Chapter Sixty-One
Hale
“Wow, I have investments. I’m feeling really grown up right now,” I told AJ as I sat in his office with my laptop as we went over some things.
“I hate to break it to you, but you have an omega and a pack. You are a grown-up now,” he agreed.
Oh, I sort of was, wasn’t I?
I received my money from Compass BioTek for my party drug. Honestly, I was glad Grace bought it, given the police had confirmed that some of Clegg’s customers were absolutely not using it to party while on a sports scholarship like my intended clientele.
AJ had been helping me do things, like putting some of it in savings and opening an investment account.
Not that we hadn’t been figuring out the short-term as well. The research grant papers had been signed, and I had the payment schedule. AJ and I had made a budget using the template Verity created for me.
“Your pack surprisingly has got it together. You’re going to meet with the new pack services people again?” AJ asked.
“Yep. They’re pretty helpful. Did you do that when you formed your pack?” I asked. AJ, Grif, Jonas, and Dean had known each other for years before they formed their pack. Right as they were finishing up their residency requirement, Grif met my sister.
AJ shook his head. “We didn’t use pack services. We didn’t use the integration team when Verity joined us, either. We did it all ourselves. Looking back, we probably could’ve used some nice Center counselor to help smooth things over.”
“I like that new pack services gives us lists and assignments. I already met with a therapist and we’re starting the pre-pack-formation counseling. It should be good,” I confessed. I liked talking to AJ because he didn’t see me as a fuckup, just someone still figuring life out.
“Is there anything else you’re going over tonight with your pack that you need help with?” he added.
I shook my head. “Not unless you have any advice for navigating planning a mating party. I was on the periphery of Verity’s, and I didn’t have anything to do with Grace’s. This looks like it’s going to rival, if not exceed those.”
“Fiona wants to get married in a castle in Greece?” His eyebrows rose.
“Ireland.” It sounded amazing. Amazingly expensive. But her dads had promised to pay for it.
“It’s your mating party, too, so don’t be afraid to speak up for the things that you want that are very important to you.
But at the same time, pick and choose your battles.
For example, I really didn’t want to party at all, but me not participating or us not having one wasn’t an option,” he told me.
“Good advice. I feel like it’s going to be complicated since it’s not just a mating party or a pack confirmation.
It’s also a multi-person wedding. Fiona is marrying me, Carlos, and Saoirse, and Carlos and I are getting married.
Though Dusty and Saoirse are getting married on stage at Feral Ratville, which is cool as fuck, just not something I expected Saoirse to do.
I guess it’s some sort of juxtaposition to their whole onstage wedding that they had at Winter-Fest?
” I didn’t quite understand it, but it would be a really good time.
I still had that gold dress. Sometimes I put it on when I needed a boost, because it made my ass look fantastic.
“You’ll certainly keep life interesting. Any word on the lab? You still need one right?” he asked.
“I’m resigned to the fact that I’m just going to have to do my research in the Circle, but we’ll get it figured out.
It’s just one semester that I’ll have to commute like this.
Though I’m still hoping I can manage to find a lab in the next couple of weeks.
Verity and Grace have been trying, so has my mentor, and oddly enough Baba,” I added.
AJ paused. “He is? Really?”
“I know, right? Yeah, he’s been reaching out to people on my behalf. He even sent me scholarship applications,” I added.
My alpha dad, on the West Coast, reaching out had been unexpected. Also, welcome and helpful. Before everything happened, I’d thought we’d had a pretty good relationship.
“Huh. But ever since our mating party, he’s been really trying with Verity. I’m glad he is with you, too,” he replied. “Are you talking to the others?”
I shook my head. “We sent Mumsy an official letter about my education fund they stole, so we’re going through lawyers right now. The worst thing is that I’m not allowed to talk to the littles.”
“That’s shitty. Maybe Verity or Mercy will let you call them on their devices.”
“Thanks again. I appreciate it.” I put my laptop in my backpack and left AJ’s work, which was in a really fancy high-rise in Manhattan.
I started walking without any particular place in mind, but I had a little time, and it was fun to explore. Carlos was at practice. Fiona and Saoirse were doing committee things for the gala. Dusty had business shit to tend to. So, I just started walking.
My phone rang. Fiona had gotten me a new one. I didn’t recognize the number, but I answered it anyway hoping it would be something good. “Hello this is Hale.”
“Hi, I’m Professor Mathers from NYC State. I’m one of the organic biochemistry professors. Do you have a moment?” he asked.
“Yeah, absolutely.” I was wandering around the streets, but maybe I’d see a bench I could sit on.
“I don’t know if you remember me, but I caught the paper that you presented with your father a couple of years ago at a conference in Bayside,” he said.
“Oh, you know my dad?” I thought for a moment. Wait. That conference I didn’t present with Dad. That was Baba. It was my senior year of high school.
Back before everything fell apart. When I still thought the parents loved me.
“I do. He’s one of the reasons I’m calling,” he said.
Oh?
“Wait, I do remember. You sat up front and asked good questions.” I’d been terrified up there. But Baba had insisted. He said it was good for me. We’d also toured his undergraduate university and had a lot of fun.
“He mentioned that you’re a student at Briar, but your pack is here in the City. He said that you’re looking for lab space and someone who can help oversee your project, so that you can get through the individual research you need to complete in order to graduate,” he replied.
“That I am. I’m happy to send you the proposal or answer any questions,” I replied, trying not to get too excited.
“No need. I’m happy to take you on,” he said.
“Really? Wait, doesn’t NYC State have rules about people using the labs?” I asked, still wary.
“They do. Which is why we started the lab incubator program for independent research. It’s open to non-NYCS students. I would be absolutely happy to accept you to the program,” he replied.
“I would be happy for that, too.” Oh, would I be so happy.
If it worked out, of course. I couldn’t get excited yet.
“Great, I’ll send over the information so you’ll know how we operate.
You can go over it with your mentor and make sure it meets all the criteria your university has, and that they can supply you with things you need beyond what we have,” he added.
“But those accepted to the program don’t pay a fee to use the lab itself.
There are staffed hours where you can get guidance and sign-offs as needed, and unstaffed hours.
It won’t replace your mentor, but if this is as self-directed as it sounds, we should be able to satisfy whatever else your university might require. ”
“I’ll talk to him. I think this might work. I have a grant from Compass BioTek, I’m not sure if that would be a conflict of interest,” I added. Oh, this sounded perfect.
“Compass BioTek? That’s fantastic and another reason why we started this program. Let me get your email and I’ll send everything over to you right now. If it doesn’t work for you, I totally understand.”
I gave it to him, asked a few questions, and ended the call.
Wow. I might have a lab. I immediately texted Baba.
Me
I heard from Professor Mathers today. Thanks.
Baba
I hope it works out. He’d be a good connection for you. You’ve always leaned more toward Bio-Chem anyway. Let me know if I can be of more help. Also, apparently your Mama’s exercise class uses a lot of your mate’s music and she’s excited to meet him.
Oh, I could see that. Next time we were in Bayside, Dusty would probably like to go to the class.
Me
Thank you.
That was exciting. I opened my email and looked over everything. Wow. This looked like exactly what I needed. I sent it to my mentor, hoping this would work. Please let it work.
Yeah, I could have a lab now, I just needed that PhD program and I’d be all set.
“I think we’ve pretty much accomplished everything that we need for our next pack services appointment,” Dusty stated as we sat around the dining room table. It held remnants of the dinner Fiona had made–pork chops, applesauce, green beans, and potatoes. Delicious.
“Sounds good. I’ll make sure to redirect my percentage to the pack account by the due date, and I’ll start setting up the utilities on auto pay from that account, since they’re all in my name anyway,” Carlos chimed in.
We had a pack bank account. Wow. Talk about grown up.
“Now that we’ve gone over everything in the contract and made all our changes, I’ll get it back to Dad. He’s been after me ever since we had dinner. But he’s the one who taught me to read contracts thoroughly,” Fiona added.
“Does anybody else have anything we need to add or discuss before we move on to Fiona’s presentation?” Saoirse asked. “We’re on the news and updates section of the agenda.”
“Yes.” I’d been holding in my news. “I have a lab.”
“You do?” Fiona jumped up and hugged me.
“Today I got an offer from a professor at NYC State that has an incubator lab. My mentor looked over everything, and it meets all the requirements. We submitted the forms to Briar for final approval, and then I’ll be all set,” I said excitedly.
Also, I’d looked up Professor Mathers, and he was doing some fascinating shit. Yeah, Baba had really done me a solid there.
“Oh, I knew you could do it. I’m so excited for you. This is going so well,” she said.