Page 41 of Slick Handling

Maybe there is strawberry jam on the breakfast menu here.

After tossing and turning all night, I could use a good breakfast to recharge me.

It’s amazing to me how big the bathroom is in a hotel, but I take full advantage of the hot water knowing that no one will come get me for a while.

All my life I’ve been forced to be an early riser. Even with the guys' tough schedule they don’t have anything on me.

I’m up with the sun and getting all the shine.

With my hair wet, I braid it in two French braids, tying it with the red ribbons I had packed. I get dressed in my leggings and the hoodie with The Omega Academy stitched across it in fuzzy red material. It was a bit more form fitting on my body than the other oversized hoodies I wore. I liked how it felt like a piece of belonging somewhere.

My bag could stay in my room but I wanted a cup of coffee or maybe two to go along with my strawberry toast.

Tucking the hotel key into my hoodie pocket, I make my way down stairs to where the breakfast buffet is laid out. My stomach churns with hunger as I realize the last thing I ate was a hotdog and some popcorn at the game yesterday afternoon.

I don’t even like hot dogs, but Apollo bought one and it felt rude not to eat the weird shaped meat stick.

No one is getting breakfast and it feels so good to be alone with all this food. I don’t have to worry about anyone talking to me or anyone trying to put food on my plate. I can just eat my toast and drink my coffee in peace.

No random glass of water showing up next to me as someone not so subtly tries to remind me to drink water.

I think packs have a water fetish.

It’s slightly disturbing, when I get to the toast, to see that the jelly packets and butter packets are the same size. Clearly one of them deserves to be bigger, but I grab a handful of each and head to a table in the corner.

The snow is still coming down hard outside. From where I’m sitting I can watch the snow and eat. It’s still dark out, a soft glow in the distance where the sun is trying to fight its way back into the sky.

I wish I had my sewing or a book to read. I don’t even have my phone with me because I left it in the room. It’s dangerous to let my thoughts wander. Sometimes I don’t know if they’re going to come back.

Other than Apollo, I haven’t seen the rest of the pack since they left to go to the game. I’m sure he filled them in on my breakdown in the car. They all probably hate me now.

Even McKinley.

It’s been a week here and somehow out of all the places I’ve been this one feels the least like home. I shouldn’t complain when I’m safe. It’s just starting to feel like there is always a cost of some part of me for that safety.

Just because I’m an Omega I can’t exist in the world without fear someone is going to force me into something?

I miss the days of being a Beta. The days before I presented and life was so much more black and white. All the color is blinding me now.

“You’re Clover, right?” My eyes look from the window to see a man standing in front of me. His hands are in his pockets and his long brown hair looks like it’s still wet at the ends from a shower. He has a splattering of freckles over his cheeks and the most interesting yellow eyes I’ve ever seen. They stick out even more with his golden skin tone.

His tall frame is shorter than all the Alphas I’ve been around so I’d say he’s under six feet. Thin build that is accented by the baggy caramel colored sweater and a pair of deep brown dress pants paired with it.

He’s dressed nice but he doesn’t hold himself in a haughty manner. He’s at ease with himself and the staggering beauty he has.

The man’s holding a cup of tea in his hand that is throwing off my smell. but he sort of smells like an Omega.

Mint and lime. Clean but delicious.

“Shit, I’m Marcus. I’m currently courting Fergus and Jimmy from the team. I’m not a creep. If you want me to leave that’s fine. You just look really sad.” He hasn’t gotten closer to me and I appreciate that he is giving me the time to decide.

Another Omega is nice to have around. Omegas feel pretty safe. At the academy everyone was friendly. There were a few moments people got into it but overall there were no cliques or people that were treated at outcasts.

It made me like being an Omega and the idea that friendship could be that easy.

Turns out, it wasn’t like that outside of The Omega Academy. It made me feel lonelier than I ever had been in my life.

“Sorry, you can sit if you want? I was just up early and watching the snow.” He nods but doesn’t go to sit. He’s still looking me up and down.

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