Page 99 of Talk About… Dramay
Even Tate, who was all about having a cat, fell in love. The two were drinking coffee on the back porch when we left. Well,Henry had a bowl of dog friendly bone broth that was supposed to help keep his arthritis at bay, and Tate had coffee.
“Where are we going?” I asked, not wanting to stay quiet on our date. I tried to stay focused on whoever I was with when we got our random one on one times.
Plus, we’d already driven an hour so far.
“I found this cute little shopping center. There’s a used bookstore and cafe, a pet store, and a nesting boutique.”
Nesting. The dreaded thing I was supposed to do. I’d been putting it off even as my heat continued to creep closer and closer.
The last time I used a nest was with Cameron. It hurt too much after so I’d avoided it like my life depended on it.
I’ve also conveniently not told one of them about my hangup and now didn’t feel like a good time either.
Or maybe I was just a coward.
Because my omega and I wanted a nest. I just had to make that leap.
“Sounds perfect,” I said instead, squeezing his hand.
Hudson was different when it was just us. He seemed more content and happy, a soft smile on his face. Right now the sun was hitting his umber skin, brown eyes warm in the afternoon light. His dark hair was tossed over his shoulder, shiny and straight as usual.
He turned to me, quirking up an eyebrow in question.
“Just admiring what’s mine,” I said innocently, tracing my eyes purposefully over him again.
“I’m glad you like what you see, omega,” he said with a deep chuckle. “I’ll never not be thankful you hired us for this job.”
“Me, too,” I agreed. “I’d gone from this sad, lonely omega with no hope, to having a full pack and my life back. I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy.”
He pulled my hand to his lips, placing a kiss on my knuckles before settling our joined hands on my thigh.
With the music playing, his hand in mine, and the sun streaming in, I felt light and relaxed.
I wish I could go back and reassure myself a few years ago that we’d be here now. That it would all be worth it.
My phone dinged and I pulled up the pack chat and laughed at a picture of Mama Whitaker and Henry snuggling in the grass.
I showed it to Hudson who grinned.
“Having family around us like this is so strange but I love it,” he admitted.
“You don’t talk about yours much,” I hedged, hoping to learn more about him. It was so strange how fast packs formed. One day we were strangers, then were a pack, without knowing much about each other.
“My grandparents raised me,” he admitted. “A beta and omega pair. They were incredible people, but they were too old to really give me the attention I needed. They weren’t the adoring loving grandparents, either. I loved them all the same, but it was hard sometimes. And quiet. I couldn’t make too much noise and didn’t get much attention.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “That’s kind of how my mom was. She always seemed to care more about her work than me. I never really connected with her but god it hurt when she was too busy for me. Honestly, I spent half my childhood doing everything I could to win her over and it always failed.”
“Your dad seems the opposite,” Hudson said. “Though, he was kind of scary when we first met.”
“Brandon?” I laughed. “No way. He’s the nicest, sweetest omega around. I swear that man has never once raised his voice at me.”
“I bet he gave Cameron a tongue-lashing,” Hudson mused.
“Oh, I guarantee it,” I said. “Apparently, they all did.”
He gave my hand a squeeze.
“She seems different now, I just wish it wasn’t so late. It’s hard to convince myself she’s changed,” I admitted. “It’s helped that we’ve all come together like this. I’ve had an excuse to avoid it but I won’t be able to for long. Brandon has messaged me no less than twice a day asking when I’m coming for dinner.”