Page 27 of Dream Mates (Into The Parallel Omegaverse #2)

Chapter Seventeen

Wes

“ G race, are you almost ready?” I called, knocking on the closed door of her room at the cabin.

“Five minutes,” Riley called with a giggle.

“Sure, I’ll wait downstairs.” Straightening my tie, I walked past Spencer, who was standing in the doorway to his room, and went downstairs to the living room.

Spencer followed. “Wes, are you avoiding me?”

Yes. I plopped down on the couch and gave him a look. “Maybe?”

“I overstepped, didn’t I? Apologies.” Stricken, he sunk into a chair.

“No, not really. I’m just being a jealous asshole,” I admitted quietly, not meeting his eyes.

“I see. Would you like me to step back? I should have waited longer for you two to settle in. I got carried away, I’m sorry.” His head bowed.

Spencer would, too. Which made me feel like an even bigger asshole.

“Thank you for being there when she was brought back, and for taking care of her.” It was difficult to say, but the truth.

What would have happened if no one had been there? She’d been unconscious.

“Of course. I’m sorry for not bringing her to you immediately. When she was lying there unconscious, it just brought back a lot and my alpha instincts to care for her just took over.” Spencer’s look went glum, and his scent went a little salty.

Now I was an even bigger asshole. Spencer had trauma too. His dad got taken away by the same dudes and never came back. He seriously thought that Grace was dead.

Not to mention, once upon a time, he had a mate. Who died. And he hadn’t been there. Losing your bonded mate was apparently a painful and traumatic experience because you felt it happen… then you didn’t feel them at all.

Shit, I felt awful.

“It’s fine,” I said. Also, the truth. He hadn’t kept her long and she probably needed a good night’s sleep before joining the chaos that had been Evan’s heat.

“I’m glad she had you there,” I added.

“What can I do? I don’t want to cause any issues between you, especially right now, when she really needs you.

Would you like to accompany her to the PIIP symposium instead of me?

I can transfer the invitation to you. I was just trying to make her happy,” he confessed, an earnest look on his face, pain in his eyes.

“Shit, why would I want to subject myself to that when you’re willing?

But thank you.” I knew he hadn’t planned that to one-up me.

He’d organized the trip to the exclusive science conference because she wanted to see some particle thingy.

I’d go if she wanted me to, but I had no issue with Spencer attending with her instead.

He’d enjoy it. I’d find that shit boring as fuck.

Also, I knew with Spencer she’d be taken care of. Fuck, he could be her travel buddy for all the science shit I knew she’d be doing. It was only a matter of time before she was the one speaking at conferences.

“There are a few weeks before the conference, you could take her on some sort of special solo getaway. Is that the issue? While you went to the cabin for her birthday, you haven’t whisked her away on a special trip yet?” he asked.

I paused. “Oh, I could do that, couldn’t I?”

A romantic weekend would be nice. Maybe I could take her to the little seaside town my grandparents always took Lexi and I to when we were kids. Yeah, my grandma would let me borrow their beach house for the weekend, right?

Jett did say it would be good for us to spend some solo time together.

“This is all a me problem, not a you problem, Spence. I’m feeling guilty for not being there, for not protecting her, for not being alpha enough for her.” My head bowed.

“Wes, you’re a good alpha to her. You make her so happy. My interest in Grace doesn’t mean that she isn’t getting what she needs from you.” His brows furrowed.

Oh.

“I… I didn’t realize I needed to hear that. When that asshat took her, I felt so helpless…” My shoulders slumped.

“I did as well. I honestly thought I’d never see her again.

” Pain leaked into his voice. “I will do whatever you need of me. The last thing I want is to come between you. It’s been so long since I’ve gotten to spoil someone in that way, and it’s very easy for me to get carried away.

It’s okay to tell me to back off–or piss off,” he admitted.

“Just don’t get an ice cream flavor named after her?” I joked.

His look became amused. “I was actually thinking of an ice cream store.”

I froze, then realized he was joking.

“A car shaped like an ice cream cone?” I countered.

“Perhaps.” Spencer smiled. “Are we all right? My offer to back off stands.”

“We’re good, thank you.”

He patted me on the shoulder. “I’m glad. She needs you so much.” Spencer’s gaze shifted to the stairs. “Have fun tonight.”

My gaze followed and I sucked in a breath. Grace wore one of her usual cotton dresses, but in a cute floral print, and she’d dressed it up. She had her splint and walking cast back on. Riley had done her hair and makeup.

I stood and met her at the stairs. “You look amazing.”

“So do you.” Grace’s smile melted my heart as she grabbed me by the tie and gave me a searing kiss. There was a jacket in her hands.

Yeah, this woman loved me.

Taking her arm, we waved, and I took her outside and we got onto the boat. Nerves wafted off her and through the bond as we set off across the lake toward the restaurant.

Shit. I had to remember that our bond worked better now. Much better. Grace also probably didn’t know how to filter it.

“Come here.” I held out a hand to her.

She took it and I pulled her onto my lap as I steered one-handed.

“I’ve got you. Promise.” I kissed the top of her head.

“Did I do something wrong?” Her voice broke. “That’s why we’re going to dinner alone to talk. ” Her blue-grey eyes went misty.

Fuck.

“You did nothing wrong. I wanted to spend some Evan-free time with you. Check in, see how you’re doing, because this has been a lot for all of us,” I said honestly.

“Okay.” She rested her head on my shoulder. “You’re not mad at me for being with Spencer?”

“No. Be with anyone in the pack. It’s fine. I’m just being, what do you call it, a sad panda , because I wasn’t there when you came home and I feel like I failed you.” It was a raw and honest admission.

Grace tipped her head up and kissed my nose. “You could never fail me, Boo-Bear.”

My heart bloomed as she pelted me with love through the bond.

“I’d probably be mad if you’d abandoned Evan to wait for me, especially now that I really understand what it’s like.” She snuggled into me.

Yeah, I needed to hear both those statements.

“I’m so sorry that I worried you,” she added. “All I could think about was getting back to you. And… and they almost sent me somewhere else.” She started to cry. “My professor tried to kill me.”

Fuck, fuck, fuck. She now remembered why she’d come here. And it wasn’t pretty.

“You’re safe now. You’re here with me, Evan, Spencer, and everyone. We’re all so happy that you’re back with us.” I planted a kiss on her head.

“Okay.” She sniffed. “I… I should have gone hiking with you. I didn’t–”

“Stop, please?” My voice broke, so did my heart. “You still have a broken foot and shouldn’t be hiking on it. Please, watch weird science documentaries and play chess with Spencer.”

Which was all they did, well that and he made her chicken soup.

“Okay.” She sniffed again, her makeup now a little smeared. “I’m sorry. I feel so weird inside, and everything’s all jumbled and…”

I wiped away the makeup smear with my thumb, then held her as tight as I could with one arm, as we made our way across the lake.

“I love you, Grace. I love you so much, and I’m glad you’re home, and I’m here.

And I’m so sorry if I made you anxious. I just wanted to spend some time with only you. Evan’s been a little greedy.”

A smile played on her lips. “He really has been. Has anyone thought to tell him no? ”

I chuckled. “Not really.”

He was our omega. We tried to never tell him no .

“You don’t have to let him, at least when it comes to me.” Her look went coy, then she bit her lower lip. “I mean I love Evan, but I like time with just you, too.”

“I’m so glad. Maybe we can make a regular date night? We could go out or stay in, but you know, just us?” I steered us toward the restaurant as that edge of the lake came into view.

She beamed. “I’d like that. When I start at your work can we drive and eat lunch together?”

“That sounds perfect. What about if I take you away for a little getaway, just me and you?”

“Oh, I’d love that,” she breathed.

All felt right again.

I shifted so I could use both hands to bring us into the restaurant’s dock.

“Oh, this is so pretty. It has its own dock? Fancy.” Grace grinned. “We’re by town. After we eat, will you go for a walk and hold my hand? Maybe we can get ice cream? That shop had such fun flavors.”

How could I have doubted her? This was my Grace, who for all the fancy trips and jewelry, really just wanted ice cream.

“That sounds perfect.” I cut the engine and tied up the boat. “Here.” I helped her out and took her arm. “Let’s go have a nice dinner.”

Turning to face her, I took both her hands and gazed right into those blue-grey eyes.

“I know things are hard and strange. I’m not super good with details, and sometimes I forget how weird things must be for you.

But I love you so much and I’m so glad you’re here with me.

Talk to me, and I’ll talk to you, and we will figure everything out together. ”

Grace leaned up and gave me a kiss. “That sounds good to me. I love you, too.”

I took her arm which felt so good, so right, as we went into the restaurant.