Page 69 of Curvy Quirky Omega

I jokingly made the sign of the cross and then pressed my palms together. “Forgive me, Señor Taco. It’s been twelve weeks since my last burrito.”

Frankie and Liam snickered, but then the sound died when the door to the private dining room opened and I realized we weren’t the first ones there.

Francisco was already sitting at the large table in the center of the room, looking flawless as always.

For a man in his late fifties, he still looked amazing. His hair was white at the sides now, the only sign of his age, but the rest was still pitch black. All of it was slicked back like the gothic, debonair gentleman he was.

His all-black suit was eclectic with a large silver belt buckle and his black dress shirt buttoned all the way up to his throat. It was secured with a silver brooch instead of a tie and the vest over it had ornate silver buttons that matched perfectly. The silver chains dangling over it all somehow didn’t clash either.

But it was the very pretty blazer with the custom embroidery that caught my attention. I was pretty fucking sure Frankie had one exactly like it.

Francisco Lopez turned toward us the second the door opened, his dark red eyes lighting up when he saw Frankie walk through first. Despite all his faults, Francisco was a good father and he loved his children more than anyone else in the world.

He stood and gave her a kiss on the cheek, whispering some joke about how tight her motorcycle gear was, but his gaze slid to me halfway through his sentence.

I forced myself to keep my hands at my sides instead of reaching up to cover the bond marks on my neck, knowing it would only bring more attention to them. His attention didn’t linger on the marks to my relief, but when he locked eyes with me, I felt my stomach clench with nerves and…pity.

He seemed so sad when he looked at me that I actually felt bad.

Francisco had done his best to give us everything we could ever need, but I’d never been able to get over my inherent distrust of alphas to really let myself depend on him.

Considering how alike he and Liam were, I knew that must have killed him.

In that moment, I felt my respect for Francisco grow exponentially.

He’d done his best with no expectation that I’d ever acknowledge him for it. He’d even given me Frankie when I needed her most without once making me feel guilty about it.

I dropped my eyes in a show of respect and deference, clasping my hands together as I waited for him to greet me – just like those damn etiquette teachers had taught me. I may not be from a legacy pack, but I was still one of them.

Francisco had made sure of it.

“Lucy, it’s been too long.” Francisco kept his tone polite, but he held out his hand, giving me the chance to decide how things would proceed. I’d rejected him the last time he offered me that hand and pretended he hadn’t existed because I’d been terrified he’d call Frankie back home.

We’d been here, at this very same restaurant for my graduation dinner. I wouldn’t even look at him so Francisco had left my graduation present on the table before leaving without a word.

I took a deep breath and knew I wanted to make a different choice this time.

Placing my hand in his was somehow the hardest, and easiest, thing I’d ever done. “Thank you,” I murmured, hoping he would understand.

He stepped toward me instead of making me go to him and I forced myself to keep my eyes down, heart racing as I wondered if this was something Liam could handle—if it was something I could handle.

A warm hand rough with calluses settled against the side of my neck, hovering more than touching. I could feel his attention on the necklace I was wearing – the one he’d given me. Then there was a hitch in his breath when he saw the bond marks on the other side of my neck.

“You look beautiful, as always,” he murmured. Francisco chucked me under the chin and I looked up, holding his gaze. His gentle smile was full of so much warmth I could barely stand to look at it.

My eyes hadn’t really changed color yet, but I watched him look for the shift and then nod once, pleased with whatever he could see. “You seem happy.”

I didn’t know what to say to that.

Happy was a word I’d never fully understood. It just seemed like such an intense emotion that I could never really relate to – something people used interchangeably with joy.

But I thought maybe I understood what that word meant now.

CHAPTER 27

Lucy

I was very happy with my bonds, so much so that I couldn’t stop myself from smiling at Francisco – he didn’t care who my alphas were because I had chosen them.

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