by Grace, Aria
“Thank you,” I whisper before they’re out of my line of sight. I’ll probably never see these men again, even though they shared the scariest and most erotic moments of my life with me and that makes me groan inside for a different reason.
* * *
As soon as I’m admitted to the hospital, a nurse lets me use a phone to call my brother. Seth is on a field trip to a pottery painting studio for one of the little girl’s birthday party today, so it’s the worst possible moment for me to land in the hospital. He almost cancels the party to rush back to see me, but after assuring him I’m fine and will be released in a few hours, he calms down and promises to send somebody with a change of clothes to pick me up.
The nurse brings me a set of scrubs and some grippy socks to change into. They’re not as comfortable as my own clothes would be, but at least I’m not naked in a strange hospital anymore.
An hour after being admitted, I finally get the all clear from a doctor who looks like he’s fifteen.
Jason from Omega House peeks into my room with a paper bag full of clothes for me. “Am I interrupting anything?”
“No, come on in.” I wave the omega to my side and he quickly gives me a hug.
“God, Sean. What happened? When we heard you were in the hospital, everyone panicked.”
I pull a hoodie out of the bag and slip it over my head. I still can’t quite warm up, even though my body temperature is perfectly normal. “I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, as usual. But I’m totally fine. The doctor just said I can leave, so you have perfect timing.”
“Do you want to change?” Jason nods toward the pants I’m still wearing.
“Naw, I just want to get out of here.” I swap out the grippy socks for my regular socks and shoes before shoving the paperwork the doctor left with me into the bag of clothes and walking out of the room.
“What about your stuff? You have your phone and everything?”
I shake my head. “I lost it all. Even my camera. It probably got washed away in the creek.”
Jason puts a hand on my shoulder, knowing how long it took me to save up enough money to buy that camera and how devastating it is to have lost it. “I’m so sorry, Sean. I know how much that meant to you.”
I keep my eyes locked straight ahead as we walk down the sterile corridor. “It’s fine. I was chasing an unrealistic dream anyway. Now I have no reason to put off the inevitable.”
“What’s the inevitable?” Jason hits the button on the wall to swing open the electric doors.
“A real job. I can’t keep sponging off Omega House forever. It’s time for me to get my life together and move out.”
Jason’s gait falters, but he quickly falls back in step beside me. “You’re moving out? Just like that?”
“Well, not tomorrow. But without this project, I don’t have any chance of passing my program, so I would just be wasting time and money by trying to reapply next semester. At this point, it’s time to take responsibility for my life and grow up.”
Jason is quiet for a few moments before he finally asks the question I should have known would be coming. “Do you think Seth will move out with you?”
I smile but tilt my head, so Jason can’t see my face. He’s had a crush on my twin brother ever since he moved in to Omega House last year. Seth denies it, but I think he has a crush on Jason too. Unfortunately for both of them, Jason isn’t quite eighteen yet, so they still have some time before they can decide whether or not to explore anything.
I put my hand on his shoulder this time and give him a squeeze. “I don’t know if he’s ready for that yet. But whether he moves out or not, you guys will always be close. He’s not leaving you even if he’s not living at Omega House anymore. Besides, he and I will both probably always work there in some capacity. I’m just getting to the point where I need to prove to myself that I’m not completely worthless.”
Jason gives me a sharp look. “What are you talking about? Do you really think that you’re worthless?”
Well, shit. Now he’s going to have me on suicide watch. “No, I don’t mean that. I just need to stand on my own two feet. My whole life, I’ve been relying on others to take care of me. I’ve got to prove I can take care of myself.”
And that means finding a job with the real medical insurance so I can pay my bills when I get caught up in a flash flood. I glance over at the billing desk as I pass through the administrative wing and do a double take when I see Gunnar wearing a hoodie and basketball shorts with flip-flops at the billing desk.
54
Gunnar
I can feel this woman’s distrust and superiority because she believes I’m some loser off the street since the only clothes I had in my car are from my gym bag. She obviously thinks no civilized member of society would be out in a storm wearing shower shoes, but that doesn’t change the fact that my credit card works just fine regardless of what clothes I’m in at the moment.
“I understand that you have privacy laws, and I respect those.” I take a deep breath and hold the fake smile I’ve been trying to charm her with for the past twenty minutes. “But this man said he doesn’t have insurance that will cover a hospital visit, so I’d like to make sure any charges that would be billed to him go on my card.”
“I understand that, sir. But I need a last name. There are probably five hundred Seans in my database. I need to know which one you’re referring to.”
“He was brought in an hour ago. If you check the emergency room for people brought in by ambulance today, I doubt there are more than one or two Seans who are in their early twenties.”
“Gunnar?” I turn and see Sean standing right in front of me. He’s with a younger guy who could be his brother based on their similar blue eyes and fair skin.
Shit, I didn’t expect to see him but I’m damn happy to. “Hey, Sean. How’re you feeling?”
“Good. They said I can go home now.” He still seems confused about my presence and I want to reach out to him, but I know that’s not the appropriate move right now.
“That’s great. Do you need a lift?” I glance between him and the younger man.
“No, my friend is giving me a ride home. What are you doing here?”
I glance down at the credit card still in my hand and try to come up with a story that doesn’t make me seem like a creeper. “Actually, I came to check on you, but I didn’t know your last name. What is it?”
Sean looks pointedly at the billing sign hanging overhead and back at me. “You were asking the billing department where to find me?”
I heave out a breath, slightly annoyed that I’m going to have to say this out loud. “Fine, I was trying to take care of your bill, but I don’t know your last name. What is it?”
“You can’t do that,” Sean says quietly. “You don’t even know me.”
I shrug and slide my free hand into my pocket. “I know you were worried about it, so I figured I’d help out. It’s not a big deal.”
“It is a big deal, Gunnar.” He rests his hands on his hips as the kid next to him tries to shrink away, hiding behind him. “Between the ambulance and whatever tests they ran…that could be several thousand dollars. You can’t just blindly drop your credit card for a stranger.”
I hold his gaze and narrow my eyes, too mentally and physically exhausted to argue about this. “What’s your last name, Sean?”
“Davis. But, really. You don’t need to do this. It’s too much money.”
Ignoring him, I turn to the woman behind the counter who has been watching our entire exchange. “Sean Davis. Please make sure all his charges are put on this card.”
She finally offers me a smile as she plucks the plastic card from my fingers and enters the information into her computer. “Of course, sir. One moment please.”
“Gunnar? Sean?”
We both turn and see Collin walking toward us with a trash bag in his arms. He’s wearing a fresh uniform and doesn’t show any evidence of the ordeal he went through just a few hour
s ago. He looks just as good now as he did when I first met him this morning.
“I’m glad you’re both here.” He turns to Sean and holds out a bag. “I found your backpack and camera, but I don’t know how much is salvageable. Luckily, they were both stuck in the mud near that mattress. I was able to grab them without getting in the water, but everything’s covered in mud.”
Sean’s eyes brighten as he squats on the ground in front of the bag and tears it open. “Please, please, please…” He repeats under his breath as he cracks open a plastic door on the bottom of the camera and pulls out the memory card. “Oh my God, Collin. You saved my life.”
Sean seems to realize what he’s just said and glances at me. “Well, you both saved my life, but this might actually save my education and my career.”
“The memory card?” Collin asks, obviously surprised by Sean’s dramatic response. He’s been nothing but shy and mellow since we met him.
“Yeah, it’s not muddy. If it still has the pictures I was taking on it, I might not flunk out of the program I’m in.” He blows on the blue memory card as if that might keep his stored images safe. “Hell, I might actually have a chance of getting the job I’ve been hoping for.”
“Well, I hope it’s still good.” Collin turns to me. “What are you doing here?”
I try to shake my head subtly so he’ll drop it, but Sean doesn’t forget the argument we were having just before Collin arrived. Sean stands up with his hands balled at his hips again. “Seriously, Gunnar. You can’t pay for me. I’ll figure it out.” He holds up the memory card in his hand. “If I get this job, I’ll be able to make payments to the hospital for as long as I need to.”
Collin looks between Sean and me, obviously piecing together my intentions based on the credit card now resting on the counter beside me. “You’re taking care of his bill?”
I shrug and grab the card, so I can slip it into my pocket. “Now that it’s done, we can stop talking about it.”
Collin turns to Sean. “They’re letting you leave already?”
Sean picks up the bag from the floor and holds it in front of his waist. “Yeah, I’m fine. I… Well, I better get going.”
“And who is this?” Collin asks the question I’ve been wondering since I saw Sean approach.
As if just remembering he’s not alone, Sean glances over his shoulder and nudges the younger man out from behind him. “Oh, this is my friend, Jason. He works with me over at Omega House.”
“You work at Omega House? The one down on Sutter Street?” I ask Sean, surprised to hear that considering he’s a student.
“Yeah, my brother and I have been there for a few years.” Sean’s eyes lock with mine and I have to resist the urge to step closer to him. There’s a vulnerability in him that makes me want to hold him and tell him everything’s going to be all right.
“Do you guys need a ride?” Collin asks.
Sean’s attention immediately diverts to Collin, and he offers a shy smile. “Thanks, but Jason came to pick me up. We should get back. I’m sure everyone is worried about me.”
Jason looks at Sean and nods in agreement. “Especially Seth.”
“Who’s Seth?” Not that it’s any of my business.
Jason makes eye contact with me for all of one second before training his gaze on the floor in front of him. “His brother. He should be getting home by now.”
“Right.” Sean huffs out a breath and takes a step back. “Well, thanks again for this morning…” He holds my gaze for a long moment before giving Collin the same look of longing.
Collin and I watch as Sean and Jason exit through the hospital doors. After a minute, Collin turns to me and slides his hands into his pockets. “Well, I guess I should get going too. My shift doesn’t end for a few more hours.”
I clear my throat. “Yeah, I guess I’ll see you?”
“Yeah,” Collin says enthusiastically. He seems to think better of it and lowers the register of his voice. “I mean, yeah. I work Wednesday through Sunday, but if you need to reach me for your bicycle insurance or anything like that, just give me a call.” He reaches into the breast pocket of his work shirt and pulls out a business card.
Okay, it’s a lame way to give me his number but I’ll take it. Without losing eye contact, I allow my thumb to caress his wrist briefly when I take the card. His soft gasp makes my own breath hitch as I slip the card into my pocket.
After several long moments, Collin gives me a reluctant smile then backs away before turning toward the front doors.
I felt disjointed the moment Sean disappeared, but now that Collin is gone too and I’m left standing here alone, my whole world feels unsettled. Something’s not right with me, and I feel like those two men might be the key to making everything better.
55
Collin
Driving away from the hospital shouldn’t be this hard. I got the camera back to Sean and even had the bonus of seeing Gunnar again, so I should be content.
But I’m not. I’m definitely not.
I can’t describe what I am, but something feels…unfinished between us. Subconsciously, I turn right instead of left on Sutter Street and end up driving past Omega House. The shelter for abandoned and abused omegas is known for the good work they do, and that makes me even more curious about Sean.
Does he work there because he’s trying to earn some extra money, or is it because he’s a resident?
I’m tempted to pull over and go inside to check on him, but that goes too far beyond the limits of creepy. He’s had enough drama for today, and I don’t want to add having a weird ranger stalker to the list.
I take the long way around the block and head back to the park, wondering if I’ll ever see either of those two men again.
* * *
The next day, I’m off work and have a list of errands to take care of for my landlord. I’m renting a cottage on a large piece of property from a recently widowed alpha. Austin’s omega died during childbirth so he’s taking time off work to be with his son. The rental income I pay isn’t substantial, but it’s supplementing the life insurance policy his omega left him.
The cottage is a lot nicer than I should have for the rent I’m paying, so I’ve been helping out with errands around the property. Today was supposed to be yardwork, but a large branch fell off the tree over the driveway, so that’s my first priority. The sun is shining when I step outside. I still can’t believe how different the weather is from just twenty-four hours ago. As much as I don’t want to think about Sean almost drowning and Gunnar rushing into the water to save him, both men refuse to leave my mind as I chop the thick branch into firewood and stack it neatly on the rack behind the main house.
That chore is over too soon so I jump into the next, looking for things to do around the house before changing into my sneakers and going for a run. Once again, I find myself on Sutter Street and heading in the direction of Omega House. It’s late in the afternoon when I jog past the building, but a couple guys are hanging out on the porch. One man looks a lot like Sean, but he doesn’t seem to recognize me at all when I give a wave.
My ego is bruised and my concentration is lacking when I step off the curb and walk right in front of a bicycle.
“Whoa, there.” The cyclist swerves around me as I stumble back onto the sidewalk.
“Sorry.” I glance at the man who stopped a few feet ahead of me and am only half surprised to see that it’s Gunnar. He shouldn’t be here right now, but then again, neither should I. Yet, here we are. Both standing at the corner just yards away from where Sean lives. “I wasn’t paying attention.”
Gunnar smiles. “Yeah, I’ve been feeling the same way.”
“You have?” I lean against a light pole to catch my breath. “What do you mean?”
Gunnar holds my gaze for a moment before tilting his chin toward Omega House. “You tell me. Why are you here?”
Okay, he has me there. “I don’t know.”
“You want to grab a coffee or somethi
ng?” Gunnar slips his helmet off and fastens it to the handlebar of his road bike. It’s not the same bike he had at the park, but it’s equally expensive.
“Yeah, that sounds good.” I follow his gaze toward Omega House. “Do you think we should…”
“Yes.” Gunnar seems to know exactly what I’m asking. And without another word about it, we start walking toward Omega House.
The crowd out front watches us as we approach, and the man who looks like Sean but isn’t steps forward. “Hi, there. Can I help you?”
“Yeah.” I study his features hard and then glance at Gunnar. He’s giving the man the same strange expression I am. “We’re here to see Sean Davis…”
The man’s eyes narrow for just a moment before a smirk spreads across his face. “Let me guess. Gunnar and Collin?”
My jaw drops open and Gunnar takes a small step toward me, placing his hand on my elbow. “Yeah, how did you know?”
“I’m Seth.” His grin grows wider as he steps toward us. “My brother hasn’t shut up about you two since he got home.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Seth.” Gunnar shakes Seth’s outstretched hand before Seth offers it to me.
Gunnar’s grip on my elbow tightens as he moves even closer to my side. His strong presence beside me gives me strength I don’t normally need, but having it gives me a sense of comfort I’ve never felt before. “Is he here?”
“Yeah, I think so.” Seth looks back at the other omegas on the porch and a few seem frightened by our unexpected visit. “Um, do you mind waiting outside? Some of the guys are still a little uncomfortable around unfamiliar alphas.”
“Of course.” I take a step back, instinctively wanting to give them space and come across as unthreatening as possible. “We’ll stay here.”
Just as Seth reaches for the door to walk inside, it swings open and Sean is there. Gunnar’s grip has shifted from my elbow to my hip at some point and now his squeeze is more like a tug against his chest. I exhale deeply and shift against his side, suddenly content now that I can see with my own eyes that Sean is fine. And by the uptick in Gunnar’s breathing, I know he feels it too.
