Page 13 of Fritillaria (Fortune Records Omegaverse #5)

Chapter 13

M atilda

My eyes well up with tears, but Ivy looks away. She takes her coffee and walks out on me.

I want to scream at her. She’s not even giving me a chance to speak to her about it. Mostly I am just feeling the sting of rejection.

I thought Ivy was my friend.

The break room is pretty empty, but I need to get out of here. I choose to leave the opposite way to Ivy, then my legs take over. I need to go somewhere before I really start to cry.

Instinctively, I end up outside of Aspis’ office. Shit, should I be going in there like this? Right now?

Shuffling sounds and chatter start around the corner, and I don’t want to be caught lurking. I quickly open the door and let myself into Aspis’ office.

The sounds of a meeting plays from his computer. He looks up at my entry, a curve to his lips, but he glances back down to his screen just as quickly.

Fuck, it’s probably an important meeting. But I can’t go back into the hallway, I don’t want to run into anyone in this state.

My tears finally start to fall as the crushing realization sinks in. Ivy doesn’t want me. Doesn’t want us.

I try to keep my sobs silent as I sink to the floor, my head tucked into my knees. Today has been too much for me. Finding out that I have mates, then having one torn away from me.

I was so cocky to assume that Ivy would talk to me about it.

“Sorry everyone, I have an urgent matter to attend to. Send me the minutes.” Aspis’ deep timbre calls out before all the noises stop.

Strong arms wrap around me, lifting me into my mate’s hold. I turn my head, sobbing into his chest, my fingers gripping his lapel tightly.

The lock clicking shut on the door and my sobs are the only sound as Aspis sits back down with me in his lap. He patiently strokes my hair, waiting quietly for me to finish.

Eventually, I calm down a little, and a tissue is passed to me. I feel disgusting as I clean myself up, shaming coating me in its awful stickiness.

“What’s happened?” Aspis asks in hushed tones, his hands stroking me in soothing circles.

“I tried to talk to Ivy.” I hiccup, trying to hold in another sob as my tears begin anew.

“Oh,” Aspis’ grip on me tightens slightly. “I was worried that this might happen, but I was trying not to interfere between you two.”

“I don’t blame you. I just, I am sad is all. I’m not angry with Ivy really, I can’t get mad at her for feeling the way she does and being honest about it. But she just wouldn’t let me speak !”

“I understand. Trust me.” He goes back to stroking me, his hands keeping me grounded. “It’s difficult, because we need to respect Ivy’s wishes, even if it hurts us and we think she is wrong.”

I chuckle a little at that.

We fall into a comfortable silence, and I snuggle into my mate’s chest, happy for his warmth.

“Let’s get you some water and a snack.”

Aspis stands, keeping me lifted in his arms as he gets me a water bottle and a small pack of pretzels.

“Thank you.” We sit and he makes me drink the whole thing, but I don’t open the snack. I can’t stand to eat right now.

“Let me take you home?” He asks. “I’ll vouch for you needing to go home sick.”

“That sounds nice.”

It does. Taking the rest of the day to relax in my apartment and cozy up with my favorite show sounds really good right now. I can’t imagine being able to go back to work anyway.

Aspis doesn’t let me go until he’s buckling me into his car, having carried me down the whole way. Luckily, he took a back route and we didn’t run into anyone. The last thing I need is to have to explain everything to someone right now.

I punch in my address when he passes me his phone. Otherwise, I stare out the window at the city. There are no skyscrapers where I live, just small little houses that are either single residences or split into different apartments like mine.

“You can park over there.” I gesture to my empty parking space.

He easily pulls in, switching off the engine and turning to me.

I’m sure he has lots of work to do, he has an important job at the label. But I can’t bear the thought of him leaving me here right now.

“Can you come up with me for a while? I don’t think I can be alone.”

“Of course.” His hand rests on my thigh as he turns to face me. “I’ll stay as long as you need. I don’t want to be alone either.”

I walk on my own this time as we make our way up to my place.

“My apartment is a little embarrassing.” I say, turning the key in the lock and letting us in.

He is huge in my space, but he looks around with interest.

“It’s perfect.” Aspis turns to face me, clicking the door shut behind me. I’m trapped beneath his arm. “Just like you.”

I can feel how hot my cheeks get under his praise and attention. He kisses me gently on the forehead, my tummy doing a flip as I melt into him.

Actually, no, my tummy groaned extremely loudly.

“Let’s get you something to eat.” He chuckles. “What do you want? I’ll order.”

“Can we get sushi?” I slip past him, embarrassed that I messed up what could have been such a cute moment.

“Sure thing.” An arm wraps around me from behind, pulling me back against him. “Why don’t you get comfy on your bed while I get everything ready?”

A pulse of need tremors through me, but I try to calm myself. That’s not what we’re here for right now.

I normally wouldn’t get into my bed with my clothes from work still on. But I would rather risk the outside germs than change in front of Aspis.

Cozying up, I get under my quilts and watch as Aspis moves around my place. His tail is definitely going to trip me up at some point.

It’s wild that I have a mate in my kitchen, cleaning up and getting plates ready for us to have a meal together.

I feel kind of awkward just sitting here, so I pick out a movie for us to watch. The buzzer rings pretty soon after, and before I know it there is a Naga bearing sushi in my bed with me.

In this moment I can’t decide if it is the best thing or the worst thing that my bed is my couch. The movie plays in the background, and I mindlessly eat my food. But all I can think about is how his tail is pressed up against me, how I am in my bed with my mate .

I’m still sad about Ivy, that’s not going anywhere. Being here with Aspis is so comforting, but there is still a piece of me that feels empty.

Aspis clears our plates when we’re done eating, and asks to snuggle when he gets back into the bed. I gladly tangle myself in him, falling asleep almost instantly, exhausted from all the emotions of the day.