“Marketing, actually,” I reply, cooly. Trust him not to remember the thing I spent our entire relationship working toward. “With a double major in Economics.”
“And she runs her own business, a super successful one,” Josie adds, turning to me. “Weren’t you just telling me about some big deal with real estate you were working on, Trinity?”
Part of me wants to pretend I have no idea what she’stalking about, but I can’t help a little bragging. These men never wanted a successful omega, so they should know I might just be the most successful one they’ve ever met. “I put in a bid on a venue uptown. It’s a pretty significant capital investment at this point, but this is the first step in my plan to pivot from just planning into more robust event management.”
“The Schwartzman Center,” Saren correctly guesses, surprising me. “I’d heard it had gone up for sale and the seller is pretty motivated. Good investment for the price.”
I give him a bland smile. “Well, I might not have a business degree, but I learned enough in school.”
“I’d be happy if this one managed to finish even an associate’s degree.” My mother chuckles, pointing a thumb at Josephine. “But lord knows school isn’t for everyone. Me, included.”
I’d love to remind her of the fact that any education past high school might have kept us out of poverty after my dad died, but there isn’t any point. Bringing up the past will just hurt her without changing anything. Margaret Jones-Becker wasn’t the first omega left high-and-dry because the world assumes an alpha will always be there to provide, and she certainly won’t be the last.
One trap that I refuse to ever fall into.
But I immediately regret my restraint when Egret reaches for Josie’s hand and gently kisses the back of it to a collectiveahhfrom everyone else at the table.
“I think it’s important to know your strengths.” His gaze flicks to me, so briefly I almost could have imagined it. “And your weaknesses.”
“You know,” I continue, “I had the most interesting roommate junior year—Mackenzie Voight. Pretty redhead, tall for an omega? Surely you remember her, Egret. She wastreasurer of the entrepreneurship club, and I swear she dated pretty much every alpha on campus at some point.”
Egret’s jaw tightens. He knows that I know he dated Mackenzie briefly before me.
“Can’t say I do,” he says finally, eyes narrowing.
Josie looks between us, confusion clouding her features. “This is so weird. You all must have just missed each other somehow.”
“Must have,” I agree, locking eyes with Saren. “What are the odds?”
“Astronomical,” he replies, his gaze steady but warning.
“Practically unbelievable,” I add.
“We need more wine,” Josie announces suddenly, grabbing my arm with surprising force. “Trinity, come help me.”
Before I can protest, she’s dragging me from the table, her grip firm despite her delicate appearance. I catch Saren watching us leave, his dark eyes calculating.
Once we’re safely in the hallway, Josie pulls me into the kitchen and spins to face me, arms crossed over her chest.
“What is wrong with you?” she hisses, keeping her voice low. “Why are you being so weird?”
I busy myself opening the wine fridge, avoiding her gaze. “I’m not being weird.”
“Yes, you are! That whole interrogation about college? The pointed questions? You’re acting like they’re on trial or something.”
My fingers close around a bottle of merlot. I stare at the label, mind racing through my options. The truth hovers on my tongue—they know me, Josie. They were engaged to me. They left me because I wasn’t omega enough for them, and now they’re pretending we’ve never met.
But I can’t say any of that.
I turn to look at my sister, her face flushed with concern, blue eyes wide and trusting. The golden child. The perfect omega. Everything I’m not.
“I’m just tired,” I say instead. “Work has been crazy.”
“And now you have this wild destination wedding to plan.” Her face softens immediately. “Oh, Trin. You work too hard.”
“Someone has to,” I mutter, then immediately regret it when hurt flashes across her face.
“I know you think I’m just a silly omega who can’t finish college,” she says quietly. “But I really love them, Trinity. I’ve never felt this way before.”
