Page 73 of His Gentle Omega
Quinn was tall for an omega and thin, with chestnut hair like his daughter’s, that fell to his shoulders in waves. I recognized him from The Sweet Spot, a place Lucas had visited when he spent the day with Bennett, and insisted we had to go. They had great coffee, and I’d found myself stopping a few mornings over the past week, on my way to work. His husband was at least the same height as Gabe, with broad shoulders, black hair and ice blue eyes. They made a striking couple, and exuded friendliness.
It was clear that all these people knew my brother and his mate well and seemed happy to include me in their mix. They probably all knew what had brought me here, and possibly even some of Asher’s and my history, but no one mentioned a thing or made me feel awkward, which I was grateful for.
Tessa insisted I needed to work on making friends, and building a life that included more than work, and taking care of Lucas. She probably wasn’t wrong. Honestly though, between starting work, getting Lucas settled, and us trying to establish some kind of routine, there wasn’t really any time left over in my day–or social battery–to worry about making friends. At least there hadn’t been yet. It had only been two weeks since we had left Bennett’s, and I thought we were doing pretty good, all things considered.
The side gate opened with a bang, and all eyes turned to stare at the newcomers. Seth sauntered in like he was making hisdebut on the stage, hips swaying, sunglasses bedazzled with rhinestones covering his eyes, the sun sparking off them.
“Gabe, pleeeasssee tell me the food is almost ready,” Seth whined, leaning against the bear and sniffing the meat on the grill appreciatively. “I’m about to die from starvation. I need some meat.”
Gabe shook him off with a good-natured grin. “Almost. Go bother someone else.”
Seth huffed, but he wandered away from the grill. Bennett entered through the open gate much slower, and I wondered if he had been talking himself into actually showing up. His eyes met mine, his lips pressed into a thin line. He seemed to give himself a silent pep talk, before he walked forward and asked Asher where he should set his bag of chips down.
He was close enough that I was sure I could scent him this time. His sugary sweet smell on the tip of my tongue, mingling just under the smell of whatever Gabe was cooking, made my mouth water.
Raising his head, he batted his lashes and stared up at me. If I wanted, I could reach out and touch him. Run my hand over the skin of his shoulder, down his silky arm.
Brows furrowed, he leaned his head closer, then demanded, “What did you do?”
Frowning, I tried to figure out what he was talking about, before my hand came up to cover the wide, white square of gauze that was taped to the juncture of where my neck met my shoulder. Covering my mating gland, and the scar there.
“Oh,” I breathed, secretly happy about the concern I’d heard laced with his demand to know what I had done to myself. It warmed me inside to know that he was worried about me.
Lowering my voice, I told him, “I started the process to break Edward’s and my bond. There isn’t much bond left, at least from what the doctor said, but it still needs to be done. I have about three more sessions, he thinks.”
Bennett’s eyes widened in shock. “That…I’ve heard that can be a really painful procedure.”
Shrugging my shoulder like it was no big thing, I told my hands to stay by my side. To absolutely not reach up and push the wayward lock of hair off his forehead. “It wasn’t the most pleasant thing, but it will be worth it.”
In fact, it had hurt like hell. Having a doctor cut into my scar, then dig out what was left of the bond tissue between Edward and me, had not been fun. Even numbed up, I could still feel the scraping sensation. It hadn’t hurt but it hadn’t been pleasant. And afterwards, the mark burned and throbbed for hours.
But the pain was worth it, especially if it meant I could fully break our mating bond, I would sit and do a hundred sessions. If it meant that one day Bennett and I might someday be able to claim each other, I would do it in a heartbeat.
Though honestly, thinking of being mated to anyone, ever again, nearly set off one of my panic attacks. Tessa and I were working on my feelings toward it, but I didn’t know if I would ever be able to offer that to Bennett. But I wanted to be prepared, just in case, and I also wanted to be free of any last hold Edward had over me.
That was if I hadn’t blown it completely with Bennett. I had hurt him, and for that, I would never forgive myself, but I’d had to do it.
For us to have a chance in the future, I had to let him go now. Even if it hurt like hell. Even if he hated me for doing it.
Even if I wanted nothing more than to grab him in my arms, claim his lips, and shout to the world that he was mine.
Bennett bit his lower lip, his green eyes searching mine forsomething. Searching for something I wasn’t sure I had to give him. Not now. Not yet.
But I wanted to. I wanted to give him the world. I wanted to be the alpha he deserved.
I just hoped he would be patient and wait for me.
“I hope you…” Bennett’s words trailed off, and he blinked furiously. His gorgeous eyes glistened as he stared up at me, as he tried desperately to blink away what I prayed weren’t tears. “I hope you find what you’re looking for, Shay. You deserve all the happiness.”
His voice cracked on the last word, and I was positive my heart cracked a little too, before he turned quickly and rushed away. Dropping the chips on the table Asher had indicated, Bennett sank onto a lounge chair beside Seth.
His back was to me, rigid and tight, and Seth reached outand wiped something off Bennett’s cheek, and pain squeezed my heart tightly.
Seth glared at me, pointing with two fingers first at his eyes, then towards me. Letting me know he was keeping his eyes on me, and he was pissed I’d made his bestie cry.
Well, fuck. I was pissed at myself for making him cry too. I hated that Bennett was hurting because of all the bad decisions I had made in my life.
And when Lucas noticed Bennett had arrived, and launched himself out of the pool, running to Bennett soaking wet, my heart leapt into my throat. Watching Bennett catch my son and pull him close, despite the fact that he was soaking wet, hugging him and kissing the top of his wet head made me ache for everything I had never had with a mate. For everything Lucas had never had from his omega father.
