by Rosa Swann
“Yeah. We talked it out. We’re good now.” I glance at Dan, who is trying his best to focus on the dinner, but he’s also obviously trying to listen in on us, which can’t be easy from all the way over there.
“Good.” Dad smiles softly. “Nobody needs stress like that. Not him with his tests coming up or you with your essays and pregnancy. I’m happy to hear you two are okay again.” Then he gives me a slight nod. “Well, if you’d give us a moment...” His smile turns tense and he motions for Daddy to follow him, before going over to Dan, tapping him on his shoulder. “Can we talk? Upstairs, please.”
The room goes deadly quiet as Dan stands still, his body frozen. His head turns to me almost unnaturally fast, panic in his gaze as he drops his knife on the counter with a clatter. Mikey moves quickly enough to prevent it from falling onto the floor and hurting anyone, pushing it away from the edge, but then he also stills, staying really quiet, his eyes wide, locked onto Dan.
Fuck. That’s... If we’d hoped to act naturally, not make a big deal out of tonight and why they’re making such an extravagant dinner, that’s out of the window now. Even if this isn’t about Dan’s grades, now our dads definitely know something is up.
Daddy looks from Dan to me and back, frowning. “What’s going on?”
Dad also turns, meeting my gaze and I have to look away, not able to keep looking at him, my whole body tense and I feel like I’m the one in trouble, even though I’ve only been trying to help Dan. Then Dad’s voice is low, disappointed. “What’s going on? What are you hiding from us?”
“Nothing. Nothing big.” Dan’s voice comes out rushed and he looks at me, like he hopes I can somehow save him. But I have no idea how.
Dad nods slowly. “Would this have anything to do with the call I just had from one of your teachers? He told me something really troubling. It didn’t make any sense at the time, but why do I have a feeling that there might have been some truth to it? I was going to ask you in private, but it seems like the others are aware of what’s going on. Are they?”
Dan stares at the floor, nodding, his eyes dark, filled with fear and resignation. “I was going to tell you. I just hadn’t gotten around to it.”
“Going to tell us what?” Daddy is starting to sound impatient now as he stands up, walking closer.
Dan takes a deep breath. “I’m going to quit school. I’ve... I’ve not—”
“You, what?!” Dad and Daddy say in unison.
Dan is great at starting with the big news, instead of easing them into it. I guess that’s one way to do it.
Then Daddy looks around at the rest of us as he lets out a sigh. “You already knew. That’s what this dinner was about.” He lets out a frustrated sigh. “Not about making up with Seb and Destin, but trying to placate us before you’re going to give us even more bad news.”
“I’m sorry.” I try to look properly remorseful.
Dad looks like he’s trying to keep his temper under control, but his voice is cool when he speaks again. “What’s this nonsense about dropping out of school?”
Dan’s voice is quiet. “I’ve not passed a single test this year. No matter how hard I tried. I couldn’t do it. So as soon as I turn eighteen, I’m going to drop out of school and work instead. I’ve already decided.”
Dad turns to Destin and me, looking grim. “I think it’s better if you two leave. Family dinner has been cancelled.”
I slowly shake my head, but my hand shakes as I hold onto Destin tightly. I’m not used to standing up to Dad like this. “I’m not leaving.”
“This is not your problem.” Dad’s voice is low, authoritative. “They’re not your responsibility.”
“I know.” I keep my voice as calm as possible. “But I might have part of the solution. I’m not—”
As I speak, Mikey’s face goes white as a sheet, his eyes wide in fear, but it’s like he’s not even seeing what’s going on around him anymore as he quietly mumbles something over and over. Dan rushes for him, holding onto him tightly as Mikey collapses in his arms.
“Mikey.” Dan holds him tightly. “Fuck. Pull out of it, please. Fuck.” Suddenly, all his fear for his own situation seems to be gone as he’s worried about Mikey, softly swaying as he whispers soothing words at him.
I rush for them, standing on Mikey’s other side, looking at him closely, at his white face, his far-away gaze, the way his lips keep moving in soundless words. I have no idea what’s going on, but this doesn’t look good at all. Then I look at Dan. “Has this happened before?”
Dan slowly nods. “Twice this week.” Though, from the way he reacts, how he didn’t seem surprised, just worried, I have a feeling that’s not the whole story, that this has been going on for much longer than that.
Then Daddy appears at our side, his eyes pained, sad. “Panic attack. He’s retreated into his own mind to protect himself. Wes has it too, or, had it when he was younger.” Daddy carefully takes Mikey into his arms. “I guess this last week has been bad enough to bring it out in him.”
He sighs, looking at the rest of us, exhaustion on his face. “Let’s just order something to eat. There’s a lot we don’t know about, apparently, and I’m in no mood to deal with dinner right now.”
I stare at Mikey, and then look at Dan, remembering how pale Mikey was when I found him last Sunday, after he ran out of the apartment. Fuck. Daddy is right. There’s much more going on than any of us know.
I want to protect my little brothers. I thought I knew everything there was to know about them, but with how Dan is protecting Mikey, I have a feeling that they’ve been hiding a lot from me too.
I feel how Destin wraps his arm around me, holding me close and I lean into him as emotion overtakes me. What’s going on with our lives? Last year, everything seemed so simple, so easy, so happy. But everything has fallen apart.
Everything has fallen apart and I’m not sure how much longer I can stay strong.
How did this happen? How did everything turn into such a mess?
How did we go from such a happy family, such a close family, to people who keep massive secrets from each other? What went wrong? Where did we go wrong?
But more importantly, how are we going to resolve this? Because I don’t like this. I don’t like this one bit.
I’m so glad to have Destin with me, him holding me, because I have the feeling that if he lets me go, I’m going to fall to pieces. Everything is falling apart. Our whole lives are falling apart and I have the feeling that with every passing day, it’s getting worse and worse.
How are we going to get back to normal, and what will that look like? I have no clue, and I hate that. I hate not knowing, everything so uncertain.
Will everything ever be okay again? Will it?
Because, right now, it doesn’t feel like it. Not anymore.
And that scares the hell out of me, more than anything else that has happened in the last weeks, not knowing if we’ll all ever be okay again is the scariest thing of all.
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-To Be Continued-
Don’t want to stop reading? Grab your copy of the next book:
Out June 23rd! Pre-order now!
My Alpha’s Proposition (Blossoming of Fate 6)
Next book in this series: My Alpha’s Proposition (Blossoming of Fate 6)
Want to keep reading Seb and Destin’s story? Look for the sixth book in this serial, My Alpha’s Proposition.
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Out June 23rd! Pre-order now!
My Alpha’s Proposition (Blossoming of Fate 6)
Other serials in the Omegaverse Mates World
Seb and Destin are two characters who’ve already shown up in other stories, specifically the first and second Omegaverse Mates World serials, though they were a ‘little’ younger at the time, babies, more specifically.
The first serial, Second Chance Mates is about how Destin’s fathers met, after the loss of their Alpha, the second serial Making a Family, tells the story of how Seb’s fathers fell in love
and how they adopted the sweet Omega.
The third serial is actually about the fathers of Seb’s housemate, Mia. Their story starts in Making a Family, when Seb’s fathers save her father from a bad relationship, but in Omegas’ Destined Alpha, he gets a second chance at love.
Read the blurbs below.
All the serials are connected and follow each other, but they can be read separately, as they’re all stand-alone love stories. Of course, the novellas within the serials do have to be read in order.
Second Chance Mates Serial
My Alpha’s Secret (Second Chance Mates 1)
Wilder
Ten years ago, Logan left me. He told me that two Alphas cannot be together, he told me that our mating wasn’t real.
Yesterday, my sister called me and told me that Logan passed away, leaving behind an Omega and a child.
Today, I’m at Logan’s funeral. Why am I offering to look after his little family?
Sterling
Logan and I had everything we wanted: a house, a beautiful daughter and lots of big dreams. Then he was ripped away from us in a car crash.
His family is too busy to help me out after the funeral, so one of Logan’s old friends steps in.
Only, in all the commotion, I didn’t keep an eye on the calendar, and my heat starts at the most inconvenient of times.
And why is Logan’s friend reacting to my heat? Only true mates are supposed to react to a mated Omega…
My Alpha’s Secret (Second Chance Mates 1)
Making a Family Serial
Faking a Husband (Making a Family 1)
When you ask the cute Omega frequenting your cafe to be your pretend-husband for the weekend…
Clay
I have my pride as an Alpha and I don’t want to be the only unmated Alpha at my younger sister’s wedding.
What’s an Alpha to do? Well, maybe ask the cute Omega who seems to be in need of some cheering up after his Alpha leaves him.
Nothing should go wrong if I invite him to be my fake husband for the weekend, right?
Aiden
After my sister leaves me her three-month-old to look after, I want to be the parent that she can’t be for him.
Life as a single Omega parent won’t be easy, but I’m sure I can manage. Although, even I can’t resist the looks from the handsome Alpha who runs the cafe I frequent, or the way that he makes me smile during this crappy week.
What could go wrong in accepting to be his fake husband for a weekend?
Faking a Husband (Making a Family 1)
Omegas’ Destined Alpha Serial
The Baristas’ Surprise (Omegas’ Destined Alpha 1)
Two Omegas. One kiss. And an Alpha who wasn’t supposed to see it happen…
Nathan
I’m supposed to be an author, but I haven’t finished a book in years. Not since things got out of control. So, to hopefully get back on my feet, I move to a new city, start teaching at college and suddenly find myself intrigued by two Omegas that pass me by every morning.
One day, on a whim, I follow them and see something I shouldn’t have seen. A kiss. A beautiful kiss. And it stirs something inside me…
Zeke
I fled from the arranged marriage my parents set up for me and I was ready to give up on love entirely, and then my best friend saved his younger Omega brother, Wes, from a bad situation and suddenly I was falling, head over heels. It’s amazing to be at Wes’ side and to see him flourish, even if our relationship is a little complicated, we’re making it work. Maybe love isn’t so bad after all.
What I hadn’t counted on was the Alpha walking into the cafe, and the way my eyes keep getting drawn to him…
Wes
After my brother saved me from my abusive ex, I’m getting my feet back under me. I’m finally doing the things I was never able to do, like having a job and going to college. It’s not easy to combine it with caring for my four children. But with my Omega boyfriend Zeke and my brother’s family at my side, we make it work, they’re all the people I’ll ever need.
Until, one morning, an Alpha walks into the cafe that I work at, and he asks Zeke and me out on a date, together…
The Baristas’ Surprise (Omegas’ Destined Alpha 1)
About Rosa Swann
Rosa is an idealist, she believes that everyone deserves happiness, even those who think that they are too broken to be loved.
So, she writes stories with imperfect people who fall in love with other imperfect people and will fight together to make it work. Because happiness is not in perfection, but in finding someone to share your life with, all the good and the (angsty) bad.
When not writing, you can find her playing videogames, curled up under a blanket with a book or teasing her two adorable cats.
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If you want to connect with her, you can find her in the places below:
Follow Rosa on BookBub:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rosa-swann
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For more info on Rosa Swann and more places to follow her career, check the page on Easily Distracted Media.
About Easily Distracted Media
Easily Distracted Media is a publisher/brand name for a group of pen names from one author. Each pen name gives a slightly different ‘flavour’ of story, but they’re all highly emotional, focusing on close connections between friends and chosen family.
E. Engberts, Queer Scifi Young Adult stories.
Emily Engberts, Lesbian Romance stories (18+).
Emmy Engberts, Queer Young Adult Romance stories.
Layla Heart, Paranormal Romance stories (18+)
Skylar Heart, Contemporary Romance stories (18+).
Rosa Swann, Gay Romance stories (18+).
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Newsletter: http://www.easilydistractedmedia.com/newsletter/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/easilydistractedmedia/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmmyEngberts
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Published by Easily Distracted Media
As E. Engberts (Queer YA Scifi)
BASE Status: Online
As Emily Engberts (Lesbian Romance, 18+)
Seasons on the Island Series
As Emmy Engberts (Queer YA Romance)
Flowers and Keyboards Series
As Layla Heart (Paranormal Romance, 18+)
Lughnasadh Elite Academy Serial
Guarding Their Dragon Mate Serial
Her Shifter Harem’s Babies Series
As Skylar Heart (Contemporary Romance, 18+)
Damaged Hearts Series
Scarred Cliff Serial
As Rosa Swann (Gay Romance, 18+)
Lunar Pack Serial
Feathers and Microphones Serial
Mated to the Alpha Serial
The Baby Pact Trilogy
Second Chance Mates Serial
Making a Family Serial
Omegas’ Destined Alpha Serial
The Vampire’s Past Trilogy
Blossoming of Fate Serial
