As quickly as it had appeared, the strange feeling evaporated.
“This is really great,” Jax said, picking up the picture frame. “I meant what I said the other day. If your work is something you wanted to monetize, I’d be happy to help you set up an online store, or to figure out a way to get these into a shop in town, maybe sell on consignment.”
“I’d appreciate that. I don’t really know anything about the business side of things. Dale and Abe always handled that.”
“We can talk about it whenever you want.”
“Maybe after the craziness of High Court dies down. It’s hard to think about anything else right now.”
“Completely understand,” Jax said. “We’re all worried about Teal.” He ran his finger along the frame again, feeling the smoothness where Sorcha had used the sander. “I envy you, Sorcha.”
Sorcha flinched. “Envy me? Why?”
“You have a chance here to really settle into your art. Do something you love.” Jax sighed, putting down the frame. “Maybe you’ve heard that I grew up in the beta neighborhoods.” He crossed his arms. “Certain ideas dominate there. One of them is placing a high value on being, I guess you’d call itpractical. Many betas believe things like art and music are the realm of alphas and omegas, because they lend themselves to high emotions.”
“Betas don’t have high emotions?”
“Of course we do. But a lot of beta isolationists believe any excess of emotion is bad. They tell other betas that our highest purpose is to reason and use good judgement, that betas make the world go round through dedication to work and civics, without being burdened by things like scents and heats.”
Sorcha pffted. “I don’t know if very many alphas or omegas would describe heats as a burden. Were you raised to believe those things?”
“My parents were more progressive than that, fortunately. They raised me to support omega rights, but it was more theoretical since I only lived around other betas. It wasn’t until I moved out as an adult that I really understood that all genders can be emotional, and businesslike, and calm, and irrational, that no one group has the market on any trait.”
“It’s good that you know that. I wish more alphas understood, especially the ones making Teal’s life a nightmare right now,” Sorcha said. “But I don’t understand how that means you envy me.”
“Because I listened to the older betas preaching practicality. I design interiors for office buildings because it’s safe work, steady and reliable. There was a time when I wanted to do interior design for homeowners. I had visions in my head of bold color palettes and unique floorplans, things that would make people truly feel at home in their spaces. Instead, I help companies pick out cubicles and gray walls. Heck, I didn’t even let myself decorate my own apartment until Niall moved in. I pride myself on doing my best to make sure clients have great spaces to work in, but I wish I would have gone with my gut and followed my heart into interior design.”
“You’re young. You can still change your mind. Do what you love,” Sorcha reasoned.
Jax reached behind his head, nervously gathering his hair into a ponytail. “I’ll admit the thought has crossed my mind. Not justbecause of you, but because of all this.” He waved his hand in the general direction of the McGinns’ house. “Being in such a unique situation.”
“Is that so? Because I thought you and Niall moved in because it’s the mostpracticalthing to help the family.”
Jax shifted his weight from foot to foot, and Sorcha knew he’d hit a nerve. Despite their reasoning a week ago, the betas moving in hadn’t feltpractical. It had feltoptimal. Necessary. And both men knew it.
“So much has changed in such a short time. For all of us.” Jax looked at Sorcha pointedly.
“That’s certainly true.”
“It’s made me realize how I allowed myself to be thrown into a box and shut away. Meeting Niall was like having the lid blown off, and over the course of our relationship, the walls have slowly disappeared. It’s left me standing here, open to all sorts of new possibilities.”
“I understand,” Sorcha agreed, nodding. “It’s liberating being out from under my uncles’ control. It’s hard to trust that I can make my own choices now, but I’m learning. When I think about how hard Teal is fighting for omegas to live the way they want, it reminds me not to take any opportunity for granted.”
“Right,” Jax said, walking to the interior garage door. “Sorcha, when you’re ready for me to help you…with anything…you let me know, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Good. Because I don’t think either of us should go back into our old boxes.”
Sorcha considered Jax’s words. He wasn’t ready to think about setting up a business yet. That was too much on top of everything else going on. But there was a change he could make that would show his partners that he trusted what was happening between them.
That night, after the household went to sleep, Sorcha tiptoed into the main bedroom and pulled back the covers on the bed. He climbed in behind Teal and wrapped his arms around him, placing a kiss on his neck. “I love you,” Sorcha whispered.
The alpha stirred on Teal’s other side and draped his arm over them both, resting his hand on Sorcha’s ass, grunting softly.
They said nothing more. They simply shared the bed, their three scents mingling together, and Sorcha experienced the deepest, most perfect sleep of his life.
Chapter Thirty-One
