Page 73 of Knot Happening

“Hey, what’s wrong, are you okay?” I ask her. I’m not entirely sure how to comfort her right now, so I settle for patting her back softly. “You look too beautiful to cry tonight, Sunshine,” I tell her, trying to make her at least smile. She looks at herself in the vanity mirror and swipes at her tears, before fixing her dark brown hair.

She sighs heavily, before smiling brightly at me. I reach into my bag and hand her a bright red lipstick I just bought. “Thank you,” she says, taking the tube and applying it. I give her time to calm down a bit. She goes to hand me the tube back, but I shake my head.

“It looks way better on you. I’m too pale. Makes me look like a vampire and not the sexy kind,” I say, making her laugh.

“It does look good on me, huh?” she says, and I chuckle, nodding my agreement. She takes a deep breath, shaking her head. “It’s my boyfriend.” She rolls her eyes. “Ex-boyfriend now. He’s been cheating on me for months. You know what pisses me off most?” She doesn’t give me time to respond, just turns to look at me. “I was going to dump him! He and I never even see each other anymore, and he is such a narcissist. Ugh! Whatever.” She wipes her tears away again and smiles, determination in her eyes. “Fuck him! I’m better off without that asshole. I’m gonna go flirt my ass off and make some money!”

“Get it, babe!” I say, encouraging her.

When I’m back out on the floor, checking on customers and taking drink orders, a familiar scent washes over me.

Glancing over, I find an Alpha from my past, Mr. Ferris. I can’t help but stare for a moment. I’m frozen in place, and more than a little surprised. He never seemed like the type to be in a club like this. I haven’t seen him in years, though.

I met him in fifth grade. He wasn’t my teacher then, but he often took care of me. As part of the after school program, he volunteered and would often help my group in particular. He’d bring me clothes or food. He was kind. Very friendly.

As I started getting older, I’d spend more time with him outside of school. Once I made it to high school, I’d go over to his house after classes, and he’d help me with homework. Hayden hated him.

I never understood why. He’d always been so kind to me, and all Hayden would tell me was that Mr. Ferris was skeevie.

“Tatum…” He spots me staring at him and grins brightly. He’s balding now, his hair turning gray. He’s a bigger man, but that always made his hugs better, I thought.

“Hi! Wow, it’s been years.” After I graduated, I lost touch with him. Especially because he’d freaked out on me after Hayden and I…slept together. I confided in him that I was heartbroken, and he’d been so angry. “You can call me Baby while here,” I add as I sit across from him in his booth.

“Okay, Baby.” He pats the spot beside him as he slides further into his booth, making room for me. “Come closer.”

I’m wearing a very revealing outfit and couldn’t be more uncomfortable, but he’s always been a safe person for me to be around. I move until I’m sliding in next to him, and his scent washes over me. Sheesh, it's strong. I don’t remember it smelling so much like wet socks…

“How have you been, I’ve missed you!” He pulls me into his side, keeping his hand wrapped around my waist, and I adjust, so I’m sitting up more and can look at him.

“I’ve been okay.”

“You work here now?” Is it just me, or is he glaring at me right now? Why did he sound so bothered?

“I do,” I chuckle, trying to ignore the uncomfortable feelings that are surfacing. This isn’t where I saw myself after high school, either.

“I don’t normally come here, but my coworkers managed to talk me into it.” He nods to a group of older men that I’ve never seen before. “Would you like to meet for coffee soon?”

“Okay.” I nod. I’d rather not have this little reunion while I’m half naked.

“I’ll see you again soon then, Baby.” He leans forward and kisses my cheek, and I attempt not to cringe.

The rest of the night is crazy, but I enjoy it. Especially after my old teacher leaves. I make nearly five hundred dollars in tips, and by the time I’m riding my bike home just after midnight, I feel great about myself.

I work again tomorrow night.

My mind wanders to my mom as I’m riding my bike home. I wish she could see me trying to make a life for myself. I visit her almost every day. Five days a week, and no less. The nurses and doctors tell me she’s thriving. It motivates me to keep working my ass off.

Tonight, I feel very alone, though. It looks like I’ll spend another night crying myself to sleep.

Easton

She’s crying again. She’s not working at Haze, not texting me back…

I wait until Hayden is gone around one in the morning, since he lives next door to her, and then I head up the stairs to her apartment and knock.

Earlier today, I broke into the facility her mother lives in and snuck up to her room. I just wanted to see the woman that raised the Little Sparrow. Someone named Bernie had arrived just before me, so I’d hidden in the hall while Bernie spoke to the silent woman.

She had a lot to say about Tatum and the diner. About how she seemed like she was finding happiness, but now there’s a darkness hanging over her.

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