21. Jet
Jet
Islept poorly, my mind focused on Elliott.
I hadn’t wanted to let him go as we’d stood in the barn, kissing.
I couldn’t believe he’d come to me like he had.
To my house. He’d said he missed me and wanted to see me.
What did that mean? Was he having trouble adjusting after being held in the facility?
Had what we’d done together caused him to feel reliant on me in some way?
I showered and made a pot of coffee.
Joel walked into the kitchen and poured himself a cup after I poured mine.
“Anson!” he called into the living room. “Coffee?”
“Yeah, thanks.”
“Black, right?” Joel asked.
“Yup.”
Joel and I joined Anson, who was watching the news. He turned it down before taking his coffee from Joel’s hand.
“Thanks. It’s all over the news—they’ve dismantled the omega program and made several arrests. More people are being questioned. Including Senator Donovan and his wife.”
I frowned, and he clarified, “Trey’s parents.”
“Oh. Wow. Do you think they had something to do with it? Trey seemed positive they didn’t.”
“No idea. I guess everyone involved in the government is being questioned.” Anson sipped his coffee. “I was really shocked when Elliott came to our door. I figured he trusted you now, but what about me and Joel? I mean, he didn’t even know for sure you were here.”
“I was surprised, too,” I said.
“Did he want something in particular?” Joel asked me.
“I think he was just feeling out of sorts now that we’re back here.
We had a frightening experience together.
After the experiment, those doctors separated us, and Elliott got so upset that they put us together again.
He probably just needs time to adjust.” I didn’t mention that I had been a little out of sorts myself, both then and last night, after Elliott left the ranch for home.
I hadn’t been lying when I’d told him I’d missed him, too.
I was pretty sure Anson and Joel realized what “the experiment” had entailed.
Joel verified that when he said, “So, you’re saying Elliott’s having a trauma-related reaction.
But he’s an omega and you’re an alpha, and I’m thinking it could be more than that.
Have you considered the possible ramifications of what you guys did? ”
“What kind of ramifications?” I asked.
Joel waited until I put my coffee cup on the table next to me before answering.
“A mating bond? Pregnancy?”
Stunned, I could only stare at him for a moment before finally answering, “I…don’t know. Elliott saw a doctor, but I don’t know if he did a pregnancy test. I’m not sure it would be accurate so soon.”
“Don’t omega x’s have accelerated pregnancies? Just saying. You should look into it.”
Anson, who had been quiet up until then, suddenly spoke up. “I’ve noticed you’ve always seemed a little intense when it comes to Elliott.”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
Joel nodded. “Like that time when you stormed out of the ranch and chewed me out because you thought I’d chased Elliott up the stairs. That was a little over the top, man, you’ve got to admit. From day one, you became that kid’s defender.”
“He isn’t a kid,” I said, getting annoyed.
Leaning forward on the couch, elbows on his knees, Anson said, “I just think that you two might be a lot closer than you think. Maybe you should talk to Laura. She might be able to explain Elliott’s behavior tonight.”
I wanted to say it wasn’t a big deal, but deep down, I knew that it was. Before Elliott left to turn himself in, he wouldn’t have gone alone to an alpha’s house. Even if that alpha was me, someone he was more comfortable with. And I wasn’t the only alpha living here.
“Okay. I’ll do that,” I said, noting that both Anson and Joel looked relieved when I said it.
Taking my cup to the kitchen sink, I rinsed it out and left the house for the ranch, in search of Laura.
When I approached the house, I saw that she was sweeping the front porch.
“Hello, Jet,” she greeted me. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m good.”
“You said last night that Elliott had a complete physical, but what about you?”
“I was never unconscious. They couldn’t have planted anything on me like they did on Elliott.”
Laura nodded. “True. But this whole experience had to be difficult. You were really brave to run after Elliott like that.”
I shrugged. “I would have done it for anyone.”
Laura’s eyes narrowed. “Would you have?”
Before I could answer, she resumed sweeping. “Anyway, you might want to speak to one of the therapists, just to make sure you’re good. I have a feeling Kris will insist on it anyway.”
“Okay. I can do that. I think maybe Elliott would benefit from talking to someone, too.”
“Already arranged,” Laura said, smiling as she swept grass and dirt between the railings and off the side of the porch.
“Uh, Laura, do you have time to talk for a few more minutes? Or we could schedule—“
“I have the time,” she said, propping the broom against the wall and sitting down on one of the white wicker rockers. I turned the other rocker around and sat down, facing her.
As succinctly as I could, I explained my concerns about what had happened between me and Elliott, ending with his visit the previous night.
“You and I both know that was completely out of character for Elliott. As a doctor who’s studied omegas, what do you think? Could we have started a mating bond? Could Elliott have gotten pregnant?”
Laura let out a breath. “Before I give my opinion, I’d like to consult with Elise.
She and Vaughn extended their visit when Elliott disappeared, so they’re still at the Angels’.
She also knows a lot about omega behavior, and since I’ve been out of the loop a while, she might have information that I don’t.
Why don’t you come back later today after I have a chance to talk to her? ”
“I’ll do that. Thanks so much, Laura.”
I went inside, following the scent of breakfast to the kitchen, where Eric sat at the table, eating with the kids.
Greeting me with a smile, he motioned to the stack of clean plates and silverware on the table. Kate and Jeremiah were still in their pajamas, and Jeremiah’s hair was sticking up all over his head. Dawson was dressed and helping the little boy put jelly on his toast.
“How have you been?” I asked him.
“Great now that you and Elliott are back safe and you busted up the omega program. You guys were really brave.”
“I think we were more lucky than brave,” I said. “But I’m so glad that omegas don’t have to hide anymore.”
Eric shook his head in wonder. “It’s hard to believe, isn’t it? I know Dawson’s still processing.”
The young boy nodded. “The only thing that sucks is I’d just gotten Kirk as my personal bodyguard, and now I won’t need him anymore. Are you guys going to leave the ranch?”
“Not anytime soon. We’ll have to talk to Kristopher Gatlin and see what he has in mind.”
“He’s the SOS guy, right? Your boss?”
“One of them, yeah.”
We continued eating and talking, but inside, I felt restless.
Like there was something I needed to do, only I didn’t know what.
I heard Eric greet Carter and Bertram, who had come for Jackson and Trey and stopped in for breakfast first, as Eric always prided himself on being able to feed anyone at any time.
Suddenly, I sensed a presence, my entire body waking up.
Looking over my shoulder, I saw Elliott in the entryway, his eyes focused on me.
I started to get up and go to him but stopped myself because that would be…
weird. We stared at each other for several seconds until Dallas walked up behind Elliott, needing to get through the door.
Elliott blinked several times, then stepped aside, letting Dallas by.
“I got your text,” Dallas said to me, temporarily taking my attention off Elliott. “Is eleven okay?”
I’d texted him about an appointment before I’d come in the kitchen.
“Sounds good,” I said. “See you then.”
When I looked at Elliott again, he was still standing by the door. I smiled at him, and his smile back at me was like a balm to a wound I hadn’t even realized I’d suffered. Immediately, I was enveloped in calm and contentment.
“Hi,” he said, sitting down next to me and picking up a plate.
“Hi.” My voice sounded different to my own ears—warmer. Fond.
“Do you want some hashbrowns?” Elliott asked me, spooning some on his own plate.
“Sure,” I said, watching him give me a large portion of a food I didn’t even like. But because it was Elliott who’d offered it to me, I’d accepted them. And I’d eat every bite.
“Elliott, Kirk and I discovered a huge anthill yesterday,” Dawson said excitedly.
I watched Elliott while he spoke with Dawson. He looked good, as always, but there were shadows under his eyes. Hadn’t he slept the night before? I hoped he didn’t get sick from being out in the rain.
Dallas touched my arm, and I blinked.
Turning my head to look at him, I raised my brow.
“You’re food’s getting cold,” he said, gesturing to my plate. I hadn’t touched it since Elliott sat down.
“Oh,” I said, then dug into the hashbrowns, trying not to show my distaste for them.
When we finished eating, I followed Elliott outside.
“You don’t have to keep an eye on me anymore,” Elliott reminded me.
“I know. I don’t have anything to do right now, though.”
Smiling, Elliott said, “Well, walk beside me, then.”
“Are you okay?” I asked. “You look tired this morning.”
“I’m okay. I just didn’t sleep well. We had a slumber party.”
I chuckled. “Oh, well, be sure to catch up on your sleep tonight, so you won’t get sick.”
Elliott greeted the goats as though he hadn’t seen them in months rather than just a few days.
“Steve, what’s this I hear about you and a chicken?
” Elliott patted the spoiled billy goat on his back.
Another goat tried to nip his ear, and Elliott pushed it away, laughing, before scratching under its chin.
I sat and watched him like the lovesick fool I was beginning to realize that I was.
How had I not noticed my feelings for Elliott had developed into more?