5. Saylor
Saylor
“Hello, Saylor,” River whispers, his voice a sweet caress down my spine, and I don’t move. I just stare long and hard into those piercing green eyes.
I forgot how green they truly were until I fell against him again. By accident, of course.
Not even back at Silver Grove High had I ever had the privilege of seeing his eyes this close before. My gaze moves to his lips naturally, and my Omega purrs at the sight of them. At the sight of him.
River really is a fallen angel. Those sculpted lips are lethal, messing with my mind, giving me wanton fantasies that I could really do without right now.
My perfume makes yet another appearance, and I curse inwardly, especially when his pupils blow out, taking over the serene green of his eyes.
The toilet is empty behind us, and I’m half tempted to drag him inside and have my way with him.
But I’m sure that defies some kind of code.
Yet in that moment, I don’t care.
I just want to drown in his freshwater scent.
Before I do something I will regret for the rest of my life, I push him away from me, pressing my fingers against his firm pecs. His heart pounds wildly beneath my palms, and its echo still lingers on my hands, even as I rush back to grab my bag from the overhead compartment.
But I’m too short to reach the handle.
Regardless, I still try. I even jump a little, too.
I have to move seats. Now.
“Saylor…”
River appears behind me, reaching up to grab my bag without invitation, and I don’t even look at him when he hands it to me. I don’t even utter thanks.
“Saylor, can we talk?” he asks.
No. No talking. I just want to forget I ever saw him again.
The flight attendant arrives, her gaze tracking worriedly back and forth between us. “Is everything okay?”
“Um… y-yeah. I just need to sit somewhere else. Please.”
Confused, the woman glances back at River, pursing her lips in suspicion. He doesn’t even argue; he just bows his head in shame. In the end, she finds me a seat on the other side of the plane and far away from the Alpha.
I don't even bother looking back as I gather my things. My tablet. My neck pillow. My blanket. The little collection of comforts I'd carefully packed for the journey suddenly feels ridiculous now. None of them can settle the panic fluttering inside my chest.
The flight attendant waits patiently until I've taken my new seat. "Are you sure you're okay?" she asks quietly.
I force a smile. "Just... an awkward encounter with someone from my past."
She nods with surprising understanding before returning to the aisle. I sink into my new seat, wrapping my blanket around myself like armor.
Now I try to put the Alpha behind me, forgetting all about his slightly bruised expression as I can finally breathe again.
His freshwater scent taunts me no longer.
Sure, I may no longer have a window seat, but so long as I am far, far away from River and all the painful memories he provides, then I’m satisfied.
This will be one of the longest flights of my life.
The remaining hours crawl by. I try reading. Heck, I even try writing. I even attempt to sleep, but every time I close my eyes, I see River's face staring back at me exactly as it had ten years ago.
Angry. Hurt. Broken.
By the time the captain announces our descent for our connecting flight, I already feel emotionally exhausted
I didn’t look his way again. Not even after we boarded our connecting flight to Vermont, nor when I arrived at baggage claim.
In fact, the moment my suitcase wheeled around the conveyor belt, I grabbed the handle, then shot off out of the airport quicker than lightning.
I'd hoped he would've already gone by the time we'd made our connection and collected our luggage, but no... There he was at baggage claim, waiting alone.
Had he been waiting for me?
No... surely not. River Rose never waited for me.
Not back then.
So why now?
There had been only one suitcase left spinning around on the belt like some kind of lone ranger, and it looks as if he had been waiting for me.
Idiot.
No, of course I don’t want to talk. Because there is nothing to talk about.
He rejected me because he thought I was trying to take the place of his dead girlfriend.
I wasn’t. I just wanted him to know who I was. That I was thinking about him…
Why, of all Alphas, did I have to bump into River Rose?
Luckily, my driver was already waiting for me with a sign bearing my name by the time I left the terminal, just like they do in the movies.
The poor man barely had time to greet me before I hurried over, eager to put as much distance between myself and River.
Now I push all thoughts of the Alpha aside as the car pulls away, smiling at all those rolling green hills that flash by the window.
Nicola wasn’t lying when she said New England resembled, well, Old England.
Even after the long flight from London and our connection into Vermont, I could almost entertain the idea that I was still in England.
It’s only when I realize that we’re driving on the other side of the road that I remember that we’re in the US.
I can’t believe I am finally here.
Silverpine truly is picturesque, and the leaflets Nicola handed me barely do it justice. The town is adorable. It’s quaint and reminds me of a model village.
By the time I arrive at the Wynter Lodge, I am truly star-struck. Not to forget, jet-lagged and tired.
Still. This is the home of Noelle Wynter-Hale.
One of my favorite authors.
The place where she met her Alphas and found her happily ever after.
And now it is time for me to find my happily ever after.
There’s no doubt in my mind who the redheaded Omega is behind the desk the moment I step inside the foyer.
She beams at me widely, waving her fingers like she has jazz hands. She’s even prettier than her author portrait at the back of her books.
“Ooh, you must be Saylor Murphy! A shiny, brand-new author… Yippy! We’re so thrilled to have you here!”
I smile back, placing my suitcase down. “And I’m happy to be here. I’m a huge fan of your work.”
She gushes, then comes around the desk, hugging me briefly before telling one of her Alphas, Frost, I think, to grab my bags.
And now she gives me a mini tour of the lodge on her golf cart, making me feel like a VIP.
“You will be one of the first guests at our luxury, brand-new lake houses. You’re going to love it here, Saylor,” Noelle preens, an eager smile on her beautiful face.
I laugh. “I can’t wait.”
We arrive at the lake house in question, a beautiful, wooden lodge with a perfect view of the lake, and she gives me another tour of the interior.
Her other Alpha, Shepard, is already there doing repairs in the kitchen as we get to talking a little more.
He even gets my bags out from the back of the golf cart upon Noelle’s request.
We talk about authors we love, genres and tropes, and we even speak about the cultural differences between the US and the UK.
Noelle has an infectious excitement about absolutely everything. Every time I mention another favorite author, she knows them. Every trope I love, she mirrors my exact enthusiasm.
Before long, it feels less like speaking to one of my literary idols and more like chatting with an old friend.
By the time we’re done, it’s almost afternoon.
I really do need to sleep the flight off.
My body still thinks it's somewhere over the Atlantic. Every blink grows heavier than the last, yet beneath the exhaustion bubbles an excitement I haven't felt in years.
Tonight I'll finally meet the other writers.
Tonight I'll finally begin writing the next chapter of my life.
“Well, call us whenever you need anything,” Noelle says as she and Shepard leave through the door, driving off on her cart at last.
I wave at them until they’ve vanished up the path. Then I shut the door, glancing over the rustic décor and the plush couch beside the fireplace.
When I find my bedroom upstairs, I smile at the view of the beautiful lake. A girl could really get some words down out here.
I’m going to enjoy writing with that majestic view every day.
I unpack only the essentials, placing my laptop carefully on the desk beside the window.
My notebook follows. It's a silly little ritual I've done everywhere I've ever lived. Somehow, arranging my writing space first always makes an unfamiliar place feel a little more like home.
Now I fall down onto the bed, smiling to myself.
Well, it looks like I made it.
The first chapter in my new life can finally begin.
And no Alpha is going to ruin it for me.
Not even River Rose.