“Let me explain it to you. Imagine thinking about the same omega for years. You keep holding yourself back from them because they’re young and out of reach. Plus, you’re bouncing around in the military, spending more time overseas than at home.” Boone grimaced as he remembered his first few years in the service.
“You try to keep yourself from thinking about him, but his face keeps appearing in your dreams. Shit, man, it might even have been one of the few good things that kept you going through the tough times.” Boone took a deep, steadying breath. “But you keep on rolling. Next thing you know, you’re back home, and absolutely nothing has changed. The town is the same. Your thoughts are the same.”
“Only thing is, now there’s an even smaller chance you’ll see that perfect omega wandering around, looking happy and adorable.” Patrick was silent on the other end of the line, and Boone rested his elbow on his knee. “Do you see what I mean? How impossible it’d be to simply be friends if I did find him again?”
“And what if hedoesn’thave an alpha?” Patrick asked, frustrated.
“Don’t even try to kid me on that one. With a heart like his, who wouldn’t scoop him up? Hell, I’d be surprised if he didn’t find a perfect alpha right out of high school.” Boone leaned back against the bench and sighed. “That smile of his, man. Fuck me.”
“Dude, I’m about to look him upforyou. I can feel your sad, little self oozing through your phone, damn it.” Patrick grumbled. “I’ll fucking do it. You just focus on your classes, and I’ll get his number for you.”
Boone grunted. “Bastard. I think I’ll head on over to Wilma-Jean’s. I can only hope that the scent of her cooking will come through the phone and torment you.”
“Is that any way to treat your best friend?” Patrick snickered. “After all I’ve done for you?”
Boone’s head turned at the sound of a shop bell. He swiveled on the bench when he saw someone helping a hunched-over man hurry from Grimes’ general store and down the alley next to the building.
“Hey, I’ll have to call you back, man. Something is going down at Grimes’.”
“What? You always have to play the hero, don’t you? Be careful and think before you –” Patrick’s words cut off as Boone hung up on him.
Boone peered in through the shop window and saw Grimes talking with a couple of people. One customer, a tall, blond man, was crying as he held up two toothpaste brands, seemingly unable to decide, and Grimes looked extremely amused by the whole situation. The dreaded cane sat propped up against the counter, a useless position to stop troublemakers, so it must not be too worrisome a situation.
Boone shuddered as memories of Patrick’s past mistakes echoed through his mind. The hollow thunk that he remembered was enough to send shivers down his spine. If there had been trouble, that cane would’ve been in Grimes’ hand, and they wouldn’t have gotten far.So what the hell happened?
He rounded the corner and was immediately struck by the scent of sickness and, in sharp contrast, the soft scent of omega. Sure enough, further down the alley, he saw a familiar omega with dark, wavy hair patting someone's back.
Another retch came from behind the dumpster, and Boone’s attention stuck on the dark-skinned hand braced against the faded brick wall.
“Hello? Are you two okay? Do you need any help?” Boone called out. “I heard a fuss and –”
The omega comforting his sick friend froze, his eyes widening.
He really looks familiar, Boone thought again, studying the man’s face.
“I thought it was called morning sickness, damn it.” The sick omega leaned back and flashed a weak smile toward his friend as he straightened up. “I feel a bit lied to.”
Boone’s heart dropped straight to his stomach. For a long moment, he couldn’t tear his eyes away from the handsome face that had haunted him for years. Warm, brown skin, dark eyes full of mischief, and a loveable body that almost seemed to beg for a lifetime supply of cuddles? There was no mistaking it.Demarien.
Demarien turned to follow his friend’s gaze, and his own eyes widened. “Boone?”
And that was when the hammer dropped, sending Boone’s heart straight up to the bell.
“Hi, Demarien.” Boone’s voice wavered before a huge grin took over. “Well, I’ll be damned. What are the odds?”
“Boone Harding?” The other omega asked.
Boone now recognized Demarien’s friend, Milo.
The handsome omega gave him an amused look. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Fourteen years? We didn’t expect to see you here,” Miles said. “What a pleasant surprise, right, Demarien?”
Demarien stood stock-still, seemingly stumbling over his thoughts before Milo gave him a little shake, snapping him out of his trance.
“Yes,” Demarien hissed, eyes wide. “A total surprise.” He nodded rapidly. “100% surprised here.”
Boone snorted. Really, whatwerethe odds? “What are you doing here? I thought I heard you both lived in Portland now.”
Demarien’s eyes dropped as he wrapped his arm around Milo’s waist. “You heard about Dahlia, right?”
