Page 55 of Claiming Their Omega

Because the universe wants to laugh at me even more than usual, the day after the sex toys arrive—two days after I embarrassed myself in front of everyone and the Alphas caught me sitting on Jesse’s face—we have a family barbecue to attend.

There’s no way to get out of it, either. My family takes their barbecues very seriously. I’ve asked Mom a million times if there’s something that we can bring, but she insists that Dad and Gram have everything covered.

I make some desserts anyway. Nobody can resist some good old gooey brownies or 7-up cake. They’re classics. And my mom was the one who taught me to never show up empty-handed to a party, especially a cookout. She can’t be mad that I actually listened to her advice.

Luckily it’s casual, so I just use one of William’s shirts that he left behind and a pair of jeans. I don’t have a lot of clothes, just the ones I packed and the ones that William didn’t take with him, and I can’t wear fancy skirts and heels all the time. Especially not for a backyard barbecue.

Besides, I scrubbed the asshole’s scent from it thoroughly, and it looks cute and little big on me, half of it tucked in and half of it hanging out. It’s laidback but still chic.

I put my hair in a cute ponytail and let the wavy blonde locks fall down, swinging every time I walk. I feel adorable, and that gets me through the nearly-silent car ride to my parents’ house.

“Grace!” Mom cries out when she sees me.

I’m glad that the men insisted on carrying the desserts in, because it means my arms are free as I burst into tears and hug my mother tightly. It’s the first time I’ve seen her since the ORD officers took me away, and I knew I missed my family, but I didn’t realize until this moment how much.

It’s different from being away and having my life in the city to occupy my time. I had way too much time on my hands, time to think, and I was in this organization and I didn’t want to be, and I honestly just wanted to be a kid and have my parents fix everything for me.

Now my mom is hugging me, and I kind of don’t want her to let go.

Mom practically carries me inside, and after a good long hug I’m passed to Dad, and from there to Gram. I apologize again for missing her birthday and she waves it off. “You had more important things to be doing. I have a birthday every year, you know.”

She winks at me and glances at the four Alphas as she says it, and I flush. My family has no idea this is all fake.

I don’t want to think about how betrayed they’ll feel when they find out.

But I can’t tell them. For one thing my parents are terrible liars and for another, if anything goes wrong, they have to be innocent. It’s bad enough that I’ve dragged these four good men into my scheme. If my family got in trouble for my actions, I’d never be able to forgive myself.

That means, though, that we’re lying to them. All five of us. I’m lying to my family, and the four men are lying to Aiden, their best friend since childhood.

This might be even more difficult than I’d anticipated.

Aiden hugs me last, after my parents and grandmother get their turn. Luckily I’m pretty much cried-out by then so it’s not too embarrassing.

“You’re settling in okay?” Aiden asks, sounding a bit awkward.

I will say, this is one perk I didn’t expect. “Aww, is my big brother finally feeling a little uncomfy about something?”

“Whoa, hey now,” Aiden blurts out, putting his hands up. “Come on, you’ve gotta admit it’s a little weird for me, seeing my best friends courting my little sister. Have a heart!”

“I think it’s hysterical that you’re feeling a bit awkward. All I did while growing up was feel awkward while you were the cool one, it’s my turn now.”

“And here I was, all prepared to say something nice about how I’m glad you landed such good, responsible men as your Alphas. Now I’ve changed my mind. I hope you burn all their food and let all the cows loose and curdle the milk and they trade you in for someone else.”

“Haha. I hope that you have an acne breakout like you’re fifteen again.”

“Ouch!”

“You started it!”

“No you started it!”

Mom laughs. “You two are impossible. We are happy for you, sweetheart. And that includes your brother.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Aiden’s grinning, though.

I’m a bit glad to know that he finds it all awkward. I’m sure that means he’ll find it a relief when this whole charade is over.

From there, it honestly feels like a normal dinner. The Alphas fit right in with my family—which isn’t all that surprising, given that they grew up coming here a lot. Mom is playfully annoyed that I brought dessert, and Aiden and Hendrix help set the table just before Hendrix’s parents arrive. They’ve been friends with my folks for years, and his mother greets mine with a big hug.

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