“Why?”
“I was sad.”
His eyes grew deep as he looked at me. “Because you and Seth were going to break up.” It wasn’t a question.
“Yeah. It made me feel such deep pain. I wondered if I could even live through it. I didn’t tell him that, though. We both had our birthrights to honor. If I died of a broken heart, I almost didn’t care.”
“Because life wasn’t worth living without him. I can sense what you felt through our bond. Right here.” He tapped his chest.
I nodded then took a sip of my coffee to clear my throat. “We were two alphas. We were required to marry omegas. Arranged marriages and all that. We had no idea as two alphas, we could ever be actual fated mates.”
“But it felt like that, right?” Bram asked.
“Definitely.”
Bram took a few deep breaths then reached across the table to where my hand rested next to my coffee cup. He put his palm over it and said, “Now you know you were both right all along.”
“Yeah.”
“You know what I think?”
“What?”
“I’m the luckiest omega in the world. Two unicorns. It’s magic. Who knew?”
We both laughed.
After our big meal, we drove to the beach to catch the sunset. We talked nonstop, and again, I had the feeling I’d known Bram all my life but had somehow forgotten all the details.
We got our feet wet in the foamy tide then sat on the sandy boardwalk wall and watched the orange sun plunge into the faraway ocean depths.
Back in the car, we shared a passionate kiss.
I felt Seth through the bond. He had been happily watching a comedy in the hotel room and catching up on his sleep. Now that it was dark, he was waiting for us to return. Something told me he had a surprise up his sleeve.
When we walked in the room, Seth had transformed the room with strings of lights, silver and gold balloons, and champagne on ice. There was a fruit plate and a charcuterie tray.
“Wow.” Bram grinned and grabbed one of the balloons, making it sway.
“Missed us?” I went straight to Seth and kissed him.
Seth shrugged. “Just thought you’d like to have a little party to celebrate your date.” He tilted his head at me. “How was it?”
“The best.” I took both his hands in my own. “And now that we’re here with you, it’s even better.”
Chapter Fifteen
Seth
Indy and Bram were out on a date together. We’d recognized that we might all be mates, but we were also individuals. Our alpha mate and I already had a bond and a connection, and we needed time together alone with Bram to grow and solidify our separate unions. We were very much flying by the seats of our pants because we didn’t know the best way to do things, but we had to trust that if Fate gave us to one another, we’d figure out how to navigate it.
With the two of them gone, I settled down on the hotel balcony with a mug of green tea and a package of almond cookies I’d picked up at a convenience store on my way to San Diego. It was a beautiful day, just a few clouds scudding across the blue sky reflecting the waves rolling in to shore on the nearby beach. We’d talked about staying somewhere less expensive, even just taking a room in this hotel facing the distant mountains, but on this afternoon, I was really glad we’d spent the extra money.
The place was nicer even than our converted loft love nest that we’d already told the owner of the Highway Inn we would no longer be needing. We’d done most of the decorating ourselves, and furnishing, with great love and at our expense, but we told him to keep everything. When we’d walked away that morning, we never expected to return. The only thing that held us upright was our plan for this weekend trip.
But once we returned, how could we have ever used anything from that loft without being overwhelmed with loneliness and grief? It wasn’t as if we could use the sheets on one of our beds with our random omegas. Or sit on the love seat we’d picked out on a website and been so excited to receive. The rugs, the table for two, even the shower curtain and lightfixtures. The afghan we’d pull over us while watching TV. The flat-screen, for that matter. We’d bought it all with such care and dreams on some level we knew could never come true.
Closing my eyes, I felt the breeze dance over my skin, the taste of salt on my lips. I could have gone down to the beach. There was no reason I had to stay here, but I didn’t feel any impetus to get up and move. In the shimmer, we were busy all the time, and generally I worked until I was exhausted. Even as the heir apparent. Or maybe because of that. I’d never taken off for a whole weekend before, just the nights I could steal with Indy.
