dodged into the shadows, trying to stay out of sight as I made my way toward the street that led to my house.
I sighed as dark silence greeted me when I opened the door. As much as I had wanted to make a change, after caring for others for more than two decades, it was still strange to come home to an empty house instead of noise and people who needed me. My omega side didn’t like it, but I’d learned to ignore the helpless feeling by staying busy, and the first thing on the list was a shower.
Maybe it would relax me enough to sleep, but if not, I had a never-ending list of things that needed done.
***
The weekend passed much the same as the previous month, with me working on the café by day, and the duplex at night. I avoided The Hangout, although I couldn’t have said why. A part of me wanted to see Carl, and perhaps that was the reason. Despite the short time we’d spent together, my omega side was already trying to latch onto him, and finding a new alpha wasn’t part of the plan.
My younger son called Sunday night to let me know how his first couple weeks at college had gone. Logan had always been the quieter of my two boys, focused on his schoolwork and getting ahead. Knowing he was leaving for college had been one of the things that had prompted me to make my own move, although I felt guilty since it meant Adam had been left alone. Still, my oldest had made his choices, and watching him follow in his father’s footsteps made my heart ache in a way that left me feeling just as broken as when Anthony had claimed me. I’d finally responded to his messages, telling him I was still alive and doing fine, but hadn’t given any of the details he’d wanted.
Monday was grocery day, and since part of my deal with Carl meant feeding him lunch, I had to get more than bread and peanut butter. I was oddly excited about providing for him, but I brushed it off as just fulfilling my instincts. Even if it was only one meal a day, I was taking care of someone again.
Eyeing the cart overflowing with grocery bags, I sighed when I realized there was no way I could drag it all on the bus with me. I’d gotten carried away and forgot my circumstances, leaving me with no choice but to pay for a ride.
I pulled my reading glasses from my shirt pocket and woke my phone. The app was thankfully easy to navigate, and I was surprised by the option to choose the designation of the driver. It was hard to believe an alpha would work such a job, but it made sense to want one if you had heavy bags or something you needed carried. Driving strangers around seemed dangerous for an omega, mated or not, and I hesitated over the option, wondering if their alpha would be riding along with them.
I ended up picking a beta and took a seat on the bench outside the store to wait, chewing my lip as I went over my list to be sure I hadn’t forgotten anything. I’d written out a menu for the week and listed the ingredients I’d needed to buy, and I’d spent more than three times my usual amount since I hadn’t even had basic seasonings yet, but worry that I’d messed up still gnawed at me.
What if he didn’t like what I made?
What if I didn’t make enough?
I’d raised two alphas in addition to my mate, so I knew how much they could eat, but Carl was even larger than a human alpha. Shifters had a higher metabolism too, one of the reasons they healed faster than humans, so I’d guessed he’d eat more than Anthony, or my boys.
I was halfway standing to go back inside for more food when my phone dinged, alerting me to the arrival of my ride. I hadn’t even noticed the white sedan that had pulled up to the curb in front of me, and I silently admonished myself for not paying more attention to my surroundings. I made sure the marks on my neck were visible whenever I went out, despite my hatred of them, and used scent neutralizing soaps, but anyone who got close enough would know my scent wasn’t right for a mated omega, and I needed to be more aware. Penford was claimed to be a safe place for omegas, but I knew better.
The driver got out and helped me load my groceries before I climbed into the backseat for the short ride home. Despite the hiccup, and the worries trying to push through, I was still excited to get home and spend the day prepping.
The happy warmth in my chest was because I liked taking care of others.
It had nothing to do with cooking for one, specific alpha.