Chapter 31 Abel
ABEL
“Alrighty people, listen up!” Aaron carries Hazel in a baby wrap as he gives everyone directions.
The vendors for the festival set up last night and we’re just smoothing out day of stuff.
“Doors open in an hour. We want to make this as epic as possible. I hope everyone has fun and if you need a runner, don’t hesitate to text the number we gave you on your information packet.
We’ll send one of our volunteers over. Does anyone have any questions? ”
Buckle grins from his space by the wall with the other volunteers. Perry shakes his head from his spot in the crowd. All three of us wear pink and I’ve got one of my scarves on as well as a beanie with a heart on the front. I wanted to look festive.
But Aaron takes the cake with festive wear.
The man is in an honest-to-goodness navy blue suit with big bright red hearts all over the slacks and jacket.
His baby wrap is pastel pink and doesn’t clash with the red.
He even has a glittery pink headband in his hair.
Pax, on the other hand, sits along the wall wearing a soft-looking pink shirt with a heart outline on the chest. I’m sure Aaron insisted.
A few vendors ask questions, but nothing major comes up, so Aaron dismisses everyone back to their spots while we wait for the festival to start. There are a few outdoor things to do, like the carriage rides and food trucks, but everything else is inside to stay warm and toasty.
Buckle makes his way to Perry and me. “Anything I can help my lovely mates with now?”
I take his hand and shake my head. “Now we just wait. Things might get loud when kids start showing up. But right now, all you gotta do is look pretty.” I tug him over and kiss his cheek.
“That I can do.”
Perry squeezes my hand as he looks at the decor. Aaron, me, and a few others decorated before the vendors showed up last night to set up. I can’t wait for everyone to see the dance hall.
“I wanna go on one of the carriage rides,” Perry says. “It’ll be so romantic.”
I nod and hope we get the chance. We should.
The vendors are set up from 9am to 4pm. Specifically, so we get the chance to play around with the games and other activities if we want.
I plan to take advantage of the jump castle at some point.
But a carriage ride with hot chocolate and my mates? That’s what romance dreams are.
Perry pulls me into a kiss, but when it ends, I see someone over his shoulder. Someone that shouldn’t be here. A shiver runs down my spine. Anya needs to go.
“I’ll see you both soon.” Perry pats my cheek. I’m glad he doesn’t notice how fast my heart beats. He gives me another quick peck. “Gotta make sure Molly and Ryan are good.”
“Go with him,” I tell Buckle. “I’m good.” I don’t want them witnessing me go after Anya. Buckle kisses me, soft and sweet, and I wish I could melt into his and Perry’s arms. But I need them to leave for now.
When I’m alone, I run in the direction I saw Anya go. My heart threatens to beat out of my chest, but I have to find her. Have to confront her.
I try not to push people out of my way, but I accidentally trip another vendor. I can’t just leave them and help get them sorted out again. By the time I can look for Anya again, I’ve lost her.
That’s fine. Just fine. Everything is fine. My phone vibrates, reminding me I need to get to my booth. I’ll find her later or I’m sure she’ll find me.
Hours pass and despite the Anya spotting this morning, I can’t wipe the smile from my face.
“Oh, these are adorable.” Elsbeth picks up one of my scarves with hearts all over it.
“I’ll take it and the matching hat. Ah! And this cute little star.
” She gathers a few more things and the other Beta Bitches show up behind her, essentially wiping out my booth.
They go on their merry way, buying from every vendor they come across.
Since I’m empty, I clean up my booth and head over to Perry’s, where he’s swamped with people. I’m glad he has Molly and Ryan helping him. I give him a wave and feel my blush when I notice someone handling a dildo out in the open, flopping it around and giggling.
Buckle and I help Perry with his booth when Molly and Ryan go on a break. There are so many people around Naughty Nook and I’m glad I convinced Aaron to go for it. We’re behind a tinsel curtain, with someone checking ages in front of it.
When 4pm comes around, we’re exhausted, but there’s still so much to do and then the dance later tonight. My stomach rumbles as we tear down Perry’s booth. I still want to play games and do the other activities. Perry looks dead on his feet, though.
I pull him into my arms. “My lovely Omega, how about we go on that carriage ride?” We sway together.
“That sounds perfect,” Buckle says from the other side of the table.
I use a bit of privilege as one of the organizers to reserve a spot ASAP on the carriage. We each grab food from a different truck and share it before our turn. Buckle watches us and I swear if I got up close, his pupils would be heart-shaped.
Maybe I drop my news now. “I saw Anya this morning.”
Perry stiffens in his seat.
“What?” Buckle growls.
I hold up a hand and stuff my face with a donut hole before continuing. “I have a plan.”
Buckle takes a breath and nods for me to continue.
“I need to go to Hawk Ridge.”
“No,” they say together.
“What do you mean, no? This is my choice. I choose peace over Hawk Ridge. Fuck Hawk Ridge. I deserve to live without looking over my shoulder every day. Without having to check in for my safety.” I make air quotes around the word safety.
All Anya’s check-ins did was keep me scared.
“I want to live without wondering if I should have tried to be a Beta my parents could love. Even though I don’t think it would have made a difference.
The second my designation manifested, I was dead to them.
Hawk Ridge has been alive in my heart for a decade.
I can’t keep living with this… this… ache.
” I press a hand to my heart. “It’s a literal ache.
I want it gone, and I think confronting my parents and severing this tie will do that. ”
“You’re not going alone,” Buckle says.
“Of course not. Showing up with my mates will mean more than going alone. I have backup. Protectors. Hope.” A real future. One that I want more than anything.
Buckle nods. “This will be good for you. For us. I think you’ll finally be able to heal, or at least work at it without Hawk Ridge looming over you.”
“Exactly.” I nod sharply and stuff another donut hole in my mouth to give me something to do.
My cheeks burn and I’m not sure if it’s embarrassment or what.
“Anyway, I’m thinking next weekend if you’re both available, we should make the trip.
Anya’s call the other day and her showing up today kind of freaked me out.
I might have sounded brave on the phone, but I’m still terrified of her and my parents.
I’m afraid they really will try to marry me off against my will. ”
“What’s your plan?” Perry asks.
“Oh, confront my parents and tell them I’m done with their games. This should be a win-win for all of us, but it’ll also humiliate my parents.”
Perry snorts. “They deserve to be humiliated after how they treated you.”
I don’t disagree, but I hate the idea of humiliation after what they’d done to me as a teen.
Perry drops his hand to my thigh and squeezes. “Whatever happens, we have your back. We’re not letting your Kettle take you. Got it?”
“I know. I trust both of you.” I drop my head to his shoulder.
My phone vibrates, and I push to my feet. “But enough about that. It’s time for our romantic ride around town.” I grab Perry’s hand and pull him to his feet.
Buckle’s cheeks twitch before he grins and takes my offered hand. It takes everything in me not to skip all the way to the carriage.
The two white horses stamp their feet and shake their heads. They’re enormous, at least to me they are. I’ve never really been around horses. The carriage is pink with glitter. I can’t help the grin. I love glitter.
I show the driver my QR code and he helps all of us up onto the bench, where he lays a fluffy blanket over our laps.
“Hot chocolate? Hot tea?” The driver offers and we each get a cup of hot chocolate. “Cookies? Scones?” Again, the three of us snag a cookie.
Our breaths puff out in front of us, but we don’t care. Soft romantic music plays from somewhere in the carriage. I snuggle into Buckle’s side and reach for Perry. I kind of wish I was in the middle, but Buckle runs hot and we decided he’d be best in the middle because of it.
The soft murmur of Mink Hollow residents enjoying the food trucks blends in the background.
The buildings around downtown feel more magical, decorated for Valentine’s Day.
So much red, pink, white, and glitter. So many hearts and stars.
I love it here. Love the people. Love the magic. Love my mates.
I suck in a breath and try not to seem like an entire epiphany just happened. Of course, I love Perry and Buckle. I think I’ve loved them for a while, but it feels too soon to say the words out loud. What if they don’t feel the same?
I shake my head. They love me, too. I know it. Maybe we’re all too scared to say it yet. Maybe Hawk Ridge hangs over all of us. I snuggle in closer to Buckle. The moon shines in the darkening sky. Stars twinkle and not for the first time I wish I could take a picture with my mine.