After saying goodbye to Damon at the door, I waltz into class and take a seat at the back.
Despite my excitement for today's lecture, I take half the amount of notes than usual and only partially-answer a question fired in my direction. I need to get back to the library as soon as possible to finish up the extra reading.
When the bell sounds, I head out to find Damon standing right where I left him.
His shoulders straighten. “Where to next?”
“The library.”
We walk through campus in silence, passing Nia and her friends from the Feminist Society who are handing out omega rights wristbands. We trundle past a line of food trucks.
“You should get Faye one of those.” I point at a truck serving colossal waffle sandwiches stuffed with various sweet treats, everything from fruit to fresh brownies. “She’d love one.”
His face lights up when I say her name, but he won’t be thrown off his mission. “Maybe I’ll stop by after my shift. I swear, I’m spending half my cash at the sCream Queen trucklately with all the midnight ice cream runs.” He suddenly stops mid-step.
“Everything okay?”
“I feel…” He doesn’t finish his thought, pulling his ringing phone from his leather jacket. “I wouldn’t usually take a call when I’m on shift,” he frowns, “but it’s Cole.”
“Take it!” I wave my hand toward his cell. “What if it’s important?”
He pinches the bridge of his nose before he answers, his eyebrows lowering as he listens.
“Is she okay?” His fingers tighten around the phone, worry clouding his features. “Uh-huh. Tell me what you need.”
“Is everything okay?” I ask when he hangs up.
“Faye’s having a heat spike.” Worry flits over his face. “Cole’s with her right now, but Laz and Ren have come down with stomach flu.”
“You should go,” I urge. “Really.”
Since Faye came off suppressants, her body has been going through an adjustment period. It can take some time for an omega’s body to fall into regular heat cycle patterns.
“What about you?”
“Don’t be ridiculous, I’m fine. You need to be with your omega.”
If Faye goes into full heat, she’ll need him, especially if two of her other alphas are sick.
“I guess I could ask Rook to meet you at the library.” He drags his hand through his long hair. “But I also promised Faye I’d drop her assignment off at the greenhouse when my shift ended.”
“Give me her assignment.” I hold out my hand. “I can stop by the greenhouse on my way.”
“But—”
“I’m perfectly okay walking a few minutes alone.” I point at the glassy panes of the greenhouse poking over the trees ahead. “See? We’re pretty much there anyway. Faye needs you.”
He scans the area. There are no signs of rogue reporters, only students stuffing their faces with giant sweet waffles leaking strawberries, cream, and gooey chocolate.
“I’ll call Rook now, and he’ll make sure you get home safe.” He rifles around in his oversized pocket to retrieve Faye’s paper then hands it over. “This is an exceptional circumstance.”
“Text me to let me know Faye’s okay?”
He nods before jumping into the closest golf cart and peeling off at the speed of light back to his beach house. With Damon gone, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief as I head to the greenhouse. I don’t have a pass to enter, but I arrive at the same time as another student, so I casually sneak in behind them.
It’s my first time inside, surprised by the humidity in the air, which has me instantly peeling off my blazer. I don’t know the names of many of the plants, but the explosions of color are dazzling. I follow the path, seeing a few students kneeling in the dirt repotting plants, while others hover around with misting bottles.
It’ll be nice to meet Professor Brackenwood, Faye’s new health botany professor, especially after the way she was harassed by the last one. While I’m here, I could also try to get him to comment on his views on omega rights for an article.
