The Beta's Mate

by Tanya Gilford

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  I woke up to my phone ringing, and I instinctively answered it without hesitation. “Hello?” I croaked, still half asleep.

  “Anne, what happened yesterday? You were supposed to call me back. Wait, how is it you still sound like I woke you up?” Debbie’s voice came through the phone causing me to wake up a little more.

  “He’s gone.” I replied, starting to sob again. “My dad died.”

  “Oh my god! Anne, I’m so sorry. Ugh, I wish I could come over and help you through this. I know how close you two were. I can try to talk to my parents about me coming out for a visit next month or during Christmas vacation.”

  “It’s okay, keep the plan for April vacation. My mom is trying, but you know how that is.” I assured her. “I have Charlie here to help me.”

  “I didn’t think you and Charlie were that serious.”

  “It’s complicated.” I whispered. I glanced over to see Charlie still sound asleep. His chest raising and falling, and his sexy lips were slightly parted as he breathed. I wanted to just end this call and curl back up next to him, but I didn’t want to be rude to my best friend.

  “Are you with him right now?” She screeched.

  “Debbie, I’m not really in the mood to talk right now. Can we chat later this week?”

  “Of course, girl. I’ll call you on like Friday.”

  “Sounds good. Thanks babe.” I sighed into the phone before hanging up. I placed my phone back on the nightstand next to the bed, then laid back down. I curled up close to Charlie, placing my head on his chest. He wrapped his arm around me, rubbing my arm.

  “Everything good?” He murmured.

  “It’s getting better. That was my bestie, I forgot I was supposed to call her back yesterday. She was worried about me. This distance is hard for us, since we’ve been friends since kindergarten.” I explained.

  He pulled his arm tighter around me and kissed my forehead. I wanted nothing more than to melt into his embrace. How could he feel this safe to me? I feel like I could trust him with anything. I was completely drawn to him when I first saw him, that I thought it was because of my hormones and my need to be touched by a man, but now laying here in his arms I realize there was more to it. I wish I knew what it was.

  “Are you hungry?” He asked me after what felt like ages in contempt silence.

  “Not really, I’m just tired.”

  “You need to eat Anna. I understand you're tired, but you need to eat to keep your strength and health.” He told me as he gently rubbed my back. “How about we go down to the kitchen, grab breakfast and then come back to bed? I can hold you until you fall asleep, but I do need to do things around the house with my friends.” I nodded in agreement against his chest, not really wanting to move out of his arms. “Let’s go.” He said gently, slowly untangling from me.

  I went over to his dresser, pulling on my comfy clothes, before heading into the bathroom. I raked my brush through my blonde curls. I looked in the mirror to see my eyes were pretty bloodshot, but what can I do? I just lost my dad, and I’m not here to look good for anyone, as long as Charlie didn’t care what I look like. I sighed at my reflection, then walked back into his bedroom. He gave me a questioning look, which I answered with a smile and a nod. He held out his hand for me to take, which I eagerly did.

  He led me down the stairs, around a corner and into a large kitchen. He had me take a seat at the table as he began cooking us some eggs. “These are from the farm, so you know they're fresh.” Charlie winked at me from the counter. He looked so cute when he flirted with me. I let out a sigh with a contempt smile on my face. This man has made me feel alive for the first time in a year, and now he is my life line. Without him, I’d be too afraid to know how much I would be drowning in my sorrow.

  “Charlie, why are you in love with me?” I barely heard my own voice when I asked.

  He turned around with two plates of food. He set them on the table before looking in my eyes. “We have a connection Anna. It’s hard to explain right now, but it’s there.” I knew what he was talking about, that connection has been there since I first saw him out my window a month ago. He turned back to the stove, and pulled out two coffee cups, dropped a tea bag in each then poured hot water from a kettle on them. He put one down in front of me as he took a seat next to me. “Don’t you feel our connection?” He asked as I sat playing with the tea bag.

  “I do, but I thought part of it was just me being me. I can get attached without warning, and the last time it happened, I was destroyed worse than I am now. I feel like I should be drowning in grief over my dad, but with you, I feel…” I couldn’t find a suitable word for how Charlie made me feel.

  He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, kissing my forehead. “You are drowning, but I’m holding your head above the water. Your panic attack was scary as hell to see from the barn. You were walking and laughing, then just fell to the ground clutching your chest. I thought you were having a damn heart attack until I got over to you. I hate that I can’t take this pain away, but I’m going to do my best to make it a little better.”

  “Well, you’re doing better than my mom or Bo could be. I have a better relationship with you. I have had a lot of resentment build up over the years towards them, because no one explained to an eight-year-old why her mom just moved out and started dating someone new. She moved out here when I was eleven, which made it worse for me.” I explained grimly as I took a bite of my food. “My mom is so wrapped up in her own life, that she doesn’t know how to help me grieve. My dad always seemed to know what to do.”

  “So, I need to call your ‘bestie’ was it? She may be able to give me some ideas.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh at how uncomfortable he seemed when saying bestie. “Debbie would tell you just to do what we do best together. In person she would be pampering the shit out of me and making me hate her long enough to forget I’m upset, because that’s what best friends do.”

  “Oh, this Debbie knows what you and I do best together?”

  “Sort of. I was in the process of talking about it with her, when my aunt called me. Then she called this morning and I’m sure you heard that phone call.” Charlie made a low moaning sound in agreement with my statement. We finished eating in silence, just enjoying each other’s company. “What time is it?” I asked when Charlie took my dishes from me.

  “Almost eleven. That’s why I said I need to get moving today, but if you’re still tired and need me, I can give you a little longer of my time.”

  “I thought it was like seven, but my god I must really be wiped.” I sighed. “Please, don’t let me take up all of your time. You made plans with your friends to help them today, I’m sure they're thrilled that I’m taking you away from those plans.”

  Charlie chuckled as he walked over to the large glass door. “Looks like most of them are still doing their morning routines. We got time.”

  “Well, I’m going to force myself out of your bed for the day. I do have school in the morning tomorrow, and if I don’t try to keep from wallowing in grief, then I’m going to struggle more tomorrow.” I explained as I walked back to his room. He followed me up. When we got into the room, I turned and looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

  “It’s my room, and I’m not working in my pajama pants.” He replied as he walked around me. He pulled open his draw and pulled out a pair of jeans. He took off his pajama bottoms, and I tried so hard not to get turned on at seeing his naked body standing in front of me. He quickly pulled on his jeans though. It was a bit odd that he seemed to be going commando in his jeans, but at the farm he wears his boxer briefs. I tried not to dwell on it.

  I walked to his closet and picked out one of the two dresses he grabbed for me. I chose the yellow one and pulled it on. When I was dressed, Charlie trailed his eyes down my body real slow before looking back at me with a smile. I rolled my eyes and took his hand as he pulled me out of the room. He took me outside and introd
uced me to everyone. There were six people here, no wonder why they had a large house. I wondered if this is what it's like living in a dorm room or a sorority house in college.

  As he set out to work in the large backyard, I sat on a lounge chair on the deck relaxing in the sun. My phone began to ring, and I quickly answered it not looking at the caller I.D. “Annie, baby. How are you doing today?” My mom’s voice came through the phone. “Did you get enough rest?”

  “I’m doing okay. I honestly just woke up like an hour ago, had some breakfast and now I’m relaxing on the back deck in the sun.” I explained.

  “I’m glad to hear that. Bo tried calling Charlie, but he didn’t answer.”

  “He’s working with his friends trying to build a shed or something in the yard.” I explained. “I’m sure he’ll call Bo back when he’s finished.”

  “Oh, there’s no need to do that. He was just calling to check on you, so we didn’t disturb your sleep. Since I have you on the phone, I do want to talk a bit if you’re up for it.”

  “Talk about what mom?” I sighed softly. I really didn’t want to talk about anything right now, but I was going to have to have this conversation eventually so I may as well get it over with.

  “I think you know dear. A month ago, I told you that if you and Charlie became more than friends, you’d tell me. Yesterday, I saw him carrying you in consumed with concern for you, then holding you in your bed. When he told me, he was in love with you I was thrown back a little, because you never even hinted at the two of you even being friends.” My mom explained. “Please, Annie, tell me what is going on.”

  “We were just friends. The night of the bonfire, Charlie helped me deal with a guy who got handsy with me. I felt super thankful that he was there to save me. When we work in the barn, we would just talk and get to know each other. It just sort of happened on Friday when we were coming out of the barn and laughing together, I kissed him. It felt right. As for him being in love with me, I don’t know what to tell you. We definitely have a connection that neither of us can explain. He had just told me early yesterday.” I confessed. I only kind of lied, and I hope Charlie would be okay with this story. I did start this whole thing, and we did talk among other things when we worked together. I made a mental note to tell Charlie what I’m saying to my mom to get our stories straight.

  “Annie, I’m just not entirely sure I’m comfortable with you being with a 23-year-old man. You're only 17.”

  “I’m going to be 18 in two months. I’m going to be with him whether you say I can or not. If you try to get him in trouble, then I’ll go home to New England and never speak to you again. I have been able to make my decisions on who I date since I was 15. Dad would ask to meet the guy before we went on our first date, and to have him over for dinner once a month while we dated. He never told me I couldn’t date a guy I chose to be with. You know why? Because he trusted me, and knew I am smart about who I date.” I huffed into the phone then hung up without hearing her reply. I was so pissed off at her right now.

  I groaned at my phone, wishing I could call my dad and hear him say he’ll talk to my mom for me. Reality came crashing down on me at this thought. I couldn’t ever call him again because he was gone. Instead I texted my other confidant, Debbie ``Ugh. Just had a stupid argument with my mom about me and Charlie. She tends to forget that I’m going to be 18 in two months. I know you try to stay out of it, but I can’t call my dad about it anymore and I need to vent.” Tears poured down my cheeks as I typed the last part. God, this heartache is unbearable.

  “Are you okay?” A girl asked coming up the steps to the deck. I quickly wiped at my eyes and nodded not really wanting to have a conversation about my problems with some random person. “Are you sure, because it looks to me like you're upset.”

  “I’m fine.” I managed weakly.

  “You must be Anna. Charlie mentioned you a few times, I just haven’t had a chance to say hello. My name is Sophie, I’m Steve’s little sister. You’re a senior, right?” I nodded. Apparently, Charlie has talked enough about me to this girl. “I am too, but I didn’t know what you looked like, and well honestly we aren’t in any classes together. I meant to introduce myself sooner, but Charlie said you were grieving.”

  “I am.” I took in a shaky breath.

  “Do you want to talk about what is wrong?” Sophie offered with a smile. “If it’s Charlie, I’ll kick his ass for you.”

  The thought of her trying to beat him up for me made me laugh. “My dad just died yesterday. We were close, and now I’m stuck here living with my mom who practically abandoned me when I was eight. She just learned about Charlie and I yesterday when he consoled me and I told her I wanted to leave with him. Because I’m not 18 for two more months she’s giving me an issue. She acts like Charlie is the first guy I’ve dated that is older than me. My first boyfriend was 19 when we started dating, and I was only 15, but when she met him that one time, she had no problem with it. It just pisses me off. I have her and her husband trying to control me in aspects of my life they have no business in. Her husband has tried to act like my dad this past month and it turned my stomach.” I don’t know why I confidded her, but it felt good to vent out loud to someone who isn’t biased to my family drama.

  “Well, Charlie is a smart guy, he’ll figure it out. Though it sounds to me like you’re in the process of making a stand with the idea that you’re not a child anymore and grieve the loss of someone you were very close with. This close to 18, they can’t touch you. You’re an adult who is stuck in High School, but if needed I’m sure you could stay here and finish with me.” Sophie replied. “I know it’s crude, but tell me about this other boyfriend.”

  “Nothing to tell. He broke up with me through text a week before my birthday last year while he was away on vacation. I was devastated, but I survived. My best friend's answer was ‘the best way to get over him is to get under another.’ I tried to date two other guys, but I don’t think I was ready until I met Charlie.”

  “Damn, that was cold of him. Charlie’s not like that. I’ve known him my whole life, he’s like a brother to me. When he’s with a girl, he puts his heart and soul into it. Though he seems to always be the one that gets hurt, because he gives so much to the relationship. But you won’t hurt him, your connections are different.”

  “What do you mean? How do you know our connection is different from the others?” I was confused by her absolute certainty in her statement.

  “I see why your eyes light up when I mention Charlie’s name, and I see the way he talks about you. Not to mention how angry you are about being told not to be with him. I can just tell that your connection is different.” She retorted. Though it seemed like she was hiding something. I don’t know her enough to push the issue, so I just let it go. “Well, I need to go grab something for the guys. I’ll see you around.” Sophie said as she headed into the house.

  That was the most awkward conversation I have ever had in my life. That’s when I remembered Charlie told me there were so many things to tell me about him, that I had to wonder. What could it be that he hasn’t already told me? Did he have a kid? My mind raced with the possibilities of what he was taking his sweet time to tell me. I leaned back in the lounge chair looking up at the clouds before closing my eyes to the sun as I let my mind continue to wonder.

  **********************************************

  Charlie

  As I work on the shed with Steve and Paul, I couldn’t help but worry about Anna. She was so heartbroken over the passing of her father that she basically told her mother she wanted nothing to do with her. This woman was so damn headstrong, it baffled me. She may only be 17, but she is mature enough to pass as a 25-year-old woman.

  She has told me enough about her childhood to understand that she truly resents her mom, which makes this situation complicated. Her dad is gone, and he was the only parent she loved and trusted her entire life. She had to work on things with her mom in order to find a level ground to balan
ce on again. It sounded like Ray Keller was the buffer between Pam and Anastasia’s anger. Without him, things could get ugly before they get better.

  Sofie finally came back from the house with the saw that Steve had asked her to go get. “What the hell took you so long?” Steve barked at his sister.

  “I stopped to talk to Anna. She had just gotten off the phone and seemed upset. I consoled her a bit.” Sofie admitted. I wondered who had called her to make Anna upset, then I remembered that I let Bo’s call go to voicemail.

  “Let me guess. Her mom called her?”

  “Yes, but while I was trying to make her feel better. I almost told her about being your mate.” Sofie grimaced. “I back tracked with a stupid lie, but honestly I don’t think she believed me, just didn’t push me on the topic.”

  “I’m going to have to tell her eventually. Did you use the term mate?” I asked.

  “No. I said your connection is different with her, and that you won’t hurt her.” I nodded in understanding of what they were probably talking about. “When I came back out of the house, she looked like she was sleeping in a lounge chair.”

  “Good, she needs sleep. She had a really bad panic attack yesterday when her aunt called her with the news about her dad. The way she fell scared the shit out of me. I thought she was dying in the middle of the yard. It’s hitting her harder, because she had talked to him like four hours prior to his passing.” I explained.

  “Shit, that is the worst. To not be there, but to get a call about it basically right after you hung up the phone.” Steve sighed. “I still don’t understand how she ended up here with you. Last you told us was you two were keeping it under wraps from her parents.”