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“Hey. It’s going to be okay. I can take anything your sister throws at me and give it right back, Syn. I’m not concerned. I did live with hundreds of omegas for three years, remember? I’m well aware of how catty some of them can be. If she has a problem with our relationship, well, that’s on her. I love River, and I won’t feel ashamed of that. I’m also quickly falling for the rest of you as well,” she says the last bit softly, and my eyes snap to hers quickly at that admission, seeing nothing but sincerity shining from those hazel depths.
Fuck. This omega. My lips quirk up, and I lean forward to peck her on the nose.
“I’m so glad you crashed into our lives, Baby Girl. You’re right. We have nothing to be ashamed of. This is our pack, and what happens within our pack is our business.” I nod resolutely. “Also, I can’t speak for the others, but I can honestly say that you’ve officially wormed your way into my heart and taken a piece for yourself,” I tell her sincerely.
And it’s the truth. She’s brought a lot of joy into all our lives. Love. Kindness. We’re all wrapped around her finger, willing to do anything to ensure she’s safe and loved. I think I might already love her, to be honest. She bulldozed her way through my guards and broke down my walls almost effortlessly.
Her responding smile is brilliant, soothing the chaos inside of me. We spend the rest of the flight in companionable silence. Not much time later, we finally began our descent, landing on the tarmac in Briarwood. Luckily, our flight wasn’t very full, so we’re able to disembark quickly. We grab our bags from the overhead bin and under our seats and head off the plane. It’s just after ten in the morning when we arrive when I check the time on my phone inside the airport.
“Do you want to go find something to eat before we go get checked in? We still have a little over an hour before we need to be at the hotel,” I ask Ripley as we head over to where we need to go to get a rental car.
“Yes! I’m starving.” Her words are followed by a rather loud grumble from her stomach, making her cheeks pinken, and I chuckle.
I sign all the necessary paperwork for the car, taking my copies from the beta behind the counter once everything is done. We’re led out to the front just as a black car pulls up, and I walk around to the driver’s side, popping the trunk so we can put our things in there. In the car, we pull out, and I head toward our hotel.
“How do subs sound? There’s a really great Mom and Pop-owned sandwich shop downtown near where we’re staying that makes some of the best meatball subs I’ve ever had.”
“Um, what are we waiting for, then? Feed me, woman.” Ripley grins, and I feel my own lips twitch into a smile.
Twenty minutes later, we’re seated at a table at Rockin’ Subs, waiting on our food. Ripley is busy looking around at the fifties-themed decor, wiggling in her seat. I always loved coming here in high school because it brought me comfort. The floors are black-and-white checkered tile, with old-school booths and tables dispersed around the sizeable area. Every tabletop is covered with red and white checkered tablecloths, condiments, and napkins neatly placed in the center. In the front is the counter to order, with a large sign on the back wall showcasing all their sandwich options and a list of yummy milkshakes and sundaes you can get. There’s a jukebox in the back corner of the shop where anyone can pick a song for just a quarter next to one of those old pinball machines that I feel not a single soul has touched in who knows how long.
“This place is so cool,” Ripley says as she looks back at me with a giddy smile.
“I used to come here all the time in high school. It was one of my favorite places to escape to. Mr. Willy, the owner, runs this place with his wife and has for... Oh, I don’t know, thirty years or so now? They’re the sweetest beta couple, and every sandwich is made with love. That’s what they say their secret ingredient is,” I whisper the last part to her, chuckling.
“Because it’s the truth, little lady! Now, who do we have here? Is that my lovely Syn?” Agnes, Willy’s wife, places our subs in front of us and puts her hands on her hips as she looks down at me, grinning from ear to ear.
Agnes and Willy are a lovely couple in their sixties. Agnes’s red hair has hardly any gray in it, and if you were looking at her from behind, you’d never be able to tell her age. She has laugh lines around her eyes and lips, telling anyone that looks at her she’s smiled and laughed plenty over the years. Very few wrinkles line her face, but the ones she has don’t take away from her beauty. She showed me pictures of her from when she was a teenager once, and she was a stunner back in the day. I think she aged with grace, still just as beautiful, only older.
“Hey, Agnes. How’ve you been? It’s been a while.” I stand to give her a hug.
She’s shorter than me, only coming up to my shoulders, so she wraps her arms around my waist in a tight embrace. Agnes always felt like a second mother to me. Or even a grandmother, though I’d never tell her that. She would say she’s too young to be my grandmother. When we pull apart, she swats me with her hand towel.
“Too damn long, missy. Where have you been hiding?” She glances at Ripley, smiling kindly at her. “And who is this beautiful young lady with you?”
I sit back in my seat, stealing a fry from my plate and popping it between my lips.
“I’m Ripley. It’s nice to meet you.” She holds her hand out for Agnes, causing her to scoff.
“None of that, sweet girl. Any friend of Syn’s is family here.”
Ripley looks at me with wide eyes before Agnes pulls her up and envelops her in one of her signature warm hugs. Ripley relaxes in the old beta’s hold quickly, hugging her back.
“Now, let’s have a look at ‘ya.” Agnes pulls back, her hands on Ripley’s shoulders as she looks the omega over. “Well, now, aren’t you just beautiful? Those eyes of yours are just stunning.”
I watch as Ripley’s skin flushes from the compliment, tucking her shiny black locks behind her ear.
“Thank you.”
Ripley sits back down, her cheeks the prettiest shade of pink, but a ghost of a smile playing on her rosy lips. She eyes her sub and fries in front of her before shrugging and taking a bite of the meatball sub in her basket. She closes her eyes, savoring the taste.
“Oh, my Gods. So good.” She groans out between bites, making Agnes laugh in glee.
“It’s the love we put in there, sweetie,” Agnes tells her, smiling at Ripley’s reaction before looking back at me. “So, what brings you home? Haven’t seen you in here in forever, it seems. Where’s that wily omega of yours?”
I swallow my food and wipe my lips before answering her. “River is back home with everyone else. He didn’t finish his commission before we needed to leave, and the others all had various things they needed to do. Ripley was kind enough to provide me with the company. My sister is having another baby, so we’re here to help watch the other kids while they’re at the hospital.”
“Because that’s just what she needs. Another child.” Agnes rolls her eyes.
