Starry Skies for My Omega

by Marianna Forrest

  He heard a distant reply as he stepped onto the bus. He gripped the bowl tightly before slumping against a pole near the front of the bus. He felt people staring at his back, silently questioning his breathlessness.

  The bus jerked forward, garnering groans of disapproval from the passengers. He felt the stares taper off as people returned to their business.

  Lukas sighed before whispering to himself, “And now, time to actually start the day.”

  Chapter 2

  Welcome to the Roaring Ridgemont Eatery: a hole in the wall, lost down the hidden path, retro diner of Boston. Located absolutely nowhere near Ridgemont, the place was a favorite meeting and eating spot of young, old, and all in between.

  Why did he even name this place after Ridgemont when it’s miles away? Lukas wiped down a recently emptied table. He sighed, listening to the clanks, clinks, and clangs of the diner that drowned out the cheery tune playing over the speakers.

  “Lukas, Mr. Jenkins’ order is ready! He’s sitting out on the patio today! And when you get a chance, Ms. Newman needs some extra creamer for her coffee!” came a booming voice from the kitchen.

  That booming voice had a name: Archer Moody, the head-honcho. Also known as the man who would probably go down in history for being the swiftest path to a heart attack. He didn’t almost just jump out of his skin. No siree.

  Pushing the pointless thoughts from his mind, he slapped a smile on his face as he spun around to pick up the order. “Sure thing, Boss!”

  “And Mrs. Xian needs some wipes for Yijun!” the voice from the kitchen frantically added.

  Lukas wondered why the man was so distraught but then he caught sight of the toddler covered in pancake syrup as Mrs. Xian tried to clean him up. How did such a small child manage to squeeze the entire bottle all over the table and floor? Such strength and persistence!

  It had been crazy from the moment he stepped into the diner. His boss was such a mess that he was surprised the diner hadn’t been engulfed in flames before opening time. Despite not opening for another fifteen minutes, people had still gathered outside in numbers. He felt the eyes of the expectant people on his back as he rolled silverware and set out menus before unlocking the doors. No wonder his boss had wanted to pay a bit extra for Rufio’s coffee today.

  Heading back to the front, Lukas ducked behind the counter to gather everything he needed, dodging the frenzied movements of his boss. He reached for the tray after loading it down, but his boss stopped him before he could rush off.

  “Wait, Lukas. Here.” Archer scooped another spoonful of fresh berries over the Danish Mr. Jenkins ordered.

  Lukas was a bit confused but rushed off to Mr. Jenkins. As he stepped out onto the patio, he was increasingly thankful for his old ball cap. The sun was still low enough that it was peeking under the awning set up on the patio, and it was a brutal ball of blazing death despite it being so early in the morning.

  Seeing the old man, he realized exactly why his boss had put extra goodies on the plate at the last minute. The ordinarily chatty old man looked like he’d had a rough morning.

  Dressed in a fine vest with suspenders and slacks, Mr. Jenkins adjusted his glasses, his nose buried in a book. On the other side of the table, a fresh tulip lay next to an old black and white photo of a happy couple that had been framed with care.

  Lukas felt his eyes burn for a moment before blinking back the feeling. The picture was of Mr. Jenkins and his wife Nora at their wedding. Had it really been that long since…? Swallowing the lump in his throat, he stepped closer to the table with a smile.

  “Hey, Mr. Jenkins, got your usual hot and ready." Lukas carefully put down a plate, heavy with a fresh berry and cream cheese Danish before following it with a cup of hot coffee.

  “Ah, wonderful. That’s just the way I like it.” Mr. Jenkins put the small book he was reading off to the side, looked up, and smiled.

  Oh great, now that song is gonna be stuck in my head all day.

  “Now, son, I think there’s a bit extra here. I don’t think I’ll be able to finish it all.”

  “Don’t you worry about it, Mr. Jenkins. Yes, there is a bit of extra this time. Archer threw another helping of berries on there for you. If you don’t finish it, I can put together a little box for you,” Lukas replied, placing the hot cup of coffee on the table.

  “You lot are too good to an arthritic old fart like me.” He laughed hoarsely. “That’s what she always used to call me whenever she was in a jabbing mood.”

  A peaceful silence filled the patio area as Lukas smiled. “It’s a beautiful picture. She looks very happy.

  Mr. Jenkins looked down at his plate. “It’s been a year today.”

  The old man gazed at the photo for a short while.

  “You know, she was the most beautiful, kindest woman I ever had the pleasure of knowing. I would have been content just being near her, but then I got to marry her. She chose me. Out of all the fools she could have had, she chose me.”

  A sad smile formed on his face before he said in a hoarse voice, “I hope you don’t mind an old man taking up space in your diner today. It’s just nice being able to get out of that empty house and be surrounded by friendly faces.”

  “Mr. Jenkins, if you ever need any company, please stop by here. We’re always happy to see you.” A sympathetic smile crossed Lukas’ face.

  “Thank you, son. That means a lot to me. Now go on. You have other people to take care of, too,” Mr. Jenkins whispered, patting Lukas on the arm.

  Making his way back inside, Lukas tugged his ball cap further down over his eyes. He wasn’t going to cry at work, damn it. Archer would worry himself to death.

  Before he got very far, a sing-song voice echoed from across the diner, “Is that my Lukas I see?”

  He flinched, just a little bit, before turning in the direction of the shrill voice. You could always tell when Ms. Newman was in the room. She was a sweet middle-aged woman with a big heart and a big voice who loved to play matchmaker. Her heart was always in the right place, bless her, but her matches never seemed to stick together long.

  “’tis I, Ms. Newman! I heard a tale on the wind that you need a few extra creamers, and I have come to deliver,” Lukas nodded.

  Ms. Newman let out a hearty laugh before replying, “My, my, Lukas, you act like you’re right out of a storybook with those uppity, fancy phrases. Now tell me, how did that date go? I’ve been sitting on the edge of my seat since last week! He seemed like such a nice young man.”

  Lukas winced at the reminder of the date.

  “Well, he was very kind, and I’m sure he’ll make someone very happy someday, but something just didn’t click for us.” Lukas resisted adding that his date had his eyes on a beta sitting at the table next to them the entire time.

  The cheerful lady looked a little down at first before perking back up and saying, “Don’t worry, Lukas. He was a beta, and they’re a whole different ball game. A bit of hit or miss, and definitely not for everybody. I can set you up with a nice alpha if you give me a few days.”

  “While I appreciate the offer, Ms. Newman, call me crazy, but I just get this gnawing feeling that something big is just around the corner, and I need to be ready for it,” Lukas replied. He gave her a slight smile before setting her extra creamer on the table. No sense in hurting her feelings, after all.

  “Oh, that’s okay, sweetie, I understand. But you have to promise me that if you meet someone you like, you’ll introduce me to them,” Ms. Newman replied with a smile.

  “I promise. Now, I have to hop back to it. Please enjoy your breakfast,” he replied with a smile before rushing off to his last table.

  In the time it had taken to drop off Mr. Jenkins’ food and Ms. Newman’s creamers, he had forgotten just how bad it was at Mrs. Xian’s table.

  Keeping a brisk pace, he headed over to the syrup-covered table, determined to put a stop to the scene before the toddler somehow managed to find some feathers to roll in. He was pretty sure he’
d seen a half-finished chicken costume somewhere in the breakroom not too long ago. Why? Well, Archer was his boss, after all, but honestly, he had no idea. He just didn’t feel like tempting fate today.

  “Here you go, Mrs. Xian. I saw that Yijun was in a bit of a sticky situation.” He grinned. He stealthily confiscated the empty syrup bottle and handed some wipes to the woman.

  Mrs. Xian laughed, slowly shaking her head before taking the wipes gratefully.

  “I am so sorry for the mess, Lukas. With my wife out of town for work, I’ve been a bit distracted trying to juggle my own work and being a mom.” She smiled, balancing her toddler on her leg while working on her laptop.

  How she had managed to keep Yijun from getting any syrup on the laptop was beyond him. Must be a mom thing.

  “It’s no problem, Mrs. Xian. Just let me know if you need anything else.”

  The woman sighed, quickly disguising her fatigue with a smile.

  “I just need a live-in nanny for the next two weeks until Liu is back. I miss her so much. Our poor little ones have so much energy, and they want to show me everything they’ve done at school, and I just can’t keep up with them.”

  “Well, I know sugar is the last thing you want for your kids, but if you ever need a little pick-me-up, I can make you a couple of those pineapple buns you like,” Lukas offered.

  Mrs. Xian’s eyes lit up, “That would be wonderful, Lukas, but if it’s too much trouble, please don’t worry about it.”

  “It’s no trouble at all. I’ll have them for you, say, this coming Thursday.” Lukas offered a couple more wipes and refilled her coffee.

  “Sounds like a plan, Lukas. Thank you so much. Can you say ‘thank you,’ Yijun? Say, ‘thank you.’” Mrs. Xian bounced Yijun on her leg. The toddler was a giggling mess, trying to speak but mostly babbling, raising his arms up toward Lukas.

  Lukas laughed as Mrs. Xian passed Yijun to him. There were only a few people in the diner now, so he could afford to hold a cute toddler for a few minutes.

  Yijun was happy as a clam being held so high above the table. Lukas began bouncing him around on his hip and dancing with him in the middle of the diner, much to the toddler’s delight. Lukas could see Ms. Newman in the corner booth with a dreamy smile on her face.

  He heard his boss call out that another order was ready. He passed Yijun back to his mother and began walking back to the counter.

  After he dropped off the order, he returned to ask Mrs. Xian, “By the way, where are Mei and–”

  He didn’t have time to finish his thought before a little girl of about nine darted from under the table and tackled him with a hug.

  Unable to withstand the sudden force of the child, he fell backward onto the floor, catching her before she rolled off him. A little boy of about five jumped into the pile, laughing as Lukas played dead.

  Suddenly, the diner filled with a furious vibe. Lukas propped himself up on his elbows and looked toward Mrs. Xian and he wouldn’t have been surprised if she had the fires of hell behind her.

  A thunderous voice came from the small woman sitting at the table. “Mei, Jin! You have until the count of three to sit at this table and behave or so help me–”

  The children scampered back to the table, and their mother returned to her usual, sunny self.

  “When I say you stay at this table, I mean it,” Mrs. Xian continued, scolding her normally well-behaved children.

  “Anyway, Lukas, thank you for the offer of those pineapple buns. We’re going to head out to the park now. Lord knows, these three have enough energy to burn.” Mrs. Xian sighed before gathering her children and preparing to leave.

  Mei and Jin were already jumping up and down again before their mother glared at them.

  “We’re getting more pineapple buns!?” the children squealed.

  “Yes, Mr. Lukas was nice enough to offer to bake some more for us on Thursday. Now, what do we say?” Mrs. Xian asked them.

  “Thank you, Mr. Lukas,” Mei and Jin said in unison. Yijun babbled, reaching his hands toward Lukas with a giggle. Lukas ruffled his hand through the toddler’s hair.

  Mei and Jin hugged Lukas one last time before they followed their mother out of the diner, excited that they were getting their favorite treat soon.

  Eventually, the traffic in the diner came to a grinding halt, a welcome change as Lukas sat down on a barstool to catch his breath. The last customers were packing up, ready to head out and face the day. Archer came from the kitchen, wiping his hands on a towel. He tucked a strand of blond hair behind his ear before leaning over the counter to rest.

  “Didn’t get a chance to thank you for that coffee earlier. I don’t think I would have made it without your gracious contribution, Oh Mighty McGuire.” He lightly jabbed Lukas on the arm.

  “Don’t worry about it. Though I thought for sure you were going to vault the counter and strangle that guy that gave you hell over the temperature of his coffee,” Lukas joked.

  “I thought about it, but whatever would you do without me if I went to prison?” Archer quipped playfully.

  A moment of silence came between the two men as they relaxed after the rush of people. Lukas’s fingers idly played with a nearby saltshaker as the last customers left the diner.

  “So what is this upcoming fair I heard Mrs. Henley talking about? It seems to have put a lot of people in a good mood,” Lukas remarked as he idly watched the traffic pass by outside the diner.

  “You mean to tell me you don’t know about the Heated Hullabaloo?”

  Lukas was taken aback by the shock in Archer’s tone. He smiled sheepishly. “I used to work night shifts before you hired me on here, remember? Didn’t tend to pay attention to many events going on since I had to sleep during the day.”

  He had been working here for a little under a year. It was tough in the beginning, what with shifting from night shifts to morning and midday shifts, but he had survived.

  Archer still looked as shocked as he had before. “How have you not even heard of it, though? Our seasonal fairs are such a big deal! Why, the food, alone, is to die for. My band is lined up to play a few songs, too.”

  All at once, the words began to tumble out of Archer’s mouth. He went into a trance, talking about his favorite dishes and rides at the fair.

  “You know Sheldon Yorke, the owner of the Shattered Gate Bar just down the road? I usually set up a joint booth with him every festival to showcase our food and drink. Only thing is, we may need more help to fill the booth this year.”

  Lukas’ gaze snapped up, “More help? What happened to his other help? Didn’t he use to have like five waiters?”

  “You remember Johnathon? I know he and his alpha just had a baby recently, but most of ‘em just up and quit. Didn’t like the hours, they said. Too late in the evening, they said,” Archer replied angrily. “Why the hell did they even apply to a bar if they didn’t like being out past eight?”

  Archer pinched the bridge of his nose with a huff before continuing, “Anyway, he’s hired at least one new waiter that I know of, a dependable boy Sheldon and I know well. He and Sheldon are both good at what they do, but if you want to join the fair team, we may have to help out a bit more than usual this year. I’m sure old Yorke would love to add some of your recipes to the menu.”

  Lukas felt his face get warm from the praise.

  “I’ll look into it. My garden is doing well, and I may have some fresh berries in time for the fair. I could do some baked goods, maybe make some more savory dishes.” He absent-mindedly began thinking about what recipes he could make.

  “Oh, wonderful! It’ll be crazy since we’re all so short-handed, but just think about all that food,” Archer replied with a sparkle in his eyes.

  “Hey, Boss, I think you have a bit of drool running down your chin,” Lukas pointed out with a laugh.

  Archer didn’t have time to reply before the next wave of customers started to roll in for brunch.

  “Ready yourself, Lukas, they come!”
Archer laughed as he strolled back into position by the stoves.

  Chapter 3

  Two weeks passed in a blur. This fair really has people riled up. As Lukas sat on a couch jammed in the corner of Archer’s office, he struggled to pore over the plans and maps for the fair. It had become harder and harder to focus on his work since Archer had started going to the Shattered Gate Bar to help coordinate the fair.

  Someone had to take care of the place while Archer was gone, and the diner was still as busy as before, if not busier. With the added work, Lukas was a bit drained, to say the least, though Archer definitely had it worse. The man was probably surviving only by the saving grace of coffee at this point.

  Whenever Archer returned from a trip to the bar, he carried a new scent on him, one of burning wood, spices, and pine. It reminded Lukas a lot of home. It was comforting but at the same time, extremely distracting. The heat that sparked in his chest and abdomen whenever he took a breath was maddening, to say the least.

  Lukas jumped as the breakroom door slammed. A chill crept across his skin as Archer stepped into the office carrying a stack of papers, the mysterious scent drifting across the room.

  “Hey, Lukas, thanks for coming back to help with the planning. Sienna would have stayed, but little Hazel is sick, and I didn’t want to keep her away from her kiddo any longer than I have to.” Archer sighed, looking over the planner for the upcoming month.

  Taking a deep breath, Lukas willed his nerves to calm before he spoke.

  “It’s no problem. I’m sure Miss Mulberry can be trusted not to throw any wild parties while I’m gone,” Lukas quipped, smiling.

  “I don’t know, the stories you’ve told me about that cat say otherwise.” Archer laughed. “Anyway, planning this fair is going to be a lot of work, but Mr. Yorke did manage to hire some more help in addition to the fella that already has experience, so hopefully it should be smooth sailing ‘til the fair.”