Page 51 of One Wild Omega

“It’s a great opportunity… one I shouldn’t ignore,” Fitz added, feeling like he was near stammering. The sensation of disappointment flooded him from all sides. “And it’s only a few hours here by train. You’d likely see me just as much as you do now.”

“But now, I know I can take a trolley a few blocks and go see my brother,” Harrison said. “I mean, damn, Fitz. First you leave the Department and now you leave the province?”

Fitz shook his head. “Between work and our own lives… we don’t spend half as much time together as we used to.”

“You were upset about that omega the other day and what did you do? You came to my place so we could talk it out,” Harrison said. “You can’t do that when you live half a world away.”

“It’s not that far,” Fitz argued. “And there are phones.”

“Omega?” their father said, lifting his head.

“And if it’s a chance for him to advance?” Emerson said, ignoring their father’s question. “Wecan’thold him back.”

“You shut your mouth, Em,” Harrison spat. “Whose side are you on here?”

“Whoa,” Emerson said, lifting his hands in mock surrender. “AmIthe twin who sounds responsible and wise today andyouget to be the one sounding irrational? Talk about a one-eighty, bro. I think I like this. No wonder you’re always so you get up on this high horse of yours and look down on the masses.”

“Shut up.” Harrison glared at Emerson. “We’re stronger because of our family. We have each other’s backs. He won’t have that in Port Sacrementi. He’ll be out there alone.”

“I’m not a kid,” Fitz said. “I’m a grown man. I think I can handle moving to a new province without my big brothers there.”

“Who’s moving to a new province?” his papa’s voice sounded behind them.

Fitz turned slowly and saw Pops walking out with a huge tray of rolls in his hands. He sighed inwardly, knowing the shit hadreallyhit the fan then. Pops dropped the tray onto the picnic table, rolls rolling everywhere. “Who’smoving to a new province?”

“Fitz,” his father answered, looking none too happy. “Maybe.”

“Maybe?” his papa asked, slapping him in the arm. “Are you crazy? You can’t leave.”

“There’s a promotion…” Fitz tried to argue.

“No. I deny this move,” Pops said, his face livid.

“You can’t deny him an opportunity,” Emerson said to Pops. “He’s a grown man.”

“A man I raised. A man who belongs with his family inthisprovince,” his papa shot back. He turned to Fitz. “You can’t go.”

“I might not even get the job,” he said. “I haven’t even told my boss I was interested yet, either.”

“Good,” his papa said. “Don’t tell him. You need to stay here.”

“I have to agree with Em on this one,” his father stated. “If it’s the right opportunity, Fitz should spread his wings a little and give it a try.”

Fitz eyed his father, who looked almost like he was on the verge of tears. He then glanced at his papa, whose lips were set into two thin lines, eyes shining as well. Pops wouldn’t publicly argue with their father, but once they were all gone, he suspected Dad would hear an earful.

“But if it’s not right, it’s not right,” his father added, eying Fitz.

“Agreed,” Fitz said. “And like I said, it’s only a chance. I haven’t been offeredanything. My boss thinks I’m ready… it’s a senior architect position in the satellite office there.”

“But what if you meet someone down there? Start a family away from us? Kids need their grandparents close,” his papa said. “I couldn’t handle being that far away.”

An image of Tanner’s face oddly flashed in his brain. “Like I just told them… the train could get me here in three hours. I could still come to Sunday dinner every month. You’d still see me almost as often as you do now.” He paused a moment. “And who knows… maybe my omegaisdown there. Maybe fate is sending me there.IfI get the job, of course.”

The frown on his papa’s face faded a little. “I don’t like it. But I suppose we can’t stop you from your destiny.”

“Yeah, his destiny sitting at a desk somewhere? I don’t think so,” Emerson said.

“Screw you, Em,” Fitz said. “At least I’m not still living at home.”

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