At Teal’s nod, Brinn answered, “Yes, peppermint syrup. Sprinkles, too. And I just pulled out a batch of double chocolate chip cookies.”
Once the boys settled in at the table and the other barista got started on their drinks, Brinn pulled Teal to a quiet corner booth.
“Everything alright?” Teal asked.
“More than. I just wanted to thank you for coming in here as much as you do, for making sure Fontaine’s stayed in business through all this.”
Teal put his hand on the other omega’s, feeling the warm glow of the bond as he reassured him. “Happy to do it. I know Percy acted on his own, help from his online buddies notwithstanding. I wouldn’t want you or the owners to suffer for it.”
Since he’d recovered from his poisoning and read Brinn’s heartfelt letter apologizing for not catching on to Percy’s plans sooner, Teal had made a point of coming into Fontaine’s as often as he could. There was still tremendous interest in him and his recovery—although that had begun to wane over the pastmonth, finally!—so he often had photographers and members of the public snapping his photo. He figured eating at Fontaine’s would send a message that he didn’t hold the establishment responsible for his near-death experience.
It seemed to have worked. Although business suffered initially after Percy’s arrest, it had leveled since then.
“Well, I still appreciate it. More than you know. The owners are incredibly embarrassed by their son’s actions and have been trying to make up for it. The good news is, they’ve doubled down on teaching me the business. I think I might take over for them, buy it, when they retire.”
“And that’s what you want? You’re so young.”
“Remind me how old Sorcha is again?”
“Touché,” Teal replied merrily. “Cheeky.”
Brinn guffawed. “Seriously, I may be young, but I love this place. I’m not one hundred percent committed, but it’s good to think it might be an option. Thanks to you, I’m not so terrified about the future.”
“Because you have a good job?”
“Not just that.” Brinn ducked his head and lowered his voice. “I, um, had my heat the week before last.”
Teal pinned the other man with a stare. “I take it from your newfound optimism that it went well?”
“Yes. As a matter of fact, I was one of Dayson’s first clients.”
Dayson had opened his heat service the prior month, leaving his work at the lab to focus on getting the business up and running. Teal and his family had been at the ribbon-cutting for the state's first omega-owned facility. Several others had followed or were in the works.
“I’m glad he opened in time for you. It was your first heat, right?”
“Mm-hmm. Before your tribunal, I was so scared. You know I’m on my own, that I don’t have a family or anything?” Tealnodded. “Well, Dayson felt like family. He made me believe everything would be okay. I think if I had gone to an alpha-run service, they would have just pushed me to match with an alpha. Dayson offered that, too, but I’m grateful he also suggested other options. I ended up being able to get through with…” Brinn bit his lower lip.
“You don’t have to tell me the details.” Teal smiled at him.
“No. It’s okay.” Brinn squared his shoulders. “We need to talk about heats more openly. If they keep being this scary, secret thing that only gets discussed in the dark, then more omegas are going to be victims of unscrupulous treatment.”
“You stated that very eloquently. If you decide not to take over Fontaine’s, you should consider a career as a lawyer. Or maybe a politician.”
“Nah. I like my lattes,thankuverymuch.” Lowering his voice again, Brinn continued, “Anyway, like I was saying, I got through my heat with one of the betas Dayson hired, using just toys and donated alpha semen.”
“Really?” Teal’s interest piqued. “You were okay not being knotted?”
“The artificial knot toy worked,” Brinn confirmed. “It’s amazing what Dayson is doing with all his research. He explained it to me a little, but he believes we’ve barely scratched the surface of omega biology. Some omegas need knots, or semen, but not all. And our needs change as our heats change, as we get older or bear children. Handling heats is not a one-size-fits-all type of thing, even for omegas in marriages or partnerships with alphas.”
Teal thought of how his own heats had changed over the years, how he’d noticed subtle differences as well between himself and Sorcha. “It’s good that Dayson is paving the way.” He reached for Brinn’s hand in the middle of the table. “And I’m happy for you, my friend. That your heat went okay, and that you seem settled.”
“Thank you. I’m not opposed to finding an alpha someday, but it’s a relief to know I’ll be able to live my life without one if that’s how things play out.”
“Absolutely. There are so many more battles to fight, so much more to do for omega rights, but I’m encouraged that we’ve made some progress.”
The men watched as the other barista delivered hot chocolates and cookies to the delighted boys. Teal felt proud when the twins offered friendly thank-yous to the omega, gently reminding Zayne to do the same. As future generations grew up in a world with more rights for all, he hoped there would continue to be progress. More gentle alphas. More self-determined omegas.
“Daddy Sorcha!” Even with a mouthful of cookies, Zayne’s cheerful voice resonated.
