I grimaced, and stopped her before she could tell me about the baker's son sleeping with the farmer's daughter in the parking lot of the movie theater or whatever. “I was only wondering if you'd heard anything about an omega by the name of Elias Stevens.”
Her eyes sparkled. “You like that omega?”
“He's an old friend,” I waved her off.
“Is he the boy you made out with when you were young?”
I did a double take. What had she just said?
“Oh, don't think I didn't notice you sneaking into the house with this dreamy expression on your face. I know that wasn't because of your fiancé.”
Ow, she was even more perceptive than I gave her credit for. No wonder she knew everything about everyone. I just hadn't thought that included me.
And I didn't know what to say now.
“Don't worry, dear,” she said, a smile on her lips as she took another sip of her tea. “I never said a word to anyone. After all, you were always my favorite child. I can say that because I'm not your mother.”
“Thank you.” It was all that I could think to say in response.
She simply gave me another smile. “It's good to know that I was right and you had some fun before you got married. And with an omega too!”
I felt the tiniest bit of heat creep into my cheeks, because I'd definitely had fun, and Frederica was not someone I wanted to discuss my sex life with. She said she wasn't my mother, but honestly, some days it felt like she was.
“So you want to know how your past lover is doing, yes? That's understandable. I still look in on my exes from time to time. Always interesting. Well, except for the one guy who gave me lice. I won't go anywhere near that one again.” She said it with so much disdain in her voice that I had to grin, forgetting the awkwardness I'd felt a moment ago.
“If you know anything about Eli, I'd be glad to hear it.”
“Eli, huh?” She set her tea down and thought for a moment. “I've heard about an omega with that name. He stands out, really, because he's old for being unmated.”
“Unmated?” I repeated because I couldn't believe it. So my senses hadn't tried to trick me the night before. Eli really was still on the market. After all this time… I’d never have thought it possible. How lucky was I? All this time I’d dreaded finding out what lucky bastard had mated Eli, only to hear he was still single. Available.
But not necessarily available to you.
“Well, yes. He turns everyone down. Upsets some of the alphas in town. He's good-looking after all, but you know that.” She winked at me. This topic obviously amused her. “To think that you of all people slept with him...”
“What's that supposed to mean?” I demanded.
“Nothing. Just that you're not exactly the type to go downtown and seduce the local omegas.”
I shrugged. “It was a chance encounter.”
She nodded. “Must have been. And the chemistry was right?”
“I'm not going into detail on that,” I said, clearing my throat. Frederica didn't need to know about the way my heart had started racing the moment I'd seen Eli smile at me in the park all those years ago.
“Fine.” Frederica waved her hand. “Be coy, then.” She took her tea cup up again, her face turning pensive. “There's also the matter of the child, of course,” she said after a minute.
“The child?” Holy shit, I'd nearly forgotten about Jake upon hearing that Eli was unmated.
“Eli's child. He has a young boy. No one knows who fathered him, though. It's a mystery. If you believe the rumors, he doesn't know himself.”
I did not believe the rumors. “He's not that kind of person,” I said quietly, processing all that Frederica had told me and coming to a realization. “He knows. I'm sure of it.” Eli wasn’t the type to sleep with random strangers, let alone multiple strangers. The chemistry between us had been out of control from the moment we’d met, but it had still taken me weeks to get him to drop his clothes for me. I’d had to work my way up from stolen kisses to tongue-on-tongue action to mindless make-out sessions in the dark. All of it had been worth it, though. So worth it.
“Well, if he knows, he’s not telling anyone. People assume he was knocked up by some college kid, since he came home from school pregnant, and then he quit school soon after.”
It saddened me to hear that. He’d only just started school when I’d met him, and he’d been so proud of that too. Getting that scholarship. He’d worked his ass off. That’s why he told me he deserved to have a little fun. I couldn’t believe that he let some college guy take that away from him. That simply couldn’t be what had happened. Not to Eli. “His son is seven,” I said, more to myself than to Frederica, who gave me a blank look in response.
“Is he?” she asked, but I wasn’t really listening to her, stuck in my own head.
“I slept with him eight years ago.”
Now Frederica was starting to catch on. “Oh.” She held a hand in front of her mouth. “But then… do you think…?”
Did I? “I don’t know.” If Jake was really mine, Eli would have told me, wouldn’t he?
Or, he wouldn’t have told anyone.
My head was spinning.
Could it really be….?
No, I was jumping to conclusions.
“Oh, that would be so good if it was true.” Frederica’s eyes sparkled again.
Oh no. “Not a word!” I told her. “Not to anyone!” We couldn’t have this kind of rumor floating around. People would be all over it, no matter if it was true or not. Knowing that I’d been together with Eli eight years ago would be proof enough for a lot of the people in this town. And I needed to process this information by myself before I wanted anyone else talking about it. If it was even true.
Frederica sighed. “I understand. But this is such big news. You could be a father!”
I felt the blood drain from my face because I was not ready to suddenly be the father of a seven-year old. “If Eli wanted me in his life, he would have told me.” I rubbed my temples with the heels of my hands.
I had to speak to Eli again, and soon. Just so I could stop worrying about all of this, since it would certainly turn out to not be true. It had to. “I guess I'll be staying in town for a few days,” I told Frederica.
“Lovely,” Frederica said. “I'd thought you'd only stay the weekend.”
“Well, I've got some things to look into, don't I?” Never mind that staying longer would also allow me to keep an eye on my father's health. “Would you happen to know where Eli lives? Or where he works?”
Frederica shrugged. “I don't know. But I can ask around.”
“Thank you.” I drained the rest of my tea and leaned back in my chair, feeling a migraine coming on.
The sooner this was all sorted the better.
7
Elias
When I got into work the next day, it didn't seem like things were going to pick up for me. Because of the shelter's financial problems, my boss suggested that we do some sort of charity event to raise public awareness and get some donations coming in. It was a good idea, but my boss wasn't good at actually planning anything, so he proposed that Harold and I think of something. Together. Because that was totally how I wanted to spend my day.
For the better part of an hour, Harold and I stared at each other in silence, a blank page on the table in front of us.
“You're an omega,” he said eventually.
“Yes...” I had no idea where he was going with this, but it couldn't be good.
“Couldn't we have like an auction? Put you to good use for once. I'm sure some people would pay money for a night with you.”
My jaw dropped.
Excuse me?
“Are you suggesting I prostitute myself?” There was a line, and Harold had just pissed on it.
“I wasn't saying that,” he claimed. “I meant like a date. Not my fault you immediately jump to sex, but I guess that's omegas for you.”
How dare he...
&n
bsp; Wordlessly, I stood and left the room. I was so mad I couldn't even think straight. All I knew was I needed to get out of there before I did something I might regret.
I only stopped when I reached the shelter's parking lot, still seething inside.
That absolute bastard.
I didn't want to skip out of work, but I did need some fresh air to cool off. Where did people get off, saying things like that? I wasn't sex-obsessed. In fact, I couldn't even remember the last time I'd gone to bed with anyone beyond the fact that it had been an entirely disappointing experience. That hadn't been the fault of my partner, though. After I knew what it felt like to have an actual connection with someone, nothing else could compare.
I was yanked out of my silent raging when I heard a car door open. Someone else beside me was in the parking lot. A customer maybe? I looked to the direction of the sound--only to see the man I'd been thinking of a mere second ago.
What was Matthew doing here? Did he know I worked here? I couldn't imagine that he'd come here because he wanted to adopt a puppy.
I folded my hands in front of my chest, and not only because it was cold--which it was, more so because I'd stormed out without my coat.
“What brings you here?” I addressed Matt, trying not to let it show that I was having a bad day.
“I need to talk to you.”
“So you waited for me in the parking lot?”
“I was going to go in.” He shook his head. “I got a migraine.”
“Oh. I'm sorry.” He'd gotten those every now and then when we were younger too. I'd hated seeing him in pain, but sometimes, I could take it away. I wasn't quite sure how I did it myself, but he told me he found my presence soothing. 'That omega thing you do helps me,' he'd said, although I was never aware of doing anything special. I simply held him and massaged the back of his head with my fingers. What anyone would do, really. “Are you feeling better?” I asked, because I was tempted to go to him even now, my anger over Harold's stupid comment all but forgotten.
“I'm fine, thank you,” he said. I wasn't sure that I believed him, but he changed the topic on me. “Are you off work now?”
“No, actually, I should probably go back in.” I glanced at the entrance to the shelter behind me and rubbed my arms. I really should go back in.
Matt took a step toward me and shrugged out of his coat. “I understand. I'm not going to keep you long, but we do need to talk.” And then he draped his coat over my shoulders without even asking me whether I wanted it--and in doing so, he came so close to me that the alpha scent he gave off nearly overwhelmed me. It was like I hadn't aged at all and I was still that stupid college freshman who'd fallen for him in the first place.
“What is it that you want to talk about?” I made myself ask, focusing on the present.
He looked around the parking lot. “I'm not sure we should do this here. How would you feel about having dinner with me tonight?”
I grimaced. “Do you want Jake to be there? Because I can't just leave my kid alone for a night.”
“You can't find anyone to watch him for an hour or two?”
I licked my lips. “I might find someone, but where would you want to have dinner?” Matt had never taken me out to dinner. At least not in public. He'd sometimes ordered meals from fancy restaurants and we'd eaten them somewhere in a safe place, in a cabin in the woods or on one of his family’s boats that never got any use. We’d gotten good at hiding away from the eyes of the town.
“Wherever you want,” he offered.
I raised an eyebrow at him. “That's easy for you to say since you won't have to live with the rumors that'll be flying around after.” No, he'd just leave again. And I shouldn't have dinner with him in the first place. Nothing good could come of it.
It didn't matter that he was everything I wanted.
Not when I knew that I couldn't have him.
I'd been naive eight years ago, thinking I could enjoy my time with him while it lasted and then move on as if nothing had happened. I hadn't known how much leaving him would hurt.
“Okay,” Matt said. “No dinner then. What do you suggest?”
I thought about it for a moment. Part of me was tempted to simply deny him outright, but then I did want to know what he had to discuss with me. “I walk my dog every night at nine,” I said. “I don't always go to the park, but sometimes I do.”
“Got it.” Matt gave me a small smile. “Thank you.”
“You're welcome,” I said, sighing, because I hated the way a simple smile from him still managed to make me feel warm even while I was positively freezing.
I could only hope that he left town again before I got any really stupid ideas.
8
Matthew
I had no idea whether Eli was really going to show up, but I hoped he would--and not only because it was freezing out here tonight. I also hoped he was bringing his own coat this time, because I'd hate to part with mine again, although I would. Nothing made me more uncomfortable than seeing Eli uncomfortable. Especially when there was something I could do about it. I hadn't even thought about putting my coat on him earlier, as if we were still an item. It had just felt like the right thing to do.
And getting so close to him, I'd almost leaned in for a kiss too.
Stupid.
Just because Eli wasn't mated didn't mean he was available, or willing to start anything with me again. And I still had duties to my family, even if I didn't like them.
I rubbed my hands together and looked at the swing set across from me. I hadn't come to this park very often as a child. Mostly, I'd been confined to our property. And then when I'd finally ventured out into the world, I'd done exactly what my mother had always warned me of--I'd fallen for the first omega I'd met.
Not because he was the first, though.
No, because he was Eli. With his bright eyes and his kind smile and all his fierce ambitions that defied everything I'd been taught about omegas.
And I couldn't help but wonder what had happened to him after we'd parted. How had he turned into a source of gossip?
I exhaled and watched the air puff out of my mouth like smoke. It was ten past nine.
Was he really coming?
Well, if he was, I would be here waiting.
I stuck my hands into my pockets to keep them warm.
It took a couple more minutes until I saw someone approach under the park lights in the distance. Someone with a dog.
I smiled, and walked toward Eli.
“I'm sorry,” he said in greeting. “I got held up by a boy who wanted to show me every page of his new comic book.”
“It's fine,” I said while Fiona happily sniffed my leg. “I'm just happy you could make it at all. I was beginning to worry.”
“It was a pretty thick comic book.”
I had to chuckle. “The woes of a parent, I assume. Should we walk a bit?”
“Yeah, let's. We'll get cold if we don't.”
I licked my lips to keep from speaking, because part of me wanted to offer him some help warming up.
“What is it that you wanted to talk about?” He asked, cutting right to the chase once we'd walked a few feet.
“Well,” I started. “It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other.”
He gave a short laugh that sounded anything but amused. “You could say that.”
“I was wondering how you’ve been doing.”
“I’m a single parent and I work at the shelter. I live with my brother. There’s really not much more to say.” And by his tone of voice, he didn’t seem inclined to say more either.
“Forgive me for saying this, but you don’t seem happy.” He couldn’t be. Not if I knew him at all. And I liked to think that I’d gotten to know him pretty well in the time we’d spent together. We’d only had a few months, but they’d been the most intense months of my life.
He gave me a wry smile. “I’m a parent. My happiness is not what concerns me the most. But you don’t have to worry abo
ut me. I mean, it’s kind of sweet that you do, but I’m fine.”
“I guess I have no choice but to believe you.” I took a deep breath, inhaling the night air, the smell of snow, and Eli’s scent—which took me right back to a younger, bolder version of myself. “What would you do if I kissed you right now?”
Eli stopped and looked at me wide-eyed. “Are you serious? You show up here after eight years and suddenly you want to kiss me?”
The way he said it made it sound like I had done something wrong. Like I’d hurt him, by my absence or by ending things. “We had an agreement eight years ago. You were on board with it,” I reminded him. I had never lied to him about the direction our non-relationship was going. Not once.
“I know that!” But the way he looked at me let me know that he didn’t care what our agreement had been. He’d still ended up hating it in the end.
The same way I had.
We’d been so stupid.
I could see that now, but maybe now was too late. I left Eli to marry a woman I didn’t care for all that much, and even though that marriage was over, the damage had been done.
“I’m sorry,” I said softly.
Eli started walking again, and the dog looked at me in confusion until I followed. “It’s fine,” Eli said, and that word convinced me about as much as the last time he’d used it a few minutes ago.
“I wish you’d stop saying that when things really aren’t fine.”
“What do you want, Matt?” he asked without looking at me. “I can’t do anything for you. I’m not sleeping with a married man.”
I closed my eyes for a second and exhaled. “I’m not married anymore.”
9
Elias
“You're not?” I turned to face Matthew. Had he really just said what I thought he'd said?
Matthew spread his arms. “I'm divorced,” he said as if it was no big deal.
The Omega's Secret Baby (Oceanport Omegas Book 1) Page 4