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An omega has needs, after all.
Eight
Ripley
Birds chirp outside, singing a cheery tune amongst the trees. The sun shines brightly through the windows, and I smile, cracking my eyes open. I breathe in deeply, exhaling and stretching out as I lay there and stare up at the ceiling for a moment, letting the tranquility of being back home wash over me. It’s peaceful.
No constant chatter or petty squabbling over who took the last yogurt from the communal fridge. No slamming doors and running footsteps as everyone rushes to get to their morning classes. I think the only thing I really miss is Hunt or Gabe bursting through my door and jumping on my bed to get me up. I need to make sure I call them sometime today.
The smell of fresh cinnamon rolls and bacon wafts its way up the stairs and to my nostrils, making me groan. I’m starving.
Rolling out of my bed, I throw my hair into a messy bun and walk into the bathroom to brush my teeth. I look myself over in the mirror while I brush.
My hair is a mess, flopping every which way on top of my head. My eyes look bright and well-rested. I feel good today. There’s no pity party going on inside my head. No worries over where my life is going to go from here. For once, I just want to live in the moment and enjoy everything that I do have. It’s going to be a good day.
I head downstairs, finding Mom in the kitchen dancing around and singing along to the radio. Joining her, I shake and shimmy with her until she turns around and sees me. She laughs and we have a mini dance party while she finishes the food.
“Good morning, sweetie. Sleep well?” She pushes the last of the bacon onto a plate and we sit at the table.
I grab two big cinnamon rolls and plop them on my plate, my mouth watering at the sugary goodness.
“Yep. I feel great today.” Smiling, I take a big bite and groan.
“Gods, I’ve missed your cinnamon rolls, Mama.”
She chuckles at me.
“I’ve missed feeding all of you. I only get to do it for special occasions now. Sometimes Ridge and Ridleigh come for dinner. It’s just not the same, not having all of you under my roof anymore.”
She smiles sadly. I know it’s been hard on her having an empty nest. I wish they’d allowed us to leave more often to stay with family rather than just holidays and special occasions. I understand why we needed to stay at the Center, but it doesn’t make it suck any less. Luckily, she’s got grandkids now to keep her on her toes. Rueben and Saxon are two of the cutest little trouble makers ever.
“You have Rueben and Saxon over a lot. Doesn’t that help?” I ask, tearing into the bacon.
“Of course. But it’s not the same. I love my grandbabies of course and every second I get with them is a joy. But they’re not mine. I still remember when all of you were these teeny tiny little babies. Don’t get me wrong. I love all the time I have with your dads now and no more listening to you three fight over every little thing,” she teases. “I just sometimes get sad when I think about how fast time has gone by, I guess. I think time goes even faster when you have kids. You’ll see someday.” She grabs my hand and squeezes.
I roll my eyes. “I’m glad you still have faith, Mama, but after three years at the one place that was supposed to help me find my match and not finding them? Yeah, I have little faith in finding them and having kids of my own. If the Center couldn’t help me, then how am I supposed to find them myself?” Sighing, I push my plate away and look outside.
She hums, getting up and putting our dishes in the sink before sitting in front of me with a bottle of bourbon. I look at her with wide eyes. She quirks a brow at me and pours us each a shot, pushing mine towards me.
“It’s like, ten in the morning Mama. What the hell?” I laugh out, grimacing when the scent of the bourbon hits me and nearly burns the hairs in my nose out. Gods, what is this, jet fuel?
“And we’ve had breakfast. Now, I think my little girl has some things she needs to get off her chest. Or am I wrong?”
“You...” I narrow my eyes on her. “Ugh. Fine.”
I throw the shot back. Like a Band-Aid. Just rip that sucker off. Oh, Gods, that burns. I sputter out, gasping while my mother laughs at me, taking her shot with not a single grimace or turn of her lips.
“How?” I croak out.
“Oh, honey. I’m mated to your Pops. I can drink a grown alpha under the table after all these years of being with him.” She pats my hand placatingly as I sit there and die from the rubbing alcohol I just ingested.
Cackling, she pours us each another shot. I shudder, but take it from her, nonetheless.
“Okay. Now, where do you want to start? I’m hoping you want to start with the good stuff. Like how something absolutely happened last night that you clearly didn’t want your fathers knowing about. But I know you’d never keep something juicy from your mother. I’m your favorite.”
Laughing, I take the shot, slamming the glass back on the table. I can already feel my limbs getting loose, muscles relaxing. My head feels floaty. It’s nice. Not drunk, but tipsy enough to have this conversation.
“Ugh. It’s not really anything, I swear. I just... ran into an alpha and beta last night.”
