Page 18 of Omega’s Oath

Chapter 7

Rose moved her feet on the bed to make room for Mickie to sit down, as Hayden leaned against the footboard. She’d been worried that she’d be bored but so far, she hadn’t had the chance. Hayden was a sheriff’s deputy with the San Antonio Sheriff’s Department and had become a good friend over the course of the last year. Mickie and Hayden knew each other through Cruz and the other men and women in the close-knit law enforcement community.

Rose had never been one to make friends easily and it had taken a while for her to let down her guard and let these women into her life, but now she was so thankful to have them and couldn’t imagine her life without them, even if they were slightly nosey.

Rose balanced chamomile tea on her baby bump and took a cookie from the plate Mickie had brought up with her. She bit into the still-warm double chocolate chip cookie and moaned.

“I can’t believe you made these. I wish I could bake like this.”

Mickie smiled and shrugged. “It’s a pretty simple recipe. I’ll email it over to you so you can give it a try when you’re back on your feet.”

Hayden bit into her cookie and took a sip of her coffee. Rose would give anything for a cup of strong black coffee right now but knew it was better she stick to chamomile tea even though it tasted like dishwater.

“So, tell us about you and Omega?” Mickie waggled her eyebrows suggestively. It was no secret to anyone who knew them that there was wicked chemistry between her and Aide, but nobody knew they’d slept together.

Shrugging her shoulders, Rose tried to play it down, not wanting their excitement to allow her heart and mind to go galloping ahead. “Nothing to tell. We’re friends, and we’ll see where it goes but I don’t want to get my hopes up. Aide has some serious commitment issues, and I don’t want to be left with a new baby and a broken heart.”

“But you’re going to give him a chance though, aren’t you?”

Hayden was the person least likely to shove her nose in someone else’s business so for her to ask meant something. Rose sighed heavily. “Yes, but we’re going to take things very slow.”

“Has he said why he’s so gun shy with relationships?” Mickie asked.

“Yes, but it’s not really my place to share.”

Mickie tipped her head. “You believe him though, whatever it is he told you? That it’s the reason he’s been holding back?”

“Yes, I do.”

“For what it’s worth, I think he’s head over heels for you and has been for a while.”

Rose glanced suddenly at Hayden. “You think so?” Rose hated the desperate tone in her voice but with Aide, she couldn’t seem to hide it.

“I do and I think you’re doing the right thing taking it slow.”

“Are you kidding? If they take it any slower, they’ll go backward.” Mickie laughed and Rose and Hayden joined in.

“Yes, nobody could accuse us of a whirlwind romance.”

“Seriously, though, I’m happy for you. You and Aide are good together and when you’re together it’s like nobody else is in the room.”

“That’s how I feel when I’m around him. It terrifies me because if this doesn’t work, I lose one of my best friends.”

“You won’t lose him.” Hayden patted Rose’s leg. “Whatever happens, it will all work out. I have a feeling about this.”

“Talking of friends, tell me about Harlan?”

Rose turned her attention to Mickie and didn’t really know how to answer. She’d realized over the course of their lunch that she didn’t really know him anymore and, although she’d missed him and his friendship over the years, she didn’t think he was the same man anymore or that they could pick up that friendship the way she felt he wanted.

“We were friends from school. In fact he was my best friend until I went away to college.”

“What happened?”

Rose blew out a breath. “We had a fight just before I left. He wanted more than friendship and I’d never seen him that way and I guess he got his feelings hurt and I felt like he’d been deceiving me. Harlan never took rejection of any kind well. He was always a little bit self-centered and spoiled, but he was always there when I needed him, and he always believed in me and pushed me to follow my dreams. So, in some ways I owe him everything. I’m not sure I would’ve had it in me to fight for what I wanted without him having my back.”

“Bullshit. You’re a strong, independent woman. You would’ve made it no matter what. You’re having a baby on your own and that takes guts, Rose.”

“Maybe. Either way, Harlan is a good friend.”