A sudden lightness comes over me as I watch my parents interact with my guys. There were no broken bones, and I am surrounded by people who care about me. For now, I’ll take that as a win.
THIRTY-THREE
Adler
Despite my initial nerves, I’ve relaxed as the day goes on. Sabs’s family are amazing. She and her mom look alike and have the same friendly, outgoing personality that makes people gravitate toward them.
After everyone got over the initial angst over me and Sabs bonding, her parents made a real effort to speak to all of us—finding out about our studies, Orin’s job, and our interests outside of school and work. Even Ray—Sabs’s hardest-to-win-over father—has asked me about my games and dreams. It took me aback; my own mother never cared enough to ask.
I can’t help feeling bad for Izzie, after watching Sabs and her mom together. Although I don’t care that we don’t have a relationship with our mother anymore, it’s always been harder for Iz. She hides it well and has Aunt Jade, but I know she’d have loved an omega parent to help her when she first learned her designation. It can be challenging for an alpha, with a hotbed of hormones that make you feel like a raging bull, but omegas have it even worse.
“Meeting the parents is always rough, huh?” Gene—who Sabs calls Bug—drops down in the seat next to me, taking a swig of his beer. “I remember meeting Cassie’s parents for the first time.Meeting one dad was bad enough. I feel like she had the tougher job, though. She had three sets of in-laws to meet! Everyone loved her, of course.”
His eyes skirt over the room to where Cassie is deep in conversation with Luca. Sabs is hanging off his arm, roaring with laughter, and I’m glad to see that his posture looks at ease. “Do your parents know that you’ve bonded?”
“Uh…” I take a drink, my palms slick against the cool bottle. “I haven’t heard from my dad since he left when I was five. And Mom… Well, we don’t talk anymore. She moves a lot.”
By “moves a lot,” I mean she’s couch surfing, probably living with whichever junkie boyfriend she’s currently hooking up with. She’ll do anything to get a fix. When I think of my mother, I’m not comforted by loving embraces or the sweet smell of gingerbread; my mind goes to stale cigarette smoke, sweat-dried clothes, and bitter disappointment
“But Sabs has met my sister, Isabella,” I tell him, my voice brightening. “Izzie loves her.”
“It’s hard not to love our Sabs.” The crinkles around Gene’s eyes deepen as he looks at his daughter. “She’s as stubborn as her mother and knows her own mind.”
“I’m gathering that,” I say fondly, checking out my beautiful omega from across the room.
“Hey!” Sabs pouts, putting her hands on her hips as she notices me staring. “What are you saying about me?”
“Nothing!” Bug raises his hands in mock surrender. “I was just about to tell him the story of your first nest building disaster.”
Her eyes blaze. “Don’t you dare.”
“Nest building is no joke,” Cassie calls him out. “Quit embarrassing her, Gene.”
“That’s what dads are supposed to do, right?” Bob—who she calls Pops—chips in. “Besides, I’m pretty sure Drax was there to witness the aftermath.”
“My lips are sealed.” Drax makes a zipping motion across his mouth. “Forever sworn to secrecy.”
Orin chuckles. “Now that’s a story we have to hear one day.”
I’m fascinated, watching how Sabs and her family interact. The way that Gene strokes Cassie’s arm and how Ray and Bob share knowing looks when Sabs starts regaling a dramatic story. It’s like watching a movie about the kind of family I always wished I had, but it’s real.
Detecting my change in mood, Sabs comes over, wrapping her arms around my shoulders. Bug vacates his spot next to me, inspecting a painting on the wall—one of Laz’s latest pieces—hanging next to a strange-looking plant.
“I wouldn’t touch that one,” I overhear Luca saying to him. “Faye warned me that it may be poisonous.”
“You okay?” Sabs whispers in my ear. “I know this is a lot.” She’s positively glowing. I can feel how happy she is; the love she feels for her family radiates through our bond.
“I’m okay. I’m just not used to… family.” I smile sheepishly. “It’s just been Iz and me for so long.”
“Well, you have a huge, crazy new family now.” She drops a kiss on my cheek. “Just imagine how chaotic Christmas can be. But seriously, if you need to step outside for a break?—”
“No,” I say quickly. “I want to stay. I hope they…” I look around to make sure none of her parents are within earshot, but they all appear to be wrapped up in conversation with the others, “like us.”
“They’re all still here, aren’t they?” Sabs nudges me playfully. “And you’d know if they didn’t. They had to play hardball at the beginning, but Mom’s already asked me about our holiday plans, which says it all.” Sabs frowns the moment her gaze strays to hermom. “Oh no, she’s got that glassy look in her eyes. How many bellinis has Luca made her?”
“Look at you!” Cassie pinches Drax’s cheek. “I remember when you were this tall.” She gestures at her knee. “You were the cutest little thing, and now you’re all grown up. Our little Drax, one of my daughter’s alphas!”
Ray pries the glass from her hand. “Maybe we should swap this for water.”
