Page 52 of Thorns That Bloom
The world doesn’t pause because I am having a bad day. I still have to work, so I do. I stop for a cupcake from that nice little bakery on the way, get some tea to calm me down, and play my favorite songs as I drive.
People irritate me more than usual, and my tolerance for dealing with them is considerably lower. Even Kristoff notices when he comes in to check on me in the morning, as he usually does, with a bunch of coffee cups in hand and a smile on his face. I wave at him and crinkle my nose, the intense scent of his espresso making me a little nauseated.
He makes the face he always does when he realizes I’m in one of mymoods—that I can at least chalk up to pregnancy mood swings—and clears out as soon as we talk about what needs to be done today.
The pregnancy itself isn’t helping my state of mind, either. I’m getting to the point where I feel like shit, plain and simple. I’m constantly hungry.So freakinghungry. My hips ache. My sleep schedule is starting to crumble. The baby’s kicks are more intense. I love feeling them move inside me, but being punched in the belly button from the inside is a sensation I’d rather not know existed. And I always feel so damn sluggish!
Brushing my hair out of my face, I let out a tired sigh. I can do this, right?
Yeah, I can do this.Wecan do this.
I slave away doing my job until I have to go pee again. Once I get back, I grab one of my snacks—a fruit protein bar—and go on my phone for a bit. I work best in bursts, and frequent breaks help me keep my momentum. At least here, Idon’t have to worry about people watching me and thinking I’m just slacking.
Twitching and frowning as the baby kicks me in the ribs, I swipe down on the notification bar and open the unread message that buzzed in a few minutes ago.
Spinach and goat cheese risotto on the menu today! I have a later shift, so I’ll come in time for your lunch and we can eat before I start. At 12.30-ish? Should I meet you outside your office?
I smile to myself.Always so eager to please.
Theo’s taking his offer of us eating lunch together pretty seriously. I was a little worried about giving him my number, but the only thing he’s spammed me with since I did that a few days ago has been constant questions about what foods I like, dislike, and making sure I don’t have allergies.
I’m still not exactly sure if I believe he isn’t preparing these meals specifically to bring for me, rather than just what he would’ve cooked for himself. And I’m still not sure how I feel about it, really, but…it’s nice, I suppose.
It’s nice to feel like I’m being taken care of.
Yeah. Sounds good.
There is a heavy feeling at the bottom of my chest still. But maybe that’s just because of the horrible way I got woken up today. The stupid, irrational doubt that always lingers. Thatdoubt whispers to me, telling me I don’t know Theo. That he’s an alpha capable of the things that all alphas are capable of.
And yet when I picture his face and that bright, boyish grin in my mind, my body relaxes. I close my eyes and recall his pheromones. I’ve always liked coconut. His scent has an edge to it, a spicy, hearty musk that gets much stronger when he’s sweaty, like after working in his overalls for hours.
At least he’s coming here before work today. That should stop these ill-advised thoughts. It’s nothing but hormones. The animalistic side of me, an omega needing an alpha to care for them in such a vulnerable time.
Must be.
At exactly twelve thirty, Theo appears outside my door with a grin he is clearly trying to rein in, but it shows that he’s ten times more excited than he wants to admit nonetheless, and two plastic containers of food in hand. He raises them in the air as he knocks, blue eyes lit up, hair shiny and messy from the wind that’s been whipping through town for the last two days.
“Hey.” Theo’s voice is a little breathy.
Was he hurrying to get here?
He stands in the doorway, watching me intently, as always. No work overalls, only his regular clothes—black washed-out jeans, a t-shirt with some band logo on it, and a plain, sandy leather jacket with a white stripe on the arms. His broad, muscular shoulders give a nice V-shape to his upper body. And while his jeans are nowhere near tight-fitting, they stretch slightly over his thighs.
I swallow hard and quickly meet his gaze.What are you thinking, Sam?
Standing up maybe a little too fast because of how damn hungry I am, I smile back at him. “I’m starving. Where’s that secret spot of yours? It’s pretty windy, though. I’m not sure it’s the best idea to eat outside.”
“Don’t worry. It’s mostly enclosed. Should be okay,” he says, and steps away as I come to him with my jacket in hand.
He hands me a food container that’s still hot. I open it while we walk, and by god, the aroma is so savory and so delicious it makes my stomach rumble. Letting out a groan of pleasure and rolling my eyes to the back of my head, I glance at him with a smirk. “This better be as good as it smells.”
Theo chuckles. “I hope so. I’ve done it a million times. My sister… Well, she always loved it.” The spark in his voice gets a little duller as he says it. I wonder if he’s nervous, or if it’s his sister that’s the sore subject.
He holds the door open for me as we take a turn and head through the part of the building I rarely frequent.Well, never. But that’s fine. There are plenty of people close by, so I feel safe. I really do.
“Have you always liked to cook?” I ask.
“I think? Um, I remember always being around when one of my dads was cooking since I was little and finding it cool.”
