Page 84 of Dream Mates
Like I’d admitted to Evan back at the cabin, it was hard to wade through hormones and feelings and all that. Part of me wondered if Brennan and I would ever be intimate outside of Evan’s heats. Even if it was just carrying out some of Evan’s fantasies.
They could be good.Very good.
Though I also understand that his ex had caused him a lot of emotional damage and I appreciated how far he’d come since I arrived. We were also still getting to know each other, trust each other. Who knew what might happen…
I’d be okay if it did.
Yeah, I’d just be patient with him and figure out how he needed to be loved, since he was so busy taking care of everyone else.
“Thank you for telling me all that,” I added, refocusing on the present.
“I need you to know that I understand where you’re coming from. Okay, not parallel worlds, but things like your fear of saying something to the wrong person being perfectly valid,” he assured.
“I also appreciate you and Jett taking me being from another world all in stride.” What would have happened if they hadn’t believed me?
“While I understand how you camehere,I’m still confused about why your mom was such a bitch about Wes if you don’t even have alphas in your world? How did she even know?” His face scrunched in confusion.
“That’s a complex question,” I replied as he continued to rub my shoulders.
It was probably time to explain a few things.
“Should we see the rest of the gardens while we talk? Not that I don’t like this. Did Wes miss the massage lesson in alpha school? Not that I have any issue with Wes,” I groaned as he hit a good spot.
Brennan stood. “Spencer and I went to private alpha training camps. Wes didn’t. Should I get him massage lessons for Christmas?”
I adored Christmas. Would they let me cover the lawn with inflatable Christmas dragons? I’d always wanted to do that. Also, wear matching Christmas pajamas.
“I think you should.” Taking his hand, I stood. “Alpha training camp. It sounds miserable.”
“It’s pretty fun. Well, the one Katie and I went to. You learn how to care for your omega and how to run a pack or household.We covered everything from accounting and investing, to cooking and cleaning,” he said. “And, things like sailing and massage.”
We continued touring the spacious grounds and I felt like I was in a regency novel, wandering through a dilapidated manor.
“I wastoo intomath in high school. My mom was really into appearances. She wanted me to be acceptably social, to participate in the right activities, and get good grades–but not have a schedule full of advanced classes. When I wanted to join the mathletes, that was it–she’d had enough–even though I promised not to drop cheer or miss any piano competitions. One thing I never figured out was why she was so obsessed with me playing the piano when she didn’t, but she also said she never wanted to play it as a kid.” I shrugged. “I did get a little obsessed with math and my theories. Which worried her.”
Brennan looked puzzled. “There are so many worse things teenagers can do.”
“I know, right? Like get drunk and pass out in a field.” My eyes rolled. There wasn’t a whole lot to do in our little town.
He nodded. “Exactly.”
“Still, nothing I could do was right. She didn’t like my attitude and behavior. Also, she thought that I rebelled against her rules and mouthed off. In hindsight, I really didn’t do anything bad. I got top grades, did extracurriculars, volunteered, played the piano at church, and worked two jobs. Though I did keep a messy room and was overly fond of blankets and stuffies.” It was never enough for her.
I was never enough.
“Still not a bad thing.” He shook his head.
“I made a mistake, confiding in my guidance counselor in high school about what I wanted to study in college–and where I wanted to go. I thought that he could help me with my college applications and find scholarships. He thought myinterests were unsuitable for a woman and told my mom that I was delusional because I believed other worlds existed. Really, he just didn't understand quantum physics.” By then my relationship with my mom had already been strained. Confiding in him was what started the really awful things.
“You should be able to talk to your teachers. Girls can do quantum physics.” He frowned.
“They can. But getting a three-day hold because your guidance counselor was worried about your mental state because of what you wanted to study in college and hoped to accomplish was horrifying. It also made me more secretive. I got meds and therapy, and weird treatments. When the real professionals wouldn’t give my mom the answers she wanted, she switched me to unlicensed church people, who just pandered to her and not my needs. My mom and I were always at odds, and I couldn’t wait to escape to college.” With my eyes set on an elite university on the other side of the country.
“So that’s when the drugs started,” he said quietly.
“Yeah. I didn’t like the way they impacted my academic performance and had to figure out how to make her think I took them. Anyway, the future was in sight, and one day I confided in my best friend that I had a boyfriend. I didn’t mention that he was from another world, just that there was someone and it was secret. She… she told.” I flinched. She’d been my ride or die. I kept so many secrets for her–and I never knew why she told on me.
“Oh.” Horror crossed his face.
