Brice looks up at me, his chin jutting out. “You weren’t replying to messages, you weren’t answering calls, what was I supposed to do?”
“Well, not lie to my parents for one, not send my mom into a panic. That would be a good start. Maybe wait for me to cool down and message you back, or come get my shit from your place? I don’t know. Regardless, she’s pissed now, and she’s going to talk to Aunt Sandy.” Brice’s face drops as he goes pale at the mention of his own mom.
Yeah bitch, see how that feels.
Fuck, I’m being catty.
What the hell, I’m never catty.
Fucking omega hormones. It’s probably all the crazy shit today and stress.
Brice’s spine snaps straight. “Well, that won’t be a problem, you don’t need to come get your stuff. It’s in the truck. I think itwould be best if you cut your trip short and went and stayed at your parents’ house for the rest of the school break.”
This little bitch.
Before I can verbally shit-slap my cousin, Sam steps in. He and Joseph have been silently glaring at each other the entire time Brice and I were talking. Sam slips his arm around my shoulders. “Thank ya, Brice. We sure do appreciate you bringing his stuff over, since it saves us a trip. And it should be enough to tide him over until we can get back to the omega center to collect the rest of his things.” If possible, Brice goes even paler and Joseph’s head snaps towards us.
I see Kelly slip out the door, still holding onto Jake’s collar, as the big dog glares at Joseph—who sees her and lets out a loud snarl. “What the fuck, Sam? Kelly too? Are you just fucking collecting all the goddamned strays now? Shit, man, she’s barely fucking legal. Do her parents even know?” Kelly swallows audibly and tears quickly build in her eyes. Jake snaps his jaws at Joseph, licking his teeth like he wants to take a chunk out of the guy for making Kelly cry. I can’t say I blame him.
Sam turns to his brother, his own snarl rumbling out of his chest. “What we do is her decision, always. As for if her parents know, that’s between Kelly and them and doesn’t have shit to do with you, so keep your fucking nose out of it. Now, I suggest you leave Teddy’s stuff here, take your omega, and get the fuck away from my house beforeIcall the fucking cops for harassment.”
Brice is watching the two alphas, his head swinging back and forth at the conversation, fingers twisted together. He lets out a loud omega whine, and Joseph goes soft as he steps off the porch to join him. “I’m sorry, Honey, but if Teddy wants to stay, we can’t make him leave Sam’s house. We don’t have to like it, but it's his choice”—he turns towards me—“even if itisthe wrong one.”
Sam moves between us. “That's fuckingit, man, what the hell? Do you want me to be alone forever? Fuck, I thought if anything you would be relieved that I finally found my pack. That I would finally leave you the hell alone with yours. God knows you’ve been trying to get rid of me for ten goddamned years. What the fuck?”
Joseph steps back up, almost nose to nose with Sam. “Yes, I wanted you to find your own pack, but I wanted you to find someone your own fucking age. First you follow me around for years, like you’re going to join my pack that’s almost all eight years older than you, now you’re fucking robbing the goddamned cradle with an omega and beta that are what, fifteen years younger? What the fuck man? This is sick.” All the color drains from Sam’s face, leaving him pale and sickly looking, and I know that Joseph’s words hit on his own insecurities.
I can’t change how he feels about himself, but I’ll be damned if I let this be an issue. Stepping up behind his back, I wrap my arms around Sam and stare down at Joseph. “Nine years isn’t that much of a jump for me.” I swing my glare to Brice. “I’m kind of surprised that Brice is taking your side on this since two of his dads are older. His mom always did have a thing for silver foxes.” My eyes flick back to Joseph, waiting for his reaction to my next bomb. “What’s the age gap there, Brice? John’s…what, twenty-two years older than your mom. If nine years makes your mate so sick, I’d hate to hear how he feels about your dads.”
I enjoy Brice turning green more than I should. But I want this done now, it’s getting too hot out here, and all this stress is making me queasy. I want to get Kelly back inside and back to bed for snuggles soon.
Fuck, I’m sweating like crazy.
Sam’s still pale; I wonder how long that lunch meat was in his fridge.
Kelly seems ok, though.
Joseph grabs Brice’s hand, practically dragging him back towards the truck. I’m relieved when he sets my suitcases on the ground instead of throwing them. Brice climbs into the passenger side, but his eyes follow me as they back up and turn around, leaving in a big plume of dust. I see Jake leap off the porch, stopping in the yard to strut back and forth barking at their retreating vehicle, while Kelly’s arms wrap around both of us.
Chapter 12
Iprobably should call Mom; I don’t want her or Dad to worry. I should have been home an hour ago, but I checked my phone earlier, and there weren’t any missed calls. Maybe they expected the reception to last longer. Regardless, I need to call them. I mean, I could go home and tell them what’s going on, but I don’t want to leave Sam alone. He looks kinda broken right now.
Squeezing my arms tighter around my guys, I hear a loud thump as Jake hops back up on the porch. He leans heavily against my legs, making me glad that Teddy and Sam are here to keep me from falling over again under his weight.
Maybe I can call them tonight, and then head home tomorrow, and take the guys to meet them. They both seem pretty sure about having me in their pack. I really need to have Mom and Dad meet them before we file that paperwork on Monday, anyway. Of course, that depends on how this conversation goes.
Pulling away from where I’m hanging on to Teddy and Sam. “I should probably call my parents too, let them know I’m stayingwith some friends, so they don’t worry. Would you guys be ok meeting them tomorrow…before we go any farther?”
Sam swallows a few times, looking like he might be sick, but Teddy squeezes my arm. “Sure thing, Pixie, go let them know that everything’s good. And if you need to go home tonight, we can at least follow you in the truck to make sure you’re ok. We can meet them tomorrow regardless so that they know you’re getting involved with decent guys.”
That’s the problem of course. I’m worried that they’ll be upset that I’m involved withguys, plural, more than one. But I square my shoulders and march out into the yard to make the call. I’ll probably be pacing back and forth, and there’s less stuff out here for me to trip over. Or at least there would be if Jake wasn’t prancing along beside me giving me big puppy eyes for attention. Out of the corner of my eye I see Sam come over and pick up Teddy’s luggage, taking it inside before coming back to stand on the porch with our omega.
I call my mom’s cell. My dad rarely answers his, he hates talking to people, but after four rings he picks hers up. “Hey, Sprout, everything go ok at the ceremony? Your mom was just about to call you after she gets back inside. She went out to the garden to get some basil for the spaghetti tonight. Are you having dinner over at Candice’s or with Stephanie? I know Sal was there, she sure is a sweet girl.”
Ugh, I don’t need Dad in my love life!
Also, why did he only mention girls?
