by Ava Beringer
Fresh As A Daisy Omega
Omegas In Bloom Book One
Ava Beringer
Copyright © 2020 by Ava Beringer
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
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Contents
1. Colby
2. Preston
3. Preston
4. Colby
5. Preston
6. Colby
7. Colby
8. Colby
9. Colby
10. Preston
11. Preston
12. Preston
Epilogue
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1
Colby
“Yeah, baby!” I yelled, taking a swig from my half-empty bottle of champagne. I spun around and popped my butt to the music, dancing on my coworker Ginger behind me and my boss Miguel in front of me. The three of us were on the pink checkout counter, non-slip soles and all, in Miguel’s Fabulous Flowers. Miguel’s grand opening was tomorrow and we employees were celebrating in style.
“Party over here!” Buster threw his arms up, his deep brown skin shining under the soft, dim lights.
“DJ, play something we can shake our money makers to!” Gabe yelled as he shook his generous hips. Clarke, the “DJ”, grumbled from his chair in the corner and changed the song on the speaker. Drake came on and we all screamed.
“Hit me!” Ginger yelled. I lifted my bottle over my shoulder. Ginger crouched and opened her mouth, glugging the golden, bubbly liquid I poured on her tongue, dancing the whole time. She tapped my shoulder, so I stopped pouring for her and downed the rest of the bottle, flinging it on our pile of dirty aprons.
“Hands on your knees, hands on your knees!” Buster called as he popped, locked, and dropped it to the music. Miguel could pop and drop it, too.
“No fair,” Ginger whined, waving a hand at Miguel. “You have, like, built-in dance mechanisms. Me, Colby, and Gabe are SOL. Clarke’s so bad he won’t even get out of his chair. Look at me all milky and freckly,” she slurred as she looked over her arms. Buster came up behind her and grabbed her hips.
“Don’t worry, G, there’s hope for you yet. I bet you can Irish jig circles around all of us.” He shimmied her hips. Ginger couldn’t keep up. Her drunken wobble made everybody laugh. Her eyes fluttered closed. She tilted backwards and dropped off the counter.
“Timber!” Buster yelled. He caught her in the nick of time and lowered her to the polished concrete floors.
“Look, she’s already snoring!” I yelled, pointing at her.
“Get your phones out. We’re adding this to the blackmail footage reel,” Miguel said. Gabe rolled his eyes affectionately.
“Ugh, I got her, the lush.” He jumped down and half-dragged, half-carried Ginger to the couch in the staff lounge. He dusted his hands on the way back.
“She’s turned on her side with a garbage can to catch regurgitation-”
“Can you, maybe, stop saying it like that?” Clarke asked with a wince.
“No, I cannot,” Gabe said in a sing-song voice, “In case of regurgitation there’s a strategically-placed waste basket. Our inebriated friend Ginger has been covered with a fuzzy blanket and also provided with a glass of water and lots of painkillers.” Gabe ended his report with a sharp nod.
“Thank you for the ‘Father Gabe’s Bestie is Blackout Drunk’ protocol, honey. I always love the treatment when I get it,” Buster said.
“Father Gabe? You mean Daddy Gabe?” Miguel said. Gabe pursed his lips.
“Yup, I’m all daddy over here,” he said sarcastically. “Somebody’s got to keep you hot messes alive.”
“One down,” I chirped as I went for another bottle. “Who’s next?” Clarke ran a hand down his face, adjusting his round spectacles and shaking his neatly-parted head.
“Guys, it’s only eight o’clock.”
“And?” Miguel said, shaking his butt in Clark’s direction, giving him a teasing look over his shoulder.
“Miguel, as great as your ass is, we’re all omegas here-”
“Ahem,” Ginger croaked from the back room.
“Everyone not passed out is an omega here. Besides, I don’t think your alpha would appreciate anybody looking at you.” Everybody groaned and rolled their eyes. Miguel grinned and looked up at the ceiling, not even pretending to be humble.
“I know. I have the most handsome, devoted, passionate alpha on planet Earth.”
“We know it, too,” I joked.
“He makes sure we all know it,” Gabe added.
“And it’s such a beautiful thing,” I sighed, leaning forward on Miguel’s shoulder, swaying from the liquor. “I was so happy when you guys figured out how in love you were. I got to watch you come together and bring Carter into the world, and now your dream has come true. I’m just glad to be along for the ride.”
“Oh, sweetie,” Miguel blubbered, spinning and grabbing me so fast we almost fell off the counter. We slow-danced to the Ying Yang Twins, ignoring their orders for us to shake it like a salt shaker. “We’ve been through the fire together, haven’t we? I’m so grateful you came with me to Fab Flowers. You’re like the baby brother I never had.”
The champagne made me teary, even though I would have been anyway. Miguel treated me like a little brother since I’d known him, protecting and guiding me, even though he was the one going through hell. The rest of the gang was older than me and watched over me in that way, too. I’d never felt so loved, not even by my own family.
“You’re like the big brother I never had. Except you’re my new bossy boss.” Miguel laughed at that. He turned in Clarke’s direction and clapped sharply behind my back.
“Anyway. I know it’s only eight, but we need to celebrate! Open wide.” Clarke eyed him suspiciously.
“For what?” Miguel jerked his head. Buster and Gabe grinned slyly at each other and grabbed a couple bottles of champagne. They boxed Clarke in. Clarke scowled, crossed his arms, and declared, “I don’t have an alcohol problem, unlike everybody else in this store.”
“We don’t have alcohol problems; we have alcohol solutions!” Buster yelled, waving his arms so his bright-yellow, ruffle sleeves flapped. “Get with the program. Drink. Drink. Drink! Drink!” I joined in and soon we were all chanting.
“Drink! Drink! Drink!” Clarke turned his nose up.
“You hooligans can’t peer pressure me,” he sniffed.
“Aw, you’re no fun,” Gabe said, waving a dismissive hand at him.
“Booooooooo!” Miguel jeered. Buster gave him a double thumbs down.
“You didn’t let me finish. You can’t peer pressure me, but I can choose to have a drink myself. Let’s do it.” Clarke tilted his head back and closed his eyes.
“He’s letting loose for once, can you believe it?” Buster squealed. We all went crazy cheering. Gabe and Miguel upended two bottles of champagne into Clarke’s mouth, and he drank until clear rivulets flowed down his chin, dampening his stiff collar and leaving wet spots on his blue bow tie. He took a big gulp and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. He fist pumped. “Again!” He tilted his head back. The gang whooped and poured more champagne down his throat. I was still on the counter, shuffling to the music as I watched. The beat an
d the booze moved me and made me want to let go of all my problems. Tomorrow didn’t just mark a new beginning for my big brother Miguel, it marked a new beginning for me, too.
Immediately, Clarke slumped in his chair, his normal tight expression replaced by a crooked grin.
“There we go,” Miguel said, nodding with satisfaction as one of Clarke’s eyelids drooped.
“Come dance with us, Clarke. You’re already drunk enough,” Buster said.
“I’m not- hic!- drunk,” was Clarke’s reply.
“Poor innocent soul,” Buster teased. Gabe wagged a finger at Clarke.
“Dance with us but make sure you drink a bottle of water, you lightweight. I don’t want to have to give you the drunk protocol after two glasses of bubbly.” They grabbed Clarke by the hands and helped him out of his seat. Clarke swayed, Gabe and Miguel wrapping their arms around his waist. I helped haul him up onto the counter. Clarke threw our hands off.
“Out of my way. Let me shine.” Clarke giggled and moved to the music, an off-beat, nerdy little two-step that had us all gasping for air. “Just wait until I break out my real moves,” Clarke crowed, waggling his chin at us. He held out both his arms and pumped them in a circle. He was on beat this time, but…
“Honey, are you doing the cabbage patch un-ironically?” Buster screeched. “I haven’t seen that since ’93!” Miguel set his hands on his hips.
“Were you even around in ’93?”
“I know I look nineteen, but yes, I was around then. Thanks for the compliment.” Buster winked.
“Black don’t crack,” Ginger yelled from the back room. Buster jerked a thumb over his shoulder and nodded.
“My girl Ginger knows what’s up.”
“What happened to you being passed out?” I yelled.
“I have ears like a bat,” she called. Then she wretched into the trash can.
“Ewwwww.” Clarke was just moving on to the sprinkler when a huge shadow stepped in. The form was carrying a happy, wriggling baby, bopping to the music.
“What’s all this, then?” It was Hunter Blake, Miguel’s alpha, laughing in the doorway. “Should I cover my innocent child’s eyes?” Hunter held a giant hand in front of the baby’s eyes. The little boy, Carter, thought a game of peek-a-boo was starting and shrieked with excitement. Miguel shrieked, too.
“There they are. The two best guys in the world.” He ran up to Hunter, who leaned down to plant a kiss on his lips. Hunter had a grin a mile wide and looked on gratefully as Miguel covered Carter’s face with kisses. I tamped down the jealousy in my heart. I wanted what Miguel had. He’d gone through the fire to have his husband and son, but he’d tell anyone who would listen how it was beyond worth it.
When I first started working at big box florist “Flowers Now” under Miguel, Hunter came in and I couldn’t get over how hot he was. I dropped the thought as soon as I saw how focused he was on Miguel; he had blinders on to anyone else, and I didn’t believe they were just friends for a second. I wanted somebody to look at me like that.
I wasn’t like Miguel, though; I couldn’t keep an alpha like that. They all loved me and left me. Case in point; I got rejected by an alpha only a few hours ago. It was crushing, because although I’d only known Ralph a short time, he’d taken advantage of me and I fell for his lies. It wasn’t the first time.
“How’s it going, guys?” Hunter asked now that the little family was done being painfully adorable.
Clarke stood up straight on the counter, adjusting his crooked tie with both hands. “Accounting software and petty cash are ready to go,” he announced.
“The Point-Of-Sale system is state of the art and so is our cyber security,” Gabe added.
“Thank heaven for Alex,” Miguel said, rolling his eyes skyward.
“Inventory is plentiful, both plants and cafe items,” I said.
“Floral design classes are scheduled and fully booked,” Gabe added.
“Shifts are all worked out!” Ginger called. Buster crossed his arms and glared back toward the staff lounge.
“In the words of the great Samuel L. Jackson, go the f-”
“The baby,” I cautioned, laughing.
“Go the heck to sleep, Ginger,” Buster finished. “We’re in full bloom, baby!” he yelled, holding his arms out wide as I scooped Carter out of Hunter’s arms.
“Just gonna borrow your baby for a second, excuse me, comin’ through.” Hunter and Miguel exchanged amused looks as I scuttled away with their happy, drooling baby. Carter was eight months old, a fun, easy-going little guy. It was easy to make him laugh and he had his parents’ good looks. I stroked his hair, silky and black like Miguel’s. He was big and heavy, on his way to being huge like Hunter.
I rested my cheek on his silky little head and breathed in his fresh baby scent.
“Look how cute you are, my sweet little office baby.” Carter grinned at me, chewing on his fingers and drooling all over his pine tree t-shirt. “Is it wrong for me to want one just like you? It’s stupid. I’ll probably just get knocked up by some rando who’ll have me in love with him but doesn’t even like me. Seems like it’s destiny.” Carter gnawed on his fingers in response. “That’s a lot to put on somebody with only eight months of life experience. I better get a shrink, huh?” I let out a laugh and Carter gave a little happy shriek. I kissed his soft, round cheek. “I love you, buddy.”
“We’re gonna head out,” Hunter announced. “It’s way past that little guy’s bedtime. We just wanted to say one last congratulations before your big day,” Hunter said, wrapping an arm around Miguel’s waist and yanked him close. Miguel let out a little “Ooh!” and Hunter laid a big kiss on him. I huffed and puffed as I passed Carter back to them, putting on a bad posh accent.
“I suppose, if you absolutely must go home and snuggle up together and be cute and loved-up, I can return your child.” Miguel’s face softened. I thought I did a good job of covering my sadness and longing with snark, but I guess not.
“I’ll catch up with you at home, my handsomes,” Miguel said, kissing both Hunter and Carter. Hunter understood.
“Say bye to everybody, little man.” Hunter waved Carter’s tiny hand. Carter drooled and cooed some more.
When they were gone, Miguel went in the supply room. He came back with a massive bottle of whiskey, which he set on the counter with a loud thump.
“Tomorrow’s gonna be interesting,” Clarke slurred, eyeing the bottle of dark liquid. I sat up onto the counter. Gabe scooted Clarke’s chair closer with a screech on the polished floors. Miguel and Buster leaned against the walls. Clarke, now two sheets to the wind, climbed onto the counter, curled into the fetal position and laid his head in my lap. The gang and I exchanged smirks as I stroked Clarke’s tousled hair.
“Everybody take a swig. Boss man’s orders,” Miguel said. We passed the bottle around, and I held it up to Clarke’s lips so he could take a sip.
“Y’know, we should do this party thing more often. Like, once a week at least,” Clarke slurred, his eyes only half open.
Once we’d all had some, Miguel fixed his intense brown eyes on me.
“Spill it.” I grabbed the whiskey bottle by its neck and pretended to dump it out.
“No!” Buster screamed, the back of his hand to his forehead like a damsel in distress. Clarke slapped my hands away and hugged the whiskey against his chest.
“You know what I mean,” Miguel said chuckling. “Something’s wrong, and I wanna know what.” I let my shoulders sag.
“It happened again.” Everybody gasped.
“Oh, nooooooo!” Miguel said, wrapping me up in a hug. All the others did, too, until I was in a warm, safe friend cocoon. Clarke threw an arm over my thigh and squeezed.
“We need to get you a blanket and a sandwich and some hot tea…so you can make a hot toddy,” Gabe murmured.
“Want me to go kick his ass? ‘Cause I will dole out an expert ass-kicking,” Buster said, raising his eyebrows.
“I know you woul
d, Buster, but I like you better out of jail.” Buster clapped his hands together.
“Ain’t nobody scared of jail, baby. I’d be running the prison by the end of the shift.”
“I can believe it.”
“Let’s go to jail, y’all!” Came the unsteady voice from the lounge.
“Go to sleep, Ginger!” We all yelled at once.
“You guys are no fun,” she muttered, then went back to snoring.
“What happened?” Miguel said, still squeezing me.
“He was just like all the others. He said so many wonderful things about wanting to be in love and wanting a family. He told me I might be the one while he looked in my eyes all sweet and seductive. I fell for it. Again. I let him stay over. Again. I got ghosted. Again. He left me on ‘read’ three times.”
“Awwwwww,” they all said again.
“I fall for it every time. I’m such an idiot,” I mumbled into Miguel’s shoulder. He gave me a little shake.
“Stop that, Colby. You’re not an idiot. You’re a sweetheart who believes in true love. Who doesn’t want the fairy tale?”
“Yeah, who doesn’t want to be passionately, madly in love with a hot, devoted alpha? You know, like Miguel is,” Clarke said, blindly flailing an arm at Miguel’s stomach.
“Watch the goods, there, pal,” Miguel said as Clarke pretended to cup his goodies and give a little squeeze.
“Honk, honk,” Clarke said, giggling.
“He’s so much more fun drunk,” Buster said as Clarke mouthed at the opening of the rum bottle.
“You guys want what I have? Easy. All you gotta do is have a best friend whose signals you miss for several years until he gets framed for a bunch of federal crimes and you fake a marriage and pregnancy to keep him out of prison and then it all becomes real.” Miguel took an exaggerated deep breath. “Ta-da! Instant fairy tale.” He held a hand up like one of the “just add water” infomercials.