Page 28 of The Omega Archives: Part One

“We did say we would try again when the time was right,” said Demetri, slowly as if now only remembering. That had been over two years. “You’re right, Lee. I know that you’ve been alone here for a while I dealt with a lot of family things and business the past few months with Marko and Cal. We knew that was going to be hard. I get where this is all coming from.”

“It’s not about that.” I kept my voice even, forcing myself not to let it rise.

I was not bringing this up because I waslonely.

“I know that.” Shutting his eyes, we both knew that I wasn’t the only one who desperately wanted this whether or not we talked about it.

Demetri had just as a sucky childhood as I did. And that was just the kicker, wasn’t it?

You always wanted what you couldn’t have.

He sucked on his bottom lip as if considering. “We’ll talk about it more. But not tonight.”

Cal scoffed.

“Fine,” I said with a single nod. I let go of the counter. “I’m going to bed.”

Demitri’s brow furrowed as he glanced up at me. “It’s not even eight o’clock.”

I shrugged. “It’s been a long day. Talk in the morning if you're around.”

It wasn’t a lie. It had been a day.

At first, I thought it was because my head was racing. And then I saw that damn, too sweet and floral omega Rylan Wolfern had traipsing around bringing all these thoughts back up, but that couldn’t be it either.

It didn’t satisfy the itch in my brain, begging for attention.

Omega omega omega.

Yet that couldn’t just be it.

Something just wasn’t right. I ran through my day, searching for the change.

This morning I woke up, did my workout, went to work, and taught my classes. I even had damn office hours after already listening to students ask ridiculous questions for nearly thirty minutes just to waste time.

One poor soul showed up to complain that he couldn’t afford the textbook before I sent him off with my copy. Then, I rushed to my meeting in the new science building where some girl nearly ran me over, looking at me like I was the crazy one.

When I got back to my office, I finished the alterations needed to my class documents the registrar was asking for after the time to add or drop my classes ended and sent out all the emails that I had on my contact list... For god’s sake. I came back to watch Cal eat cereal like a beast.

Nothing was out of the ordinary.

The door creaked open.

Out of the corner of my eye, Cal squeezed in and shut the door again. I didn’t say a word as he made it towards the bed, curling in alongside me. Immediately, I breathed in his mellow vanilla scent. He always smelled mushy and comforting enough to make me cover his mouth so he couldn’t ruin it and use him as a pillow.

“Hey,” whispered Cal.

“Hello?”

“Are you upset with me?” he asked, peeking up so that his dark eyes were shining in the low light.

Was that something I was missing? “Why would I be upset with you?”

“I don’t know.”

“I’m not upset with you, even though I expected more of a welcome home from you.”

Without hesitating, Cal wrapped his arms around me and squeezed.

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