“Vincent said I can plant sunflowers in the spring.”
I didn’t say it to share. I said it to remind him; I said that this was my space now.
Adrian shifted beside me, his voice softer than I remembered. “I didn’t mean to make things weird. I just… It’s been a while.” Like two or three days, when I was so out of it that I had to have help to go pee.
I kept my eyes on the tree line. The wind moved. I didn’t.
“You used to talk about sunflowers like they were magic,” he added. “Said they made you feel safe.”
I swallowed hard. He wasn’t wrong. But that didn’t mean he got to say it.
“I don’t remember saying that,” I lied.
He didn’t push. Just sat there, too close, like he thought proximity could fix what time had broken.
When had my thoughts changed so drastically? When did my jealousy grow for someone who was my friend?
“Sorry.” I sighed, shoulders slumping. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“A lot of things have changed for you. Me showing up today probably wasn’t the greatest idea, but I really, really hate being alone when Moore has a double shift.”
“I don’t think I like changes.” My words were quiet, more for me than anyone else. But they were true.
I never did much care for change, and the past week had way too many of them. Too much back and forth. Too much overall.
“You never have.” Adrian shifted, his foot touching mine. He didn’t pull back; he just kept it there. Which, oddly enough, helped to ground me in a way I didn’t know I needed. “When we got ouradultrooms, you panicked at least once a day for two weeks straight.”
Don’t remind me,I thought. “I still hate you.”
“I highly doubt that.”
“I did, like ten minutes ago.” I turned so my back was against the banister too. “I didn’t want you here”
“I know. I wouldn’t want another Omega around when I was just getting used to an Alpha, either.”
“I should be okay with it. It’s not like you’ll try to take my spot.” I did feel bad, but only slightly. My emotions were still locked away.
“We were trained to think another Omega could take our spot. It took me a while to see life differently out here. All the Alphas I’ve met are just that. Alphas. They won’t want me, because I already belong to one.”
I didn’t know what to say to that. I was Vincent’s Omega, but I still didn’t know what that exactly meant. I served him and his needs. Or I at least tried.
“I’m failing at this.” I sighed, letting my eyes stray to the yard again. “Failing at being Vincent’s Omega.”
“Why do you say that? Is he not happy? He seems like he truly cares about you. And he’s not mean. I’ve stayed here at least once, maybe twice, a month since Moore took me in. Vincent has never harmed me, or spoken ill of me. At least not that I know of.”
“He won’t let me serve him.” Mentally, I pouted as I spoke the words.
“Charlie, honey.” Adrian leaned forward, putting us a bit closer together. “He’s not a sexual type of man. Surely he’s told you that.”
“It’s not that.” I waved a hand in the air, trying to find the right words. “Today. He won’t let me serve him. He told me that with you here, I’m not allowed to sit at his feet. Or…well, yeah.” My heated cheeks were impossible to hide from him.
“You two were connecting.”
That really was the best way to put it. “Yeah.”
“Moore should have thought about that,” he said, dropping his eyes to his feet. Then, he lifted them back to me. “I can keep myself entertained. I’ve done it before.”
“No.” I sighed. “Vincent already said I can’t bother him until lunch time. No serving allowed.”
