Page 51 of Talk About… History

“I’ll explain that in a little bit. I just don’t want to ruin the moment yet,” she said gently. “This is kind of nice. It feels normal.”

There was so much more to Avery’s story than I knew. She’d let me in when she was ready, and it seemed like she was getting closer to that every time we spent time together. For now, I was content to keep her in this moment for as long as I could.

“Did you have dinner before you went to work tonight? It sounds like you had a really eventful day.”

“Before the freakout with Ford and Mason, I had a late lunch.”

She barely got the words out before her stomach growled, and her entire face and neck flushed red with embarrassment.

“Oh my god,” she managed, hiding her face behind her hands. “I picked at it because of nerves. I promise I’m self-sufficient most days.”

“Don’t do that,” I said, pulling her hands away gently. “Can I cook for you? It would make me happy.”

“Really?” she questioned, nose wrinkling like she couldn’t wrap her mind around that sentiment. “Do you like to cook?”

“I do,” I admitted. “You remember how I said that my family was used to fancy things? Well, part of that was me not making food for myself. The moment I was at my uncle’s, he taught me to cook. I found it freeing in a way. Honestly, it was my first true taste of independence. I never got to do things for myself or work hard for what I had. My family would have much rather I just shut up and embraced everything they provided, but I obviously wanted a different life.”

“I’m glad you did, or I might never have met you,” she said. I could tell she meant it. Had anyone ever accepted me, all of me, so openly? The answer was no.

My uncle may have, but he was busy in his own ways and thought I needed to change just like I did. Avery simply accepted me as I was.

I gave her one last peck on the cheek before I moved away, opening my fridge and checking over the ingredients I had on hand.

“Any allergies? Dislikes?”

“I hate onions,” she admitted, “but no allergies.”

“Do you like pasta?” I asked since it was one of the easiest things I could make.

“Who doesn’t?” she teased.

Perfect. I started grabbing ingredients and setting them out.

Avery watched quietly as I formed the dough. Making fresh pasta was one of those things that was really intimidating the first few times I attempted it, but now it was something that was relaxing for me.

Eventually she started chatting about work and the videos she’d been making while I started sautéing spinach and chicken in the pan. Soon, the kitchen was filled with the sound of her soothing voice and the scent of pasta cooking. It was such a perfect moment. Just like she said earlier, this felt normal, and I loved that we could just exist like this together.

Partway through cooking, my dogs started barking, begging to come in because they knew damn well what I was doing in here. She didn’t hesitate to hop down and let them in, greeting them each by name and giving them a little extra love.

It was probably too soon, I’d just met Avery, but I think that was the very moment I fell in love with her.

Every moment with this omega felt right, like she was always meant to be at my side. Even if things were a little unusual right now, I couldn’t wait to spend the rest of my life getting to know her and falling in love with her more and more every day.

When did I turn into such a sap?

Just seeing her in my space with my dogs and being able to care for her, even in a small way like making her dinner, made me realize just how much I’d been missing.

Most of my life, I felt lonely in one way or another, surrounded by people who I truly didn’t fit in with.

When I moved to Rockwood Valley, I knew this was where I belonged. Maybe that was because fate was at work, and I was just biding my time until I met Avery.

If she had a pack now, then I had to believe that we would all fit together as well.

She deserved nothing less.

Avery

Sidney: Did you see your views on the first few videos?!

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