Page 19 of Players and Pages
"OH MY FUCKING GOD!" Griff yelled, letting out a whoop and literally hopping in the air as he fist pumped. That was the most enthusiasm I’d ever seen this alpha show. Even his scent was flooding the air, his alpha as excited as he was.
Cy and I shared a look but we couldn’t even judge the man. Hell, I was two seconds from doing the same, if I wasn't still trying to process it. Even as my mind tried to overthink, my alpha made it hard. We were far too excited as the reality kicked in.
"Don't get your hopes up too much," Cy started, trying to ground us. "They said it's her but even with a picture, I won't believe it until I see her face and smell her scent."
"You and me both, brother. Let's get our bags packed and head over there as soon as possible," I told them. “I’d rather not miss her. My anxiety won’t handle it well if we do.”
"I agree. I want to get to that bookstore and see for myself. Weneedour mate," Cy agreed before he climbed in the driver's seat.
I took my place in the back, buckled in and leaned my head on the headrest before closing my eyes.
Was it really just a few hours or less until we met our omega? It felt too easy. After years of looking and then a week of searching for her, a quick phone call felt too simple.
Then my anxiety kicked back in like the asshole it was.
Would she accept me as well? I didn't know if I could take the rejection, but I always knew it was a possibility. I wasn’t the typical alpha. I was shy, semi-introverted, and even I knew I was considered a nerd. Not that I minded, I didn’t care if people knew I was into all bookish stuff as well as all the movies and TV shows that came with that label.
"Jackson, get out of your head, man," Cy said as I opened my eyes to see him looking at me in the rear view.
"It's all or none," Griff promised. There was conviction in his voice but it was much easier said than done.
"Nah, I won't keep you two from your mate," I told them in an easy voice that was completely forced. "We all deserve to be happy."
"No, it's all or none," Griff said again, this time on a growl.
If she didn't want me as well, I wasn't going to let them give her up for me.
"Let's get home, pack, and head to Willow Lake," I told them. "Then we’ll know if they were lying about their friend or not." It was a distraction, but at least it worked.
Cy's phone dinged twice and he handed it over to Griff.
"One is a text from the unknown number with a picture attached and the other is an email from Coach," he said.
"We can open it up at home, where all three of us can see it at the same time," Cy told him as he turned onto the street our apartment was on.
We were almost home and I was itching to see that photo, but god, I was terrified, too. This felt like a dream and I was waiting for it to turn into a nightmare.
"Is it just me, or was that the longest ten minutes of our lives?" Cy asked as he put the car in park and we exited the car.
"Not just you," I snarked as I rounded the car. Griff joined us and Cy opened the message, pulling up not just the photo from the game, but a candid shot, and a selfie.
It was her and she was even more beautiful than Cy described. Her hair was wild and free, her smile a bit sassy and just as sweet. Her figure… fuck, she was my dream omega.
Hope had my breath catching in my lungs, my alpha edging closer as if he could reach her through the phone. A low rumble echoed out of me. Cy and Griff looked up at me in shock before Cy barked out a laugh.
“See, I knew it was her,” he said. Griff just shook his head and waved us on.
“Let’s get to Willow Lake and find our mate.”
"YOU DID WHAT?" I yelled, accidentally startling Gem. She started crying in her playpen and I had to pick her up to soothe her, bouncing her gently as I glared at my so called friends. "I'm sorry, pretty girl. It's really your mom's fault."
"You've been freaking out since you saw the flyer. Bea and I knew that we needed to call before you chickened out," Taryn explained and came to get Gem from me.
“Plus, don’t even act like you weren't wallowing all weekend. We can’t watch our girl break down and do nothing,” Bea defended. There was no remorse in either of them, only determination.
She swayed Gem and the baby’s lids started to get heavy again, meaning we had to hiss out this argument instead of screaming like I wanted to.
"I know I was, but still, you could have asked me first. Do you really think Cy is looking for me?" I questioned just as quickly as I complained. “This can’t even be real.”
