“Just a bottle of water,” I responded. “Please make sure it’s sealed.” He squeezes my shoulder to let me know he heard me before giving the bartender our order. I give him a thankful smile when he hands me the bottle, taking a huge sip.
“I need to go speak to Mr. Nash real quick, will you be okay waiting here? Or you could come with me.”
I shake my head, giving him a reassuring smile. “Go talk to him, I’m good.”
He looks uncertain about leaving me alone, so I give him a small shove. “Okay, stay here. I will be right back.”
The further away he moves from them, the sadder I feel. I have to let him go though. My life is way too much of a mess to let anyone in. I’m doing him a huge favor by ditching him.
With that in mind, I beckon over the bartender again.
“Can I get you anything else sweetie?” Sally - according to her name tag - asks.
“Not to drink,” I swallow down my nerves. “I’m looking for Liam Jones, the owner. I know it’s a long shot that he is even here, but I need his help with something urgent.”
She gives me an apologetic smile. “He is out of town for the month, but you can leave your details with me, and I can ask him to give you a call when he’s back.”
“Could you tell him Savannah-”I shake my head, “No that’s okay. It was just a shot in the dark, anyway. Thank you for your time.” She looks like she wants to say something but ends up just giving me another smile. Soon, her attention is needed elsewhere, and I’m left alone to feel sorry for myself.
I knew coming here was probably a long shot, but I let myself have a little hope. Liam Jones had been one of my dad’s closest friends before I was born. My dad never told me what exactly ended their friendship, but from the bits and pieces I put together, my mom was to blame.
I had hoped he would still care enough about my dad to help out his kid. Help how? I’m not even sure. Give me money to run away? Hide me? Could I even be honest with him about what’s been happening since my dad ended up in a coma? I think so.
My dad always spoke fondly of him, despite their fallout, so when I found out he owned a club just a few towns from where I was, Istarted forming a plan to make it out here to talk to him. Now I have to go back without talking to him, and I just fucking pray Greg hasn’t realized I’m missing.
My thoughts are interrupted when I feel a hand on my shoulder. A second later Oliver’s head appears next to mine.
“I was worried you weren’t going to be here when I got back.”
I shouldn’t be here.I sat around feeling sorry for myself too long, and now Ollie is back. I open my mouth to tell him I have to leave, but the look of vulnerability on his face gives me pause.
My problems are still going to be here tomorrow, and there is nothing I can do about them tonight. This adorable alpha needs support right now, and I can give him that before disappearing.
“Nowhere else I’d rather be,” I give him a big smile, locking everything else away. “You ready for your big night?” He pulls me into a hug. “No, but if you’re here with me I stand a chance.”
Fuck. Fucking fuck.
Oliver
Savvy is an Omega.
Okay, I’m no expert, but I just know she is. My alpha also seems to think she belongs to us, so he was not happy when we left her alone at the bar, only calming down when we had her in our sights.
Being an alpha is weird. I guess it’s the same for omegas; one day, you just have this new piece of you that you have to get to know. It’s not a separate being or like a voice in your head. You just find yourself thinking and doing things you would never have done before.
Apparently, over time, you catch up to your alpha, or it slows down, and you become in tune with each other. That has not happened to me yet, but I only presented a few months back, so it’s normal. It does shock me when I start doing and saying things I would never have done and said before, like telling Savvy her being here soothes me. Honestly, even touching her is something I would never have done before; even a friendly hug is out of my comfort zone.
In my house, there were no hugs. Between two junkies for parents, it was better not to be seen. It got worse after my mom overdosed, she at least made sure I was fed and somewhat taken care of. When she died I had to do everything for myself. My dad barely knew I existed, and I preferred it that way. When he was focused on me, things went badly, so avoiding him was key. He didn't mess with me much as long as I gave him the money I made from working at a local diner.
Having my own reasons for being secretive about my life and baggage I’m nowhere near ready to unpack is why I don’t push theomega topic with Savvy. She might genuinely not know she will present as one, or she doesn’t want anyone to know. It’s none of my business until she wants to tell me.
But she is mine.
Fuck off.
Mine.
I nuzzle my cheek to hers on both sides, hoping she doesn’t realize I’m scent-marking her. I need other people to know she is with me and stay away.
