I sigh and shake my head. “It’s not HR being a dick. I didn’t tell them I was out because of my heat. The paperwork didn’t go through from the clinic, which gave me a chance to think about what being an omega in this environment would be like, and…”
Understanding fills Lauren’s eyes. “Ah. Right.”
“I’m so sorry if I’ve been a bitch or treated you differently because you’re an omega,” I blurt. “I know you’re just as capable as everyone here. No, more capable than them, because now I know all the sensory stuff you have to fight through to even concentrate.”
Lauren rolls her chair a little closer. “You haven’t been rude, Camille. And it’s always the worst right after a heat, but the bright lights and smells will get less bothersome in a week or so. Though, you should probably get one of these fans to get rid of the Rick stink.” She wrinkles her nose. “The fact that you made it through the day at all is a miracle.”
A pair of alphas walk past the doorway, looking in through the glass wall and giving us a curious look. I instinctively curl in on myself, like that will do any good to hide what I am.
Lauren pats my hand, and I look back up to see they’ve moved on. “Do you have plans tonight?”
“Other than curling up in bed and trying not to cry?” I ask. “Not really.”
She chuckles at my honesty. “Good. You’re coming over for dinner.”
“Oh no, that’s alright. I’ll be fine,” I protest. Lauren is a total sweetheart and my favorite coworker, but I’ve already been too much of a burden to her today.
“Don’t be silly. Rekha always makes too much food. It’s her omega’s love language.”
“Oh!” I flush at my reaction to her words, embarrassed that I’m surprised that Lauren’s partner is an omega. “Well, if you’re sure…”
Her smile widens, warm and sincere. “Absolutely. Us omegas have to stick together.”
17
Lauren and Rekha’sapartment is quite possibly the coziest, prettiest home I’ve ever visited. I guess when two stylish and cool omegas join forces, it’s bound to turn out a cozy paradise. If I ever have the energy or time to redecorate my place, I know who to ask for tips.
Dinner is lovely, despite my initial hesitance to intrude. They’re so warm and friendly that I don’t feel that out of place. We spend the meal chatting about our days and getting to know each other better. Their welcoming humor lulls me into letting my guard down in a way I normally wouldn’t with anyone but my closest friends.
It’s so nice not stressing about every detail of a new social situation. And after a day of not eating and working myself until I almost passed out, the easy companionship and delicious food is bliss.
They insist I stay for a coffee and dessert, and my sleepy, sated omega readily agrees before I can think better of it.
I sink down into the world’s softest armchair that cradles my body like a hug, and the pair of omegas sit on the fluffy,cloudlike blue couch across from me. Rekha leans against Lauren’s shoulder and their hands intertwine in a casual display of intimacy that makes my omega jealous.
To be honest, everything tonight has left her pissy with me. She wants comfort and touch, softness and a bit of luxury, and instead I shoved her into a mental closet and forced myself to push through exhaustion.
I take a sip of my espresso, letting out a soft hum of appreciation for how good it is. The scent of coffee grows stronger in the air and I realize that my scent neutralizer must’ve finally worn off. I make a mental note of that for the future, but it’s pretty impressive it lasted this long.
“Oh, thank goodness, you smell nice,” Lauren says with a relieved exhale.
Rekha nudges her in the side with her elbow. “That’s not very polite, honey.”
Lauren rolls her eyes at her partner. “Not like you weren’t thinking it, too.” She turns to me and leans in like she’s going to tell me a secret. “The last person we invited for dinner smelled so strongly of pepper that I kept sneezing. I didn’t want to be rude or embarrass him, so I didn’t say anything, but it wasrough.”
“Well, if I did stink, I’d absolutely want you to tell me,” I say with a light laugh. “I’m still figuring out how often I need to de-scent and, uh… do everything.”
Rekha nods in sympathy. “I remember back in high school when I first revealed. My scent neutralizer wore off in the middle of a presentation I was doing for English class. By the time I was done talking, the whole classroom smelled like cupcakes. Which, in retrospect, wasn’t a big deal. But back then? Total nightmare. Anything that called attention to your designation was horrifying. Plus, I had all the alphas for the rest of the year teasing me, wanting a taste.”
“That probably had more to do with how hot you are than the smell, babe,” Lauren teases. Rekha’s light brown cheeks burnish, but she looks pleased by the compliment. “Too bad for them you didn’t have any interest in alphas.”
“Oh, so you always knew you wanted to be with an omega?” I ask before I can think about if that’s an inappropriate question. “Sorry, you don’t have to answer that.”
Rekha waves me off. “No, no, it’s fine. I think we’re past the pleasantries anyway, now that we know your secret.”
It should make me anxious that these women know about my lie, but I’m relieved. I have two super cool and nice omegas who are willing to answer all my dumb, out-of-touch questions I never even thought about as a beta.
“Whew, okay.” I pretend to wipe sweat off my brow and the pair across from me laugh.
