Part of me is screaming that I’m overreacting, that it’s not a big deal. So what? I’m pregnant. It’s a good thing, a thing to be celebrated. That much, Emmett deserves to know.
I know all of this, and I agree with all of this. But still, my mind and trauma want to drag me under.
I’m at the bakery, picking up my apparent pregnancy craving, maple-filled donuts. How is it that the only thing I seem to be able to stomach is junk food? Okay, that's a lie, Emmett’s soup hit the spot, too. Thankfully, there's a big container in the fridge with leftovers. Everything else makes me nauseous.
I’m going to have to deal with that sooner rather than later because I know it’s not good for me or the baby to be eating like this.
The baby. Holy fuck, I still can’t believe there’s a tiny little life growing inside me.
This time, I don’t start to panic at the thought of the baby, but smile, my hand instinctively reaching for my stomach.
“Have you seen them?” a lady in line in front of me asks the woman she’s here with.
My nosy ass pretends to play on my phone while I listen in.Hey, it’s my town! I just want to make sure everything is going good, okay?
“Oh, I’ve seen them. Saw one of them at the pizza place, and a few of them were at Club 21 the other night too.”
Club 21? Wait, are they talking about the Alphas that were causing trouble, and Emmett had to kick them out?
I called off work for the night, but Emmett went in for his shift because he felt bad for missing so much work lately. Not that he should, Colton is a good bouncer. Not as good as Emmett, but maybe I’m biased.
“What do you think they want? I tried asking Syrus, but he said not to worry about it,” she huffs.
Peeking up, I see that the two women in front of me are Cindy and Gale, two of the town gossips. It doesn’t surprise me that Syrus didn’t tell them anything. They would have gone and told the whole town.
Don’t get me wrong, these two are harmless, just older Betas who moved here to be closer to their grandkids. But they sure know how to chat your ear off.
An even bigger reason why I keep my eyes on my phone and pretend I don’t see them.
I’m not completely antisocial, but I don’t go out of my way to chat with people. I smile and nod, stop and chat if they approach me first.
When I’m feeling like this, the last thing I want is to stand here and have them talk my ear off.
“I don’t like the idea of mysterious Alphas lurking around town. It makes me feel iffy,” Cindy says.
“You would think Syrus would kick them out. This town is supposed to be a safe place for Omegas. For us all. Not sure if I feel very safe with big, buff, scary-looking Alphas walking around,” Gale says.
“Although...” Cindy giggles. “They are pretty hot.”
“I know, right?” Gale joins in.
I roll my eyes. Who cares if they’re hot? Being hot doesn’t make someone any less of a bad person.
Cindy and Gale order their items and leave.
“Hi.” I smile. “Can I get–”
“Maple donut?” Emma, a young Omega who works here, asks.
“Yes,” I laugh. “Huh. I guess I have been ordering them a lot lately.”
“I made sure we had some extras made, just in case.” She winks. “How many do you need?”
“You really are too sweet. Thank you. Would half a dozen be too much?”
“Not at all. Let me box those up.” She rings up my total and gets them boxed up. I’m just done paying when I remember I wanted a hot chocolate. “Shit,” I groan. “Hey, Emma. Would it be too much of a bother to get a small hot chocolate also?”
“Not at all.” She hands me the box. “I’ll get that made for you. Want anything special added to it?”
