Page 8 of Forget

“But,” I start, but I don’t know how to refuse him.

“Sleep on my couch, and then we’ll go from there, okay?” he says.

“My lease is up in a couple of weeks,” Orla says. “Why don’t we see about getting a bigger place together? If we don’t get you off the streets, Caleb may have a heart attack.”

I wince because his face was pretty red. I think he was equal parts mad and in shock.

“I think you’re right,” I sigh. “Thank you. I know you don’t have to do this.”

“Omegas have to stay together, and you’re not going into heat any time soon hopefully. I usually find a pack to meet my needs for the week,” Orla says, shrugging.

“I do the same,” Mickey says. “We haven’t found a pack we want to settle down with, but knots and slick happen, kid. It’s just biology.”

Yeah, but it kind of sucks.

Two months later

Walking down the street toBrewed Awakening, I grin as I look up at the clear skies. Things have been good lately. Mickey, Orla, and I got an apartment, and are splitting the rent three ways. I can also more than manage it between the two jobs, while still being able to get groceries and keep my cell phone on.

Maybe it’s sentimental, but I like being able to look through old text messages Mom sent me, or to listen to voice memos. She liked to walk and talk, and this made it possible for her to do.

I never deleted any of them, and it helps me feel as if I’m keeping a part of her with me.

It’s so nice to sleep in a bed instead of the ground, or a lumpy hostel mattress, and it’s funny to me that Mickey and Orla’s heats overlap each other, so I get a week to myself. Our apartment complex is in a decent neighborhood, and our landlord isn’t a jerk either.

Both of which means, I don’t mind the time alone. The three of us also went in together to get an internet connection under the condition that I use it to get a GED.

It’s like having a big brother and sister that I never had. I like it more than I let on. It helps not to feel so alone.

Opening the door to the coffee shop, I hurry to put my things away. It’s nice not to have to lug in my backpack everywhere anymore. Everything finally has its own place in my room at the apartment.

Mr. Lars sees too much, so I used to stash it in a metro station locker.

Caleb and Mr. Lars clearly have been talking about me to each other for them to have put things together.

“Hello, Aisling,” Mr. Lars drawls as I step behind the counter.

“Good morning,” I say, checking to see what needs to be refilled. It’s eleven, and the morning shift has been busy. I’m glad it’s slower as I get into the swing of things.

“Any secrets today?” he asks, teasingly as I roll my eyes.

“Nope,” I tell him, running back and forth to the freezer to refill the trays.

“None?” he asks, and I huff because I don’t know what he could possibly mean.

“You know what Caleb knows,” I remind him. “The two of you gossip worse than anyone else I know. I’m living in the apartment, working, and doing my thing.”

“What about school?” Mr. Lars asks, his arms crossing over his chest.

“Are you going to fire me for not going to school?” I challenge him.

The other two people who work up here are taking a break to clean up the cafe while I restock. We’re a pretty well-oiled machine.

“No, because you’re busting my balls and already enrolled aren’t you?” he asks.

“Gossip,” I mutter. “I’m getting my GED. It’s a little different, but anything I don’t know, I’m learning now.”

“Good,” he says with a nod, walking away.

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