I watch as Nash and Holden move to Roman’s side as they all look at what I sent. My smile doesn’t leave my face, especially when I see the approval on their faces. They’re not upset or mad. They’re in awe of what I’ve done.
“Holy hell. That’s fucking amazing,” Nash exclaims.
Roman: Wasn’t expecting you to handle this. But thank you. I owe you.
Me: Call it a gift. There’s no need to repay.
I spend the rest of the time that they're working watching every move they make. They keep talking about Mr. Unknown. Roman is still questioning why someone would help him with the problem.
My eyes drift over to the window, and I stand up slowly. One little peek out of it won’t hurt anything. I tiptoe over to it as if they could hear me walking outside. When I get there, I carefully pull back the curtain, just enough to see.
Nash has looked up at the window every single time he’s been here, but he hasn’t seen me again. I’ve never dared to go near it while they’ve been here. I stand there, with as little of my face visible as possible, and I watch them clean up the yard. They’re nearly done, and that makes my heart ache. Once they’ve completed everything, I won’t be able to see them. Hell, when this assignment is over, I’m sure Holden and Nash will disappear from my messenger as well.
Then it happens. Nash glances up, and I jump back, dropping the curtain as my heart races. Did he see me? I rush over to my laptop, needing to know.
“Would you stop staring at the damn window and finish cleaning up so we can go,” Roman barks at him.
“I saw her again. What can it hurt to just go knock on her door?” Nash asks him, and I shake my head as if he could see me. That wouldnotbe a good idea.
“Do it and die. You heard what they said; it's probably their omega. Have you thought about that, hotshot? I don’t think obsessing over their omega is going to work in your favor.” Roman’s wrong. I’m not their omega. I’m not anyone’s.
I turn off the computer and decide to take a cold shower. Anything to take me away from my own obsession. I need to get over it. They’re not in the cards for me.
“Shower and then work on the assignment,” I tell myself. “You need to let Holden know you’re not going to be able to be contacted for about a week.” Not to mention, I need to pray that he never questions that the timeframe is the same as a typical heat. Maybe I could fudge how long I’ll be unavailable.
***
To River: Today has been fucking insane.
Yes it has. I imagine he’s talking about my little message to Roman, but I need to play it off.
To Holden: What happened? Mine has been kind of crazy too.
To River: Remember I told you that my brother had that rematch tomorrow and someone messaged telling us he was planning to do something shady to win?. Well, turns out he got in an accident today. A pretty bad one. It doesn’t look like fighting is going to be anywhere in the future for him.
Nope it won’t, but that was the point. Death would’ve been too nice. He needs to live with the misery of his actions. And now he can.
To Holden: Well now you don’t have to worry about the fight.
To River: Nope, especially since there’s not going to be one. How about your day? What was crazy about it?
To Holden: Well it kind of involves you too.
I’ve barely hit send before I type out another message with my cleverly made up lie, before he’s responding.
To River: Now I’m curious.
To Holden: I got a call today, and there’s been an emergency in my family. I’m going to have to go out of town to help, so I won’t be available for a little over a week. I’ve messaged my instructors already. I don’t want you to think I’m slacking on our project so I’ve been working really hard on getting some of it done. I’ll share it in the portal so you can see it.
I just hope he doesn’t ask too much about what my emergency is.
To River: Don’t worry about the assignment. Your family is more important. Besides, we have plenty of time to get it done. I hope everything ends up okay.
To Holden: Thank you. So do I.
I need to let Nash know too. I’m still not sure if he’s told Holden that he’s been messaging me and we’ve been talking or not. Does he even need to tell him? It’s not like we’re dating. Hell, we’re never even going to meet.
To Nash: Hey, I was just talking with Holden and I figured I should let you know too. I have a family emergency, and I’m going to be gone for about a week, maybe a little longer. It just depends on how things go. But I didn’t want you to message and not get an answer and think something bad.
