Page 26 of Talk About… History

“No,” I said, sitting down hard as the words sunk in. There was still some part of me even after the last year, that hoped he’d make a recovery. Yet every time I called, there was a new setback or he was struggling.

I just wanted good news for once.

“I’m afraid so, dear,” she said before launching into gossip about the relatives back home. Truth be told, I didn’t give a single fuck about what my cousin Tracey was doing these days or how my parents were buying something new and extravagant.

Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore and had to get off. I signaled for my pups to go out, a sure fire way for them to lose their minds. The hound dog barks were enough for her to get flustered.

“Oh, I see they need out. Talk soon!”

Just like that, I was free.

“Saved by the beagles,” I teased as I went out back with them, letting them run the fenced in yard while I sank down into my favorite patio chair.

With a click of a button, the fire pit ignited and I settled back, enjoying the fresh mountain air laced in evening coolness.

There was just something missing this time. It didn’t hold the same peace it used to.

My phone chimed as if she knew I needed her.

Avery: Thanks for being a good sport today

Cohen: It was a great day. I enjoyed it, though I feel like I need to know more about you now.

Avery: I’m pretty boring

Cohen: I very much doubt that, gorgeous.

Cohen: I don’t want to push you, but when you’re ready, I’d love to take you out on a date.

She was quiet long enough that I worried I’d overstepped. I let out a breath of relief as the dots indicated she was typing back.

Avery: I’d like that. I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow but after that I’m free any day.

Just like that, my night was turned around. I just hoped she let me in when the time came.

I was patient, but I needed her to know that now that I’d found her, I wasn’t planning on letting her go.

Avery

My stomach churned as I stepped up to the doors of the omega clinic. Omega Network, or The Network as most of us called it, was a nationwide string of omega-centered clinics, though they were far less frequent in the rural areas than the city.

The ones in the city were awful and I shuddered at the creepy doctor who had forced me to bring my alphas and talked around me, making it clear I had no say with my own body.

Having them there at the time had eased my mind, but now I suspected that doctor helped alphas more than he let on.

Like with illegal pheromone sprays.

He always joked about scent matches in a way that rubbed me wrong. Now I was seeing through all the smoke screens they set up.

Would this place be the same?

“Is that you, Avery Whitaker?” A voice I couldn’t quite place had me plastering on a fake smile and turning.

“Oh my god,” I gasped, realizing I did know the girl, it had just been long enough, placing the voice wasn’t easy. “Grace, how have you been?”

She rushed forward and crushed me in a hug that should be impossible for her tiny five foot frame. I hugged her back, the soft scent of green tea and sweet mint taking me back to high school.

“I heard you were back, I just didn’t expect to run into you,” she admitted as she pulled away.

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