“How do you even know her?” Vic asks.
“She comes to my home for work, I have a friend of a friend who needs her and lives with me.”
“You just took in some random Omega?” Simon asks, his deep voice full of confusion.
“She needed help,” I answer.
His eyes study me, almost calculating in their intensity. Like he’s trying to put puzzle pieces together so he can understand me. I find myself wondering what he’s thinking, and I want to ask, but I can tell he’s not ready to be that open with me. I’ll just have to wait and be patient.
“Okay, I think this is good,” Vic says, taking a thoughtful sip of his drink. “If you and Josie have met, she seems to like you, I assume? Right, so I think we should tell her and see what she says. If she’s not ready to find out if you two are Matches, then at least the three of us can get to know each other. Hopefully, she is at least willing to get to know you two.”
“I think she will be, she was happy with my gift and was interested in talking more. She seems really sweet, I can’t imagine she’ll say ‘no’ if we do it on her terms.” I add.
Simon is quiet, but sips at his beer as he listens to the conversation. I quietly observe him from my peripheral, noting that he’s not shutting us out, he’s just not engaging either. It tugs at my chest, and I’m finding that I want his input more and more. Something about him just draws me in. I’ve always been a sucker for curly hair, and his is gorgeous. Down the road, I’d be interested in a romantic relationship, but we need to get to the friendship stage before anything else.
We spend another hour or two drinking beers and chatting, deciding that the three of us will get together again soon. Vic will also work on scheduling a group dinner, so we can subtly figure out how our dynamics will work together. I notice that both Vic and Simon are deferring to me, but I don’t want to be Lead Alpha unless everyone is good with it. While I can be dominant, I don’t enjoy using that to call the shots on my own. I’m sure we’ll talk about it next time. I can’t just assume they’re okay with it.
We stand to leave after we pay our tabs, and I hold out my hand again. Vic takes it and we move for a quick hug, one pat on the back, and separate. My hand goes out again for Simon, and he shakes it but doesn’t move for a hug, so I don’t push.
“I just want you guys to know that I’m really excited to get to know you. I’ve always wanted a Pack, and now there’s a chance. I’m grateful for it.” I tell them before we part ways.
The guys both give a nod of acknowledgement, Vic with a nice smile in addition. Back in my car, I let my head flop back on the headrest for a moment. A massive smile spreads across my face, and my heart feels settled for the first time in a long time.
thirteen
SIMON
My mind has been buzzing for a couple of weeks, thinking through all the changes that are happening around me. Maybe they aren’t earth-shattering things, but it’s so much more than I’m used to. Insecurity plagues me in every situation, and the only thing that keeps me steady and grounded is my time with Vic. It’s enough to make me forgetful at work, and I’m sure my manager today is ready to kick me out. I was able to quickly hire a second manager, since the cafe is open more than 40 hours a week. The last thing I need is my staff burning out.
Currently, I’m in my office, pretending that I’m doing financials and important paperwork. In reality, I’m thinking through the interaction Vic and I had with Henry. He seems like a nice enough guy, but he’s already implying he wants to Pack up, and I don’t know if I’m ready for that. I’m finally comfortable with the idea of a Pack Pull to Vic, now I have one for an Alpha that I barely know. Who else is going to show up with one? A random customer in my store? I don’t want to be ambushed, but it’s not like I can control when the pull shows up.
A face comes unbidden to mind, and my eyes go wide, realizing that I did meet another Pack Pull and didn’t recognize the feeling. Before I opened, that couple was peeking in, and theblonde guy was in it. The woman he was with had an amazing cinnamon scent, and I played it cool, but I was ready to drool over her. Wiping my mouth to ensure I haven’t started drooling over her memory, I stand and head out to the floor to check on things.
My baristas are still working at top speed, which makes me happy to know we’re doing a lot of business. I’ll make sure they’re getting their breaks, too; I’m sure they’re tired from all the movement. Seeing some orders sitting on the counter, I pick them up and begin calling names. There’s not a huge wait queue, so maybe someone was in the bathroom or has earbuds in. A few people come when I call their names, and a few don’t. My fears of a new Pack Pull are realized as I call out for “Jesse” and see the tall blonde walking toward me. Same guy from my memory.
“You called for Jesse?” he asks.
“Uh, yeah, looks like this is yours,” I tell him, still a bit dumbstruck.
“Thanks, had my headphones in. You… you okay there?”
“Yeah, fine, totally fine, all good.”
There’s a moment of awkward staring between us before I snap out of it first.
“Have a great day,” I tell him, before turning around and walking back to my office like my ass is on fire.
I just had to manifest that shit, didn’t I? Pushing thoughts of this guy, Jesse, to the back of my mind, I focus on my job. When the day ends, I head home, looking forward to some time with Vic. I need that stability right now with all this shit stirring in my head. Should I be okay with being potentially Pack with two strangers? What about cinnamon girl?
Vic said that Josie smells like cinnamon dessert, but it couldn’t be the same girl. The chances are just too slim. Henry honestly seems like a decent guy, but there’s no way to know if it’s a facade or not. For all I know, the moment we go to bond,I’ll get kicked to the curb. Again. My mind turns to Vic’s words of “one day at a time”, and I try to repeat them in my head.
Once I’m home, I kick off my shoes and stride into the house, looking for Vic. I need him more than I’m willing to admit to myself, or him. When I finally get eyes on him, Vic’s sitting on the bed we’ve been sharing and talking on the phone. He’s gotthatlook on his face, telling me that he’s talking to Josie. I walk around the bed and flop on my back, my face near Vic’s thighs and my feet hanging off the other end of the bed.
“Wow, I can’t believe it. Are you sure?” Vic says. He looks down at me and smiles softly, gently running his hand through my hair as he speaks.
I can faintly hear Josie, so I settle in to eavesdrop in plain sight.
“Yeah, I trust that he’s telling the truth. I’m sorry to tell you this over the phone. It’s just so much, having two Matches. If I end up with more, I would be happy to experience that, but it’s also a lot of pressure.”
