Chapter Fifteen
Tawny
At least I wasn’t tearing up anymore, but that was the least of my problems. After I returned from the back, the three males outside had become six, and now there were other people at the fringes looking on.
I hadn’t even gotten to wash a single pane of my shameful windows, and half the town was trying to see through inside where I must look a sight with mascara smeared around my eyes and face as rosy as it got every time I sneezed over and over again.
I swiped at my cheeks with my sleeve and made plans to leave town.
Then, as I thought about using the back door to escape—at least to run for the thrift store.
My plans to be a respectable and respected business owner in Pleasant were crumbling around me. Why were they all out there? What did they think was going on in here? I wished they’d go away and leave me to die of humiliation.
Then a curvy redhead pushed her way to the front of the crowd and asked me to let her in. Her name was Karissa, it seemed, and Janis had sent her to speak with me. So, I let her in. What did I have to lose at this point? I opened the door a crack. “Just you can come in.”
“Just me. Let me get rid of all these big goons and we can have a talk, okay?”
“Fine.” I waited while she shooed away the half dozen big guys. Others drifted off on their own, and when I closed the door after her, the front of the store was no longer the scene of an impromptu gathering.
Relief loosened my shoulders, and I pushed a lock of hair back from my face. “What was all that about? Why did everyone line up outside the store? Do they want something from me?”
“Is there somewhere we can sit and talk?” She glanced around, her gaze coming back to settle on me. “Never mind.”
“It’s so bad, isn’t it?” I couldn’t say it any other way. “But there are a couple of folding chairs in the back. They might be a little better.”
“That sounds perfect.” Karissa gave a cheerful bounce. “I’m so excited to meet you. I’d heard there was a new omega in town, and we need to stick together.”
I led the way into the back of the store and found the chairs leaning against the wall. “I am so sorry they are not cleaner.”
“Oh, no problem.” Karissa took one of the chairs and opened it. “It will brush right off. Here.” She dug in the bucket of supplies I’d bought at the hardware store and found a cotton cloth. “This will do it.”
I got out another towel and we spent a good minute wiping down the chairs. Then stood back and admired our work. “That’s one thing done and dusted as they say.”
“In the most literal sense.” I shook my head. “Funny thing. I was going to clean the windows first so my business wasn’t the only one on the street with dingy glass. Instead, I cleaned a chair.”
“We cleaned the chairs. A team effort.” She plopped down and wriggled around. “And very comfortable seats they are, too. So… Welcome to our town.”
“Thank you. I keep coming over here and trying to get started, but it kind of gets overwhelming. Then, I looked out my door and saw three alphas staring in. Then three more…”
She giggled. “Well, the second trio are my pack. My alphas and the sweetest guys in the world. If you are my friend, they will consider you under their protection.”
“That’s very nice of you. I have trust issues.”
“I get it. Omegas suffer under the systems in place in most packs. I had a hard time accepting that my fated mates were truly good people even though they never did a thing to indicate anything different. But they were patient and kind. Sure, they are hot and all the physical stuff, but it’s what’s inside them that won me over. ”
“They sound pretty great. I’m glad you found your pack.” And hoped they truly were what she believed. Nothing in my experience led me to believe there could be anyone of that caliber. Or not cruel, which I’d have settled for once upon a time.
“They’re better than great. But, it’s okay. Who I want to talk to you about is the other guys. Rork and Craven and Flint. They are friends of my mates’ and they like you. A lot.”
“They sure have a scary way of showing it, spying on a girl.” I glanced around. “I really feel like I should offer you something to drink or eat, but I have nothing.”
“That’s not important. What is that you try if you can to not hold the actions of the other alphas who hurt you, against them. They are sweet.”
Imagining the towering males as sweet took some doing. “Oh okay.”
“I know. It’s hard to let down walls. I don’t know your story, and you don’t know mine yet, but if we’re going to be friends, we will share later.
For this moment, how about just letting them in to talk?
You can just ask them to leave if you want.
Sometimes you have to give life a chance.
Let Fate give you what she has to share. ”
“Fate? As in fated mates?”
“I didn’t say that, just that you don’t let all the bad past stuff ruin your future. You have this beautiful store and friends and a whole fresh start. Also, in this town, we care for each other, so if there’s any nonsense from your past, you will have a lot of support.”
“You make it sound so easy.”
“It’s not easy. But it’s doable.”
“I don’t know…”
“And no need to cry.”
“Cry? I wasn’t—” Oh! Shoot. “I still have mascara around my eyes, don’t I? I have these sneezing fits, and my eyes water. Oh man. Did everyone out there think I was crying?”
“Probably not everyone.”
Which meant everyone.
“How embarrassing.”
She grinned. “Let’s wash your face. There is a sink somewhere, right?”
We chatted a little about books, book clubs, and things while she helped me get presentable with what we had at hand. Somehow, by the time we approached the door, I felt like one of those rom-com humans getting ready for a date.
Way better than scared of my own shadow.