Page 14 of Who We Were

Denial and humor are the pillars of my life.

We're all working to survive, and that's just how I manage to live with the heartache of an Amaya-sized hole in my soul.

My dads would havemy ass if they knew I showed up at the same time as a client. I'm usually professionally early, but I miscalculated my timing. My showing this morning is in our neighborhood, which gave me a false sense of security. Turns out I did need to plan to leave a few minutes earlier.

I'm walking up the driveway of the five-bedroom contemporary home on our block when a sleek black something-or-other pulls in. I did my research on the lawyer I'm showing around today, and let's just say there should bezeroissue with him affording the house.

Plus, he hasn't even toured it yet, but at this point it’s just a formality. All that's left is the quick tour and the signing of a fuck ton of dotted lines. The alpha is looking to buy for his daughter. If that doesn't scream money, then I don't know what does.

Emmett would tell me to calm the judgmental thoughts, so I keep it to myself and plaster on a signature Oliver Jenkins smile as I rush to the front door. I'm not worried about setting up; we have a great staff for things like that. Everything should be taken care of. Now all I have to do is not fuck this up for us.

Happy-go-lucky, funny, energetic. Those are all things I can be; it's just a matter of if this guy appreciates it. Those traits made me popular in middle and high school, but the older I get the more I'm coming to realize that it can be misconstrued as immature. Unfortunately, that's my only setting and the off button is really hard to find.

Well, aside from the heartache, abandonment issues, and a general self-confidence struggle that comes from my best friend and scent match, leaving me.

"Good morning," I chirp, shoving the negativity down and locking it away. Nobody likes interacting with the face of depression and self-depreciation.

Emmett sends a trickle of warning through our bond. Having picked up on the emotions I just shoved away, then all but telling myself nobody would care for the real me? Yeah, Emmett's going to have my ass later.

Can't wait.

When my alpha gets protective and grumpy? Mmm, he can have my ass however he wants it.

"Good morning," Mr. Arison rumbles, stepping inside and wiping his shoes on the shoe mat.

I turn and amble my way to the kitchen. It's a gorgeous open floor plan, but the warm wood tones and cream walls give it a cozy vibe, in my opinion.

Rounding the kitchen island, I admire the job our stage managers did. “How are yo—" I choke.

Paul Arison's scent slams into me as he comes to a stop at the other side of the counter. Beneath his fresh winter aroma, notes of spring, more specificallylavenderniggles my nose. Fighting the stiffening of my limbs, I take a shuddering breath because the combination of scents coming from the alpha doesn't make sense.For one person.

All my thoughts come to a screeching halt when I notice the flowers on the marble countertop. Like cars, I'm not good with names of plants, but the yellow and white petals ease my conscience.

"Are you alright?"

Shaking off the lavender smell wafting from the flowers, I snap to attention and plaster a smile on my face. "My apologies, sir. How are you today?"

Chit chat isn't my favorite and I wholeheartedly admit that I am not paying attention to what Mr. Arison has to say or how I'm responding to him.

Lavender has settled on my tongue and if that wasn't jarring enough to smell something so similar to my omega, the moment I caught Paul’s gaze when discussing the heated flooring in the bathroom, I almost freaked out again.

I've seen those eyes.Wolfish brown eyes with striking gold sprinkled in their depths. Except, as quickly as I see Amaya in him, Mr. Arison shifted, and the light snatched the gold away.

Just like the promise of money snatched my mate away.

Samuel slams our link shut, probably annoyed with the extra emotion he's feeling from me. Emmett sends me probing concern, but I shake it off. It's not something they aren't used to,my well of feelings, but for my emotions to spike and spin while giving a tour is a little odd, I guess.

The lighting in the pack bedroom and ensuite bathroom are extra warm, to make the environment as soothing for an omega as possible.

My heart thuds and stutters painfully when I open the door to the nest. The whiplash is almost unbearable.Missing herisunbearable.The lavender isn't Amaya, it's the flowers decorating just about every room. She's not following me around and hyping up the gnarly scar through my lips like she did when we were fifteen.

I didn't see her reflected in the eyes of the stranger walking through this house for sale. She's not staring up at me with mischief in her eyes and hands on her hips like she used to when we would plan a prank on the other two.

Fuck, I miss her.

"Thank you, Mr. Jenkins. I will be in touch to schedule a time to finalize everything."When had we gotten back to the front door?"I just need to tell my daughter," he mumbles.

"Tell her what? Was everything acceptable?" I ask, confused.

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