Page 33 of Dream Mates (Into The Parallel Omegaverse #2)

Chapter Twenty

Grace

M y phone rang as we toured the gardens, which were mostly in disarray but starting to bloom, creating a chaotic, but enchanting display.

“Hi, Wes, how was the movie?” I walked in the opposite direction of Brennan, going into another garden.

“It was great. You’re with Bren?” he asked.

The anxiousness from the bond made my belly twist as I sat on the edge of a non-working fountain. “Is that okay? I was stressed about my new job, so we went for a ride on his motorcycle.”

I’d texted Wes to let him know what was going on.

“Grace, Peaches, it’s totally fine. I’d like you two to be at least friends.”

“At least?” My brows rose. Though I was enjoying this kinder and protective side of Brennan.

There was a jostling of the phone. “Having fun? What are you and Bren doing? Each other?” Evan asked cheerfully.

“Evan! He took me for a ride on his motorcycle. That’s okay, right?” Memories of him taking me flitted through my mind, making my insides tingle.

“If he asked you to go somewhere with him, go for it. I mean, none of us would be mad if you abducted him and made him take you somewhere, as long as you eventually brought him back,” Evan laughed.

“Motorcycle ride. I hope you enjoyed that. I know I do. Does he play with your ankles when he’s at a stoplight? I always like that.”

“It was nice. We’re at the estate. I guess he needs to make some decisions.” This was a lovely place with so much potential. It meant a lot that Evan wanted to marry me here–and that Brennan bought it so that he could do so.

“Grace, we want you to be friends with Bren. Besides, aren’t you going on a date to a concert with him at some point?” Evan teased.

Anxiety shot through me, as I recalled the piano concert he’d invited me to back before I’d been taken by the Authority. “It’s a date?”

Sure, he was cute, and I was so curious about what that pierced cock felt like when I was not high on orgasms and pheromones. But I was still getting to know him, trust him–especially the not-asshole him.

“Hey, it’s okay. I’m teasing you.” Evan’s voice went soft. “We’re a little horny, so ignore us. We love you, have fun.”

“Okay. I love you, too.” For a moment I just sat there. It was an unassuming little garden with a bunch of little benches. This, too, could have so much potential. I could almost see the wallflower sister hiding here with her book, and hear the laughter of a young couple off in the distance…

“This is a night blooming garden, so I’m told. Is everything okay?” Brennan sat down with me on the fountain’s edge.

“Oh. That sounds lovely. I just wanted to make sure no one was mad that I ran off with you. I’m still trying to figure all this out.”

“Given no one had anything planned, I don’t see why they would. Now, if you spoiled Jett’s plans then he might get cranky with you.” He smiled. “Jett wants Spencer to grill ribs for dinner. Does that sound good?”

“That sounds amazing.” Would he let me make the sauce? My sauce literally won an award at the fair. I texted Spencer and asked him.

“So much of our life must be so new and strange to you. We sometimes forget that you’re not used to this.” He looked up at the cloudy sky.

My lower lip quivered. “I get so confused. Like you can barely stand me sometimes, but back at the cabin you…” My body flooded with heat with the little I did remember. “Then Evan was cracking jokes and…”

Brennan started rubbing my shoulders. “Easy or Evan’s going to call and scold me.

You’re right. When you first came here, I was so blinded by what Caroline did to us that I could only see you as a threat.

But I see beyond that now. You make my packmates happy.

And well, I like playing the piano with you. ”

I relaxed into his hands. It felt different from when Spencer did it.

“As for the cabin, I’m sorry for not talking with you beforehand, and I hope it wasn’t unwanted.

Wes is still trying to figure out how to manage both your and Evan’s needs.

My actions were beyond duty or instinct.

When we’re in the nest, we care for each other's wants and needs regardless of who we’re with on the outside, because we have trust. We’re a family and the last thing I’d want to do is leave someone hurt and wanting. ”

“Oh, I… I like it when you’re sweet with me. And I don’t necessarily even mean kissing. Like this–getting me out of the house before I become a wreck. Though what I remember was good.” I ducked my head. It felt weird saying these things out loud.

Trust. Care. Before I came here I didn’t experience a whole lot of that. Now, I craved it.

“I take care of everyone in this family–even those I don’t have a bond with. We’ll get it all figured out. Getting used to the hormones can be a bitch.” He chuckled.

That was an understatement, because just him sitting this close and touching me so tenderly was getting my lady parts a little jumpy.

Down girl. We’re not getting with Brennan.

Like I’d admitted to Evan back at the cabin, it was hard to wade through hormones and feelings and all that. Part of me wondered if Brennan and I would ever be intimate outside of Evan’s heats. Even if it was just carrying out some of Evan’s fantasies.

They could be good. Very good.

Though I also understand that his ex had caused him a lot of emotional damage and I appreciated how far he’d come since I arrived. We were also still getting to know each other, trust each other. Who knew what might happen…

I’d be okay if it did.

Yeah, I’d just be patient with him and figure out how he needed to be loved, since he was so busy taking care of everyone else.

“Thank you for telling me all that,” I added, refocusing on the present.

“I need you to know that I understand where you’re coming from. Okay, not parallel worlds, but things like your fear of saying something to the wrong person being perfectly valid,” he assured.

“I also appreciate you and Jett taking me being from another world all in stride.” What would have happened if they hadn’t believed me?

“While I understand how you came here, I’m still confused about why your mom was such a bitch about Wes if you don’t even have alphas in your world? How did she even know?” His face scrunched in confusion.

“That’s a complex question,” I replied as he continued to rub my shoulders.

It was probably time to explain a few things.

“Should we see the rest of the gardens while we talk? Not that I don’t like this. Did Wes miss the massage lesson in alpha school? Not that I have any issue with Wes,” I groaned as he hit a good spot.

Brennan stood. “Spencer and I went to private alpha training camps. Wes didn’t. Should I get him massage lessons for Christmas?”

I adored Christmas. Would they let me cover the lawn with inflatable Christmas dragons? I’d always wanted to do that. Also, wear matching Christmas pajamas.

“I think you should.” Taking his hand, I stood. “Alpha training camp. It sounds miserable.”

“It’s pretty fun. Well, the one Katie and I went to. You learn how to care for your omega and how to run a pack or household. We covered everything from accounting and investing, to cooking and cleaning,” he said. “And, things like sailing and massage.”

We continued touring the spacious grounds and I felt like I was in a regency novel, wandering through a dilapidated manor.

“I was too into math in high school. My mom was really into appearances. She wanted me to be acceptably social, to participate in the right activities, and get good grades–but not have a schedule full of advanced classes. When I wanted to join the mathletes, that was it–she’d had enough–even though I promised not to drop cheer or miss any piano competitions.

One thing I never figured out was why she was so obsessed with me playing the piano when she didn’t, but she also said she never wanted to play it as a kid.

” I shrugged. “I did get a little obsessed with math and my theories. Which worried her.”

Brennan looked puzzled. “There are so many worse things teenagers can do.”

“I know, right? Like get drunk and pass out in a field.” My eyes rolled. There wasn’t a whole lot to do in our little town.

He nodded. “Exactly.”

“Still, nothing I could do was right. She didn’t like my attitude and behavior.

Also, she thought that I rebelled against her rules and mouthed off.

In hindsight, I really didn’t do anything bad.

I got top grades, did extracurriculars, volunteered, played the piano at church, and worked two jobs.

Though I did keep a messy room and was overly fond of blankets and stuffies. ” It was never enough for her.

I was never enough.

“Still not a bad thing.” He shook his head.

“I made a mistake, confiding in my guidance counselor in high school about what I wanted to study in college–and where I wanted to go.

I thought that he could help me with my college applications and find scholarships.

He thought my interests were unsuitable for a woman and told my mom that I was delusional because I believed other worlds existed.

Really, he just didn't understand quantum physics.” By then my relationship with my mom had already been strained.

Confiding in him was what started the really awful things.

“You should be able to talk to your teachers. Girls can do quantum physics.” He frowned.

“They can. But getting a three-day hold because your guidance counselor was worried about your mental state because of what you wanted to study in college and hoped to accomplish was horrifying. It also made me more secretive. I got meds and therapy, and weird treatments. When the real professionals wouldn’t give my mom the answers she wanted, she switched me to unlicensed church people, who just pandered to her and not my needs.

My mom and I were always at odds, and I couldn’t wait to escape to college.

” With my eyes set on an elite university on the other side of the country.