“Like anyone can forget that woman’s birthday,” I reply, and he just laughs it off. I learned from the best Omega, and there would be hell to pay if anyone forgot a major holiday, which includes her birthday.
“Fair enough. I’ll see you at dinner. And if there is anything you can think of to support Liz and her husband, just let me know.”
I give him a nod and think I have just the person in mind to spearhead a fundraiser. It will look great for Max whilehelping out Liz and Phillip. I can manage that while also making Finnegan the Fox the hottest new mascot in the NHL.
I go through eight outfits before landing on a simple black dress, heels, and a leather jacket to go on top. Nerves are rippling through me, and the only thing keeping me sane is that I know Bram is likely just as nervous as I am. We’ve been dancing around this attraction since last season.
At first, I thought he was handsome, and I liked how grumpy and aloof he was, but it was just a pheromone-driven attraction. But as time went on, more shameless flirting, and scenting, I kinda realized that it was more than attraction, that I wanted to really get to know who Bram really is, because there’s no doubt in my mind that there’s a soft, gooey man underneath that gruff exterior. Which happens to be this Omega’s favorite type of kryptonite.
I go sans deodorizers because I’m only wearing that shit to appease my dad. In all reality, I hate hiding anything about myself. I love being an Omega, and hindering my scent at all is honestly quite upsetting. Maybe once I solidify things with Bram and help Max and Ethan, I’ll quit. The whole reason I wanted the job so badly was to get closer to Bram in the first place.
Though some of my motives seem to be shifting lately.
I have my car keys in hand and I’m walking to my car when I hear a loud whistle and whip around.
“Going somewhere nice?” my Beta father, Henderson, says as he sneaks a cigarette. He better brush his teeth multiple times and take a shower, or both of my moms will give him hell.
“Smoking again?”
He shrugs his shoulders, snuffing it out and putting it in a ziplock bag. I smirk to myself, loving how the ire of his Alpha and Omega is driving him to hide his dirty secret, but I also wonder what has him smoking again.
“Seems like we both have secrets, then,” he says, arching a brow at me.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say, and he laughs.
“I know damn well you’re not going to that fucking matchmaker.” I purse my lips and say nothing. “You're our kid. To expect you to not be the strong woman we raised you to be is just Kristoff pretending to be blind. Which one of his players are you seeing?” he asks.
Out of all my parents, he’s always been the one to truly call me out on my shit. It’s exactly why I want a Beta in my pack. They’re always the most observant and levelheaded.
I still don’t respond, and he laughs.
“Let me guess, then?” I roll my eyes, and he squints at me. “Definitely one of the big ones.”
“Ew. They're all big.”
“You know what I mean.”
“No, I don’t think I do. I better get going.”
He snaps his fingers. “Shit, what’s his name? The one that got the four-game suspension last season.”
Of course, that’s the thing he remembers about Bram.
“The less you know, the better. You know, plausible deniability and all that.”
“He’s worth pissing your dad off?” he asks, and I smirk.
“I don’t know, is smoking worth pissing off your Omega and Alpha?” I retort.
He groans and shoves his hands in his pockets. “Your Mormor is coming to town,” he whispers, and I hiss.
Mormor Applegate may be Satan reincarnated. I know she’s my grandmother, but the issues she’s caused for my parents’ pack are unreal.
“That explains a lot,” I say, and then I wince. “She’ll be here for Mom’s birthday?”
“Unfortunately.”
“The smoking makes more sense now,” I reply, and he groans.
