“It’s really weird, but yes! His name is Uriel, but he goes by Uri,” I laughed.
“If I met a guy with the same name as my baby, I’d call it fate,” she sighed.
“I wouldn’t,” I deadpanned.
“Thank fuck. No serious relationships for awhile,” she said.
“Facts. Anyways I have to go,” I sighed.
“Okay! Keep me updated when you go to the party,” she said.
“Yeah, yeah. Love you, bye!”
“Love you too, whore. Bye!”
I rolled off the bed and threw my phone down. I was feeling optimistic; I would get out of this rut and make plans. I needed to get to the airport.
Rolling out of my bed, I rose quickly. My head spun, but I ignored it. I had to be useful before I left. It didn’t matter how old I was; I lived under her roof, and if she didn’t think I earned it, she’d make it impossible for me to leave.
I changed into a pair of comfortable joggers and an oversized Alpha University hoodie. I pulled my hair into a ponytail, grabbed my keys, wallet, and phone before rushing downstairs. I was careful not to make too much noise in the kitchen, quickly preparing and eating breakfast. I only had thirty minutes before everyone showed up, and I needed to be gone.
As I ate, I pulled out my phone and messaged Fale. She responded quickly: noon arrival. Time for the obligatory text, I took a deep breath for strength.
Me: Breakfast is ready. I’m going to the airport. Won’t be until dinner.
Mother: Who’s coming in?
Me: Fale. She’s staying with us for a little.
Mother: Is Amos with her?
I took a deep breath, opened my mouth, and internally screamed. My fingers shook and I closed my eyes before tears could form. My body trembled with rage. Her betrayal tasted like ash on my tongue. She loved him, more than she ever loved me. When something went wrong, she didn’t speak to me. Images of his abuse and the times she found out about it flashed across my mind. That storm cloud, above my head, thundered and bolts of lightning struck the top of my head. I pulled up a mental block and once composed, I opened my eyes and took in another slow breath.
Me: No.
Mother: That’s too bad.
Mother: He could have stayed with us.
What the fuck am I supposed to say to that?
Nothing came to mind, so I didn’t respond. I had also lost my appetite, so I trashed the rest of it. After I washed the dishes, I darted out of the kitchen before people started showing up. Cold air billowed against my skin as I threw open the door. I wrapped my arms around myself as I made my way to the black Audi my mom gave me for errands. I hopped in and pressed the start button. The car roared to life.
My phone went off as I put the car in drive. I pulled my phone out and swiped my thumb across my screen. It lit up, and I had a message from my mom and three messages from Mythinder. A smile pulled at my lips as I tapped the crescent moon app icon. It opened, and my eyes darted to a new message at the top.
Uriel: Hey! Thanking my lucky stars that you swiped right.
Uriel: My name is Uriel, but you can call me Uri.
Uriel: I don’t know why I introduced myself when you can see my name. I can’t unsend anything, so you’ll just have to deal with my rambling. I’m an Alpha. Your bio doesn’t say what you are.
At this point, I was grinning at the screen. Compared to his profile, he comes off sweet and really cute. I swallowed as my nails rapped against the screen. Ami was right. I had an open slot, and he can slide right in.
Me: Hey Uri! Ur good. There’s no need to unsend anything. Ur giving golden retriever vibes. And it’s adorable.
Me: Why don’t you guess?
Uriel: Yess… that’s exactly what a man in his 20’s wants to hear.
