Page 12 of Alpha & Omega (Alpha's Rejects #4)

“How’s the restaurant business going?” I asked, seeing what kind of success Harley had in his restaurant, or if he struggled as much as I did. I only assumed it was his restaurant that was taking some customers, but he could’ve been struggling, too. However, I doubted it because most of my financial troubles stemmed from helping everyone out with medical bills, putting me behind on payments. And his restaurant always seemed to have a line waiting on the weekends, unlike mine, even with the bands playing.

“Business is really good. Harley’s is really taking off. I keep things casual but with fine dining. You should stop by one night. It’ll be my treat.”

I wore a small smile as I took a bite of shrimp and grits, which were as delicious as anything else he made. “Sounds fun. ”

“How about your bar? It looks amazing inside. One night, I’ll stop by after work for a drink and check out one of your bands.”

I sighed, put my fork down, and admitted my struggles, choosing to be honest. “I’m a little jealous. Before I met you, I was kind of pissed you moved in next door. I realize it’s stupid, and you didn’t do it intentionally, but between taking care of everyone and losing some customers, things have been… tight. As I’ve mentioned, insurance has gone up, but so has my rent on my bar and my apartment… like by a lot. I’m not sure what to do, honestly. I downplayed things last time we talked, but… it’s getting serious, and I’m really worried. Once you’re behind, it’s really hard to catch up in this business. I may need to start cutting corners.”

Harley said nothing, taking a bite of his salad before running his fork through his grits, looking deep in thought. Maybe he had some ideas that I hadn’t thought of. He wiped his mouth and looked at me. “You know… when I went into your bar, I loved how well our tastes mesh. Your bar is stylish while being comforting and chill. When I got home, a random idea hit me about how cool it would be for customers to eat dinner and grab some cocktails before heading over to watch a good band and drink the night away. They wouldn’t need to travel anywhere else except to go home. I mean, it was just a—”

“What are you saying?” I asked, interrupting him, unsure I wanted to really hear the answer. What was Harley getting at? Before I got defensive, I told myself to listen to him first. He may have some good suggestions.

“It was just a random thought I had… I’m saying that perhaps I can help you get your bar going again.”

“What? Like how?”

“I saw your bar was hurting financially before—”

I suddenly lost my appetite. “Wait, wait, wait. Back up. You already knew I was struggling? How in the hell did you know before this moment? I told you about medical shit earlier, rent, and insurance, but I said nothing about my bar struggling.”

Harley couldn’t look at me, his expression suddenly fucking full of guilt, probably not expecting my reaction. “Oh…”

“Did you… research my bar?” I asked, my jaw nearly dropping to the floor.

“I… did. But… listen. I can help you. I’ve got the money to invest… ”

My head shook back and forth of its own accord, and I stopped listening. “No. Absolutely not.”

“King… you need help, and I think I can get the—”

“I said no!” I stood and shoved the chair back, nearly knocking it over.

“Can you please sit and talk about this? I’m not trying to—”

“Stop! I won’t listen to another fucking word. Is this… Did you plan this? Was it my bar you wanted all along?”

“ What ? No, I—”

“You just happened to move next door to my bar. Then you just happened to find me on a dating app and pretend we forgot about mentioning our businesses on our first date, but that was intentional, wasn’t it? What the actual fuck? You fucking worming your way into my life for my bar?!”

I back away from him, unable to see or think clearly. All the doubts and what we talked about flooded my mind. No way.

“Kingston, no… I… please just listen. That makes no sense…”

“Don’t fucking gaslight me! You can’t fucking have Alpha’s! It’s mine . Do you know how hard I had to work to get my life in order? Do you have any idea about the amount of therapy I went through? And what about my family…. No! You can’t fucking have it!”

Harley stood, looking wide-eyed, and tried to reach for me, but I backed out of the kitchen. “Fuck you, Harley!” My body trembled in anger, frustration, and hurt. “You got me like you wanted and… Stay out of my life, Omega .”

I turned and bolted out of the house, ignoring his calling to me, and I didn’t stop running after I slammed the door behind me.

Fuck him. He couldn’t have Alpha’s. It was mine . Goddammit! Between losing money, my guys getting hurt, and that damn restaurant moving in, I felt the walls closing in on me, helpless to do anything about it.

Even if I believed what he said, that he truly wanted to help, he had no right. We barely knew each other. He couldn’t just come sweeping in and stick his fucking nose in where it didn’t belong. He looked up the credit records of my fucking bar behind my back, without asking or telling me.

If that was how life was going to be with Harley, shoving his ass in all my business, I wanted no part of it. I didn’t need help from anyone. I could do this on my own, just like always .

But those doubts crept back in that Harley had planned this. Maybe he hadn’t planned the dating thing. There was no way he knew who I was. I’d just said that through my anger. But he at least had the idea when he walked into my bar when I hadn’t been there, and he didn’t fucking say shit until now.

When I reached my car, I jumped in and drove back to my place. Once I was calmer, the disappointment set in. I really liked him, but I couldn’t do this. There were too many doubts, along with a hefty dose of mistrust. This relationship, or whatever it was, was too new. I didn’t have time for doubts, wondering, or frustrations. It would only get worse down the road.

It was over, and just as well. I needed to focus on getting my bar back in financial order. There was no time for love.

As I drove, flashbacks from the last time I saw my parents slammed into me, and I had to catch my breath, forcing me to pull over. I rested my head on my steering wheel, trying to push the memory away, but I was too agitated.

My hands tremble, and I sweat a little. What I’m about to tell my parents is so important and terrifying, too. But I need to be myself. Jacob said that I had to be honest with my parents, just like he had. He said my parents would be fine because parents love their kids.

My parents were all right, but they weren’t as kind as Jacob’s parents.

We’d been best friends since middle school, but when we started ninth grade, we confessed that we liked each other more than friends. I really want to date him openly, and the only way to do it is to tell my parents, just as he did. We already told our friends, and they were cool with it. I really want my parents to be cool with it, too, but I’ve got doubts.

I walk into the living room, where they’re watching TV, and I stand in front of them.

“C-can I talk to you?” I ask.

They glance at each other with unreadable faces as I wipe my clammy hands on my jeans.

Dad turns off the TV and nods. “Okay. Are you here to confess?”

God, why does everything have to turn into religion? Why do I need to confess anything at fourteen? I’ve always been a good kid and made good grades. But I nod anyway .

“There’s someone I really like, and I want your permission to date.”

My parents look at each other again before Mom speaks. “You’re a little young, aren’t you?”

I shrug. “A lot of kids are dating now.”

“Who’s the girl? Does she come from a proper Christian family?” Dad asks.

Shit. This is all wrong. I shouldn’t have said anything. But instead of telling them to forget it, I push on.

“They’re… not a… she. Uhm, he’s a… he. It’s Jacob. He likes me, too.”

In those last moments, everything is chaos, and I barely remember half of it through my tears and begging. Dad beats me with a belt. Mom tells me I’m going to the church to wash away my sins and beg for forgiveness, or else I’ll end up in hell.

When I tell them I’ve always liked boys, they get even angrier. They’re mad at Jacob, too, believing he’s corrupted me.

The next thing I know, Dad is dragging me by my arm with one hand and my suitcase in the other. He tosses me into the back of the car and drives for about an hour. I have no idea where we’re going.

He says nothing to me the entire time as I’m crying and scared, not knowing what’s going on. Something bad is going to happen, even worse than them hitting and yelling at me.

Dad slams the brakes, gets out of the car, and opens my door before dragging me out and tossing me to the ground. Then he throws my suitcase at me.

“You’re in Baltimore, an hour away from home. If you can find your way back to us, you will need to beg for our forgiveness and allow us to take you to church to cleanse your soul. Then we’ll consider taking you back.”

“No, Dad! Please!”

He points at me. “No more words. This will be good for you since you refuse to listen to your parents, who have taken care of you for your entire life. As you walk, beg God for forgiveness. He will guide you home if he believes you.”

Dad rushes to the car and takes off, and I yell after him to come back.

I sit on the dirty street, which looks like an alley. There’s no one around, and it’s dark. I’m scared, and I don’t know what to do.

After crying for who knows how long, I grab my suitcase and walk around the city to find a place to stay for the night or to find a phone.

When I walk past what looks like a bar, I step inside. The bartender yells at me to get out because kids aren’t allowed, but I beg him to allow me to use his phone. That my parents abandoned me here, and I have nowhere to go. I just need to call my grandmother to come and get me.

Thank god for nice people. He let me sit in his office and call my grandmother. He even gave me a Coke and some peanuts. I kept her number memorized in case of emergencies. It was her idea, and my parents never knew because they didn’t get along with each other.

When she answers, I start crying. After I explain what happened, she says, “Don’t you worry, dear. I’ll be right there.”

I cry again, relieved I have a place to go. There’s no way I’ll be able to find my way home. And do I really want to? I can no longer trust my parents to love me unconditionally.

I wiped my face dry with my hands and drove off again toward home.