Page 91 of Finding the Forward: Part One
My phone buzzed again. This time with a picture of Dean wearing a chunky red beanie while snuggled into Grif. I hearted it.
“Oooh. Verity’s texting Airplane Guy.” Creed smirked and tried to snatch my phone.
I smacked him and pulled my phone away from him.
“You’re seeing someone. Don’t you have enough going on? I mean, you don’t want your studies to suffer. NYIT wants you tostretchyour research.” Disappointment crossed Dad’s face, and it stabbed me in the heart.
My shoulders slumped. Nothing would ever be good enough, would it?
“No. You don’t get to do that, Nate. Verity’s allowed to date.” Grace turned to him and scowled.
“He’s nice, Dad. He’s got a good job. Mercy likes him,” I replied softly. If Dad judged Grif as a person, not an athlete, I think they’d get along well.
“Oh. Is he a colleague? Someone you met on campus?” Dad brightened. He’d met Mom, Mumsy, and Baba at a chemistry conference, who were all friends. Mumsy was his scent match.When I was little, I loved to hear the story of them literally colliding. It was like a fairytale.
Unfortunately, their sweet meet was only part of the tale, and it wasn’t all happy.
“Airplane Guy. She met him on anairplane, Dad,” Creed said with a roll of his eyes as he took another sip of his drink.
“He’s not an omega, is he?” Worry creased Dad’s face.
“Why does it matter, Dad? We’re alphas. It’s not uncommon.” Creed gave him a look and squeezed my hand.
We were adults. Who lived on our own. Yet their disapproval still cut so hard. My big brother was just better at hiding it.
“I’m seeing a beta. He’s married to an omega. There might be an alpha or two in the mix,” I told him, picking up my vodka pineapple and playing with the little stirring stick. “He’s not in academia, nor is he a scientist.”
“Oh.” Dad’s head tilted. “He’s in a pack? Are you–”
“She’s doingfine, Nate. Not everyone fucks up and you can’t dictate their lives because you’re afraid they’ll make mistakes like you did,” Grace replied, taking a sip of her whiskey smash.
Dad winced. Sure, it was harsh. But Grace had paid dearly for the parents’ mistakes.
“I’m being cautious, Dad. We haven’t been seeing each other for very long. We’ve established boundaries. I’m not having sleepovers with Mercy at home. He’s away for worka lot.We’re... we’re still feeling things out and getting to know each other. I like him, Dad,” I confessed. “So much.”
Every day that feeling, that intensity,grew.It was both thrilling and terrifying.
Grace reached over the table and squeezed my hand. “I’m so excited you found him.”
Dad looked at his phone and sighed. Most likely Mumsy was bored and wanted to leave. She was upstairs in the business center having no interest in us grown children.
“I... I see. Ver, I’m not trying to upset you. It’s nice that you found someone you like. I’m worried that–” Dad’s attention focused over my shoulder, a curious look crossing his face.
A kiss landed on my cheek as an arm wrapped around my shoulders and the scent of rain enveloped me. “Hey, Gorgeous. Love the dress.”
It was the same lavender one I’d worn on our dinner date.
“Grif. You’re here.” Excitement shot through me as I reached up and ran a hand through his beard. Still in his suit, he looked good enough to eat.
His lips met mine. We kissed a little deeper than I’d like in front of the dad who’d just chastised me for dating, but not so intense that it was inappropriate. Creed whistled.
Grif’s eyes went to my dad, as his arm stayed around me possessively. “Hi, I’m Grif. Verity’sboyfriend.”
“Oh. My. Goodness. Here come theboys.” Grace giggled, her voice sing-song.
“I played a shutout.” Dean launched himself under my other arm.
He also looked tasty. Moss tickled my nose. Jonas. I couldn’t see him, but I felt him behind me. It felt comforting. Like he had my back.
