“I don’t think he’s gotten over his weird hang up about two omegas being together, no.”
Brandt’s frown deepened again. “His what?”
“He said some dumb stuff when we first fought about it,” I slumped back in my seat. “Tried to use our secondary genders as a reason we shouldn’t be together.”
A century earlier, I had told Dexter he was an idiot for saying that we couldn’t be together because we were both omegas. What difference did it make, I had demanded to know. No, we couldn’t bond or mate or breed with each other like an alpha and omega pairing might, but outside of that, what was the difference between us being together —loving each other— and an alpha and an omega doing the same? Didn’t we love the same way? Enjoy each other’s companionship the same way? And ifthere were no more alphas left in the world, why force ourselves to live out our lives alone?
Dex didn’t have an answer for me back then. I didn’t think he would have one now, either.
“I…am at a loss for words,” Brandt blinked, seemingly dumbfounded. Then that damnable eyebrow was arching again. “And this is the man you profess to love? Really?”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, well, the heart wants what it wants.”
“Your heart deserves better, Sage. You deserve better.”
Awww.That was sweet. But then Brandt always was the kindest of all of us.
“Except,” I cringed, “I kind of owe him an apology.” Before my brother could ask, I launched into the whole story from that morning. Seeing Dex in bed with Sergio, allowing the jealousy to control my reactions, making an ass of myself. I laid it all out for him, culminating in the acknowledgement that both Dex and Sergio deserved apologies. “But I don’t want to apologize to Dex,” I whined as I finished.
Brandt squirmed in his seat, shifting his hips and rubbing his abdomen. His face was contorted in discomfort again, but once he settled into a new position, the expression smoothed out. “I can imagine,” he said in response to my near-childish complaint. “But perhaps you could use this as an opportunity to talk things out with him properly. The way you should have when he came to town.”
“That’s what I was afraid you’d say.”
“Can we talk?” I found myself asking later that evening.
It was just me and Dexter at home, with Sergio having accepted a guest room at Beck and Ollie’s place. The shaman had accepted my apology with understanding earlier in the day, but something inside me whined at wanting to fix thingsproperly…whatever the hell that meant.
Dex gave me a wary look but nodded and came to sit across from me in the living room. Where Brandt’s place was cozy and littered with hints of his hectic family life, mine was modern and minimalist, all neutral tones and clean, polished surfaces.
“I owe you an apology,” I started when it seemed like Dex was waiting for me to make the first move, “so, I’m sorry for losing my shit this morning. I…” biting my lip, I took a centering breath and confessed, “I got jealous and the things I said weren’t cool.”
Dexter’s eyes searched mine while he seemed to process my words, his plump lips quirking at the corners. “Were you jealous of Sergio, or of me?”
Opening my mouth, my words faltered. I was jealous of Sergio, wasn’t I? For snuggling up with Dex all night? For having his sexy, toned arms wrapped around Dex’s body and not mine—ah, shit.
“Both of you?” The reply came out uncertain, surprise at my own feelings sweeping over me and making me feel almost dizzy with the realization.
I knew I thought Sergio was attractive, but it was beginning to dawn on me that I was interested in him for more than just a passing glance or two.
Dex’s quirked lips stretched into a knowing grin. “Both of us, you say.”
“You’re ruining my apology.”
This time, he rolled his eyes, still smirking. “It was a half-arsed apology anyway, Sage. I know you can do better.”
With cheeks flushing and confusion over the realization that I was jealous of both Dexter and Sergio tumbling through my head, I huffed and pushed to my feet. “I don’t know why I bother with you.”
The amusement on his handsome face melted away. “Wait, Sage—”
I took a step back. “No. I can’t do this right now.”
“You were the one who wanted to talk.” Dex’s hand was still extended forward, trying to stall my escape. “So talk, Sage.”
I had so many things I wanted to say. A hundred years of hurt and anger and pleas. New confusion, too, and maybe a smidgeon of hope that his thoughts about my feelings for him had changed. But for all of that, my mind was blank, and I shook my head. “I’ve changed my mind. I can’t right now.” My head was spinning and something itched under my skin. Getting up from the couch, I backed out of the room, heading towards my bedroom — a space where I could regroup and really think about everything. “Later. I’m sorry.”
Chapter Five
Putting my foot in my mouth was my superpower. I’d had Sage right where I wanted him and then of course I had to go and fuck it all up. How difficult would it have been to say ‘I accept your apology and I am actually so relieved to hear that you were jealous’ instead of teasing him for his attraction to Serge as well as me?
