Page 15 of Billy and Cord (Omega Hearts #1)
Meanwhile, back in Frankton…
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell us.” Cece’s and Tristan’s arms came around Billy in a familiar hug. “If you’d have told us when you got the first message, we could’ve let you know then it was all bullshit from the start. Why didn’t you say something?”
Cece and Tristan had come around as soon as Billy had contacted them, still in shock and tears over his call with Cord.
“I thought it was something I’d done,” Billy said, wiping across his cheeks.
It was as if his eyes couldn’t stop leaking.
“I never had more than the basic omega education in school. It’s not like my parents told me anything.
And I did contact the Omega Hearts Foundation for advice. ”
“Which would’ve been fine, if you hadn’t been talking to Palin,” Tristan said, leading Billy over to the couch.
“We have to do something about him, Cece. Billy’s not the first one to be traumatized by the bad advice Palin gives out like candy.
Did Palin seriously say that Cord had used illegal drugs on you, Billy? ”
Billy nodded. “I knew Palin was lying about that, but he wouldn’t listen to me, and what if he spreads rumors about that to everyone else? Cord is one of the men who tries to help stop that sort of thing going on. Think what an accusation like that would do to his reputation.”
“I think Palin desperately needs to find his mate,” Cece said, sitting on the other side of Billy and taking his hand.
“Don’t get me wrong,” he added as Tristan gasped, “I am not saying what he’s been doing is right at all and I’m as furious about it as you are.
But have you noticed that the bad advice he’s giving is to mated omegas? ”
“Those are the only cases you’ve heard about.
What if I’d believed Palin’s lies?” Billy cried.
“It could’ve happened. I could’ve laid a complaint against Cord, while he’s away, and then refused to ever see him again.
” His tears started falling again. “The messages just kept coming and coming, and… and… I thought about blocking the number, but I couldn’t do it, even though I don’t know why. ”
“It’s like watching a train wreck,” Tristan said grimly. “You know it’s going to be bad. You tell yourself to look away, but you can’t help yourself, not that I’ve ever seen a train wreck,” he added quickly. “But that’s sort of the feeling you’re talking about, right?”
“I kept waiting for my phone to ding.” Billy sniffed.
“I was so determined when Cord left that I was going to go about my day the way I was living just a matter of a week ago - work and spending time with you two. I really wanted Cord to see that he could go out on his missions, which I know are super important. I wanted him to trust that I could be okay. And now this has happened… I feel so shitty about it.”
“Well, we’re not having that,” Cece said, patting Billy’s hand and then standing up. “We’re going out for lunch, my treat. And then we’re going to go down to the Omega Hearts office, and we’re going to lay a formal complaint against Palin.”
“Do you think that’ll do anything?” Tristan got up, too, and Billy realized he was going out whether he felt as though he wanted to or not. His friends were good like that.
“I need to wash my face and run a brush through my hair,” he said quickly. “I won’t be a minute.” Getting up from the couch he went through to his room. It still smells of Cord, he thought as fresh tears started to flow. I’ve got to pull myself together.
Splashing water over his face, Billy dried off on a towel, looking at his bleak expression in the mirror. There was a part of him that couldn’t believe how much he’d changed in the space of a week, but then a mating would do that to a person.
The past few days are just an anomaly, he told himself firmly.
The messages have stopped, which means Cord has dealt with the person concerned, just as he said he would.
Billy held onto Cord’s last words – I have to trust I’m having hot chocolate in the morning… and then, because he was a practical man, and Cord had mentioned he was on the West Coast, Billy added, or at least by lunch.
/~/~/~/~/
Lunch was fun. It was so easy for Billy to forget that while he’d been holed up in his little house crying his eyes out, life in Frankton was still going on around him.
People smiled, said hello, and waved on occasion.
The food at the Wonky Pig never disappointed, and just the act of eating food with friends helped lift Billy’s mood considerably.
After they were full, Cece and Tristan flanked Billy as they took a slow wander through town. The walk was fun as well especially when Cece was exclaiming over every new thing he saw in a shop display, and Tristan was busy chatting about a date he’d been on the day before.
“The guy wasn’t my alpha, but he has a great sense of humor, and Anthony told me this morning he’s already been in touch again, asking Anthony if he can escort me to a barbecue over the weekend.” Tristan skipped in excitement. “Another chance to meet new people.”
“Ooh,” Cece seemed excited, too. “I’ve been asked to go to a barbecue on Saturday as well. Let’s hope it will be the same one, so we can chat with each other if things get boring.”
“Wouldn’t that be a laugh?”
Billy chuckled along with his friends. Frankton wasn’t a big place – not in comparison to a lot of the neighboring cities, so it was highly possible that Tristan’s alpha was friends with Cece’s date, and they would end up at the same barbecue.
He wasn’t sure what he’d be doing over the weekend, but he was determined it wouldn’t involve any crying.
With luck, it would involve doing something with Cord.
They paused outside of the bright white building with it’s red door - the Omega Hearts Foundation offices. “Are you going to be all right, Billy?” Cece was peering in the window. “Palin is on reception, but we’re going to ask to speak to a manager and he can’t refuse us.”
Billy twisted his hands. “Is Palin going to get into trouble?”
“He deserves to get into trouble.” Tristan hugged Billy’s arm.
“Honestly, you and I know he’ll probably just get a talking-to.
He’ll squeeze out some crocodile tears, and he’ll be told to reread the policy manual again or something.
But by making a complaint, you’re doing what Cord does in his work – making a stand for all omegas. ”
“People like us need to know the information we get from this place is the right advice,” Cece added. “Palin just says the first thing that comes into his head, and his empathy skills are clearly missing.”
Knowing Cece and Tristan were right, Billy followed his friends into the small and cheery reception area. Palin scowled the moment he saw him. “Have you come to complain about another poor misguided alpha who had the misfortune to spend time with you, Billy?”
“I spoke to my alpha this morning, and everything is fine, thank you for asking.” Billy stuck out his chin. “We’d like to speak to your supervisor, please.”