Page 125 of The Omega Exchange: Omnibus (The Exchange)

Chapter Thirty-Four

Melody

“Iswear on the sweet baby Jesus that if you don’t stop laughing, I am going to hurt you,” I tell Carver.

“I’ve never seen a police officer stop and ask if they can take a selfie with the person they’re arresting . . .” He pulls me into his chest. “Nik will be out by morning.”

I glance down the dirt road where the police car disappeared a few minutes ago. Poor Nik.

My heart aches, and not because of the crap Ben said. Some part of me was always expecting that reaction.

What I wasn’t counting on was my mom to be quite so spiteful to call the police, nor did I anticipate Ben gleefully spewing his side of the story.

What an asshole.

I’m so pissed that I can’t even look at my mom, and I don’t even want to think about Ben.

“Sweetheart, don’t stress. Nik is a big boy.”

“That’s not making me feel any better.” My eyes close as I fight the nerves rolling through my stomach. “This is a damn nightmare.”

“Do you really think Nik has never gotten himself into trouble before? Damn woman, didn’t you do a quick web search of the men you were considering bonding?” Carver snorts. “I guess it doesn’t matter because you’re stuck with them now.”

“No, since I definitely didn’t want people searching me,” I admit.

“It kills me that they’ve convinced you your books are something to be hidden.

I’ll bet that dick was watching way naughtier shit every time he pulled up porn, but he couldn’t stand you writing it?

” Carver squeezes my hips. “Do you really think any of us give a shit? Sorry to burst your bubble, but your dirty mind makes my cock hard.”

“You’re trying to distract me,” I mumble as he teases his hands up the edge of my skirt.

“Yup, is it working?” He smirks, brushing his thick fingers over the front of my panties while the other slides back to squeeze my ass.

“You do realize my mom, my ex, and like five cops are ten feet away?” I ask, tilting my head to study his face.

“Ask me if I give a fuck,” he murmurs, dipping his mouth to mine. I melt into his chest as he distracts me in the best way possible.

“You’re pure freaking trouble, Dylan.” I gasp as we pull apart.

“Nah, Melody. I’m just really into you, and I don’t give a fuck who knows it.” His fingers keep teasing my pussy as his hand flexes on my ass.

“I’ve got a call into our lawyer and Nik’s manager so he can get ahead of the PR shitstorm,” Oliver says, shaking out his hands as he approaches.

Carver spins me around and sends me to Oli with a pat on my ass.

“I really dislike your ex,” Oliver says.

“Well, that makes two of us.” I sigh, snuggling against his slender chest.

“Three,” Carver says, slapping my ass.

“Melanie Winters?” A sly smile crosses Oliver’s face. “I should have caught that. You kept it really close. I actually bought one of your books, but I haven’t started it.”

“Shit,” I mumble, wallowing in his armpit. I’d go for his neck if I could reach it, but he’s entirely too tall for that. “I wanted to stay similar enough that I’d recognize if someone was talking to me, like if I ever did a book signing.”

“Makes perfect sense to me,” Carver says, hugging me from behind.

“Poor Nik,” I whisper as my brain circles back to that.

“God, I can’t believe my mom called the police.

There were times Ben showed up here wasted when we were fighting where I wished she would.

Only she didn’t, so it felt like I had to let him in because I wasn’t going to ask him to leave when he was shit face wasted. ”

“That’s disgusting,” Oliver says, frowning.

“I would appreciate it if you could keep your deviancy from showing on my front lawn,” my mom hisses, coming up to stand a few feet away. “I’d like to speak to my daughter alone.”

She has a sour look on her face that makes it difficult to want to hear whatever she has to say. She got really deep into religion when my dads left. She’s been anti-pack since then.

Oliver tilts his head down, raising his eyebrows in question.

“Yeah, I should probably speak to her one-on-one.”

“Melody is pregnant as I’m sure you’ve heard,” Oliver says, surprising the hell out of me. He releases me and turns toward my mom. “She’s had a lot of stress the last few months. Don’t add to that, please. Um, I mean that respectfully, and it’s very nice to meet you. Thanks.” Oliver nods at my mom.

Carver pats my hips and grabs Oliver’s shoulder, guiding him off.

Nik is far enough away that I’m not picking much up from him in the bond outside of annoyance.

Miller is frantic energy, but he’s also blocking most of it.

Oliver’s care and concern are heavy in the bond. He’s pretty terrible with keeping his emotions or feelings to himself. It took some getting used to at first, but now I love it. He’s an open book, and it puts me at ease.

“What in the hell were you thinking?” Mom hisses, once the guys are heading inside the garage. “Do you want to make the same mistakes I did? It’s like you’re dead set on following in my footsteps.”

She takes a step toward me, and for once I don’t retreat.

I’ve worried about her a lot over my lifetime. As a kid I used to do everything in my power to make her happy.

I’d clean the house, cook for her, make sure I didn’t make any noise while she was sleeping all day, and that was before my dads left. Once they were gone, I tried even harder because sometimes it got scary how sad she was.

No matter how much effort I put in, it was never enough. It didn’t make her happy because I don’t think it’s possible for her to be content in life.

I know she hoped I’d never bond after I saw what it put her through when my dads left, but I want different things out of life.

I don’t think you can judge all relationships off one shitty example.

“I’m going back to Virginia with my pack,” I say, giving her a tight smile.

“I know you’re struggling financially, and I have savings.

When we thought you fell, Oliver was going to hire a home health care nurse or something to help take care of you.

You clearly don’t need that, but I’m going to see if I can find some type of agency that has companions or something who can come check on you or take you to the grocery store. ”

“No, I don’t want to spend money that was made in a way I don’t agree with. Melody, I’m worried about you. God sees everything. Do you think he’s pleased with the trash you put out into the world?” Mom sighs, shaking her head.

She really is self-righteous considering she has taken my money since I was sixteen and got a job. Not all of it was smut money, but still. She doesn’t have a job, and I’m starting to worry how she’s going to survive without me.

“Then I’ll ask Oliver or Nik to pay for it.” And I’ll pay them back with my unclean money. “I won’t be around to do those things for you, and I want to be sure you’re taken care of.”

I really think I need some distance from our relationship for a while. I don’t have any plans to keep her from seeing the baby or even coming to visit, but I need a break from the toxic relationship I’ve allowed to develop between us.

“So you’re going to leave just like your fathers did?” she asks with her mouth hanging open. “The world isn’t a kind place. I’ve kept you safe here with me . . .”

My stomach drops as I realize she really has been navigating and influencing my life with the intention of keeping me here. She didn’t want me to leave her behind, so she encouraged me to put up with Ben’s garbage. I wondered sometimes, but it’s clear that’s the case.

The overwhelming pang of sadness that forms in my gut takes my breath away.

I want more for her than this, but I can’t force her to do anything, and my encouragement over the years has gotten us nowhere.

“I’ll be giving birth sometime in mid to late September, especially since first pregnancies tend to go past their due date. If you’d like to come out and meet the baby, just let me know,” I say, giving her a tight smile.

“What about Ben? You’re going to move halfway across the country and purposely keep his child from him?” She looks at me with disdain, and it pushes me to an ugly place.

“I’m sure you heard the things he had to say when I told him.

You didn’t magically pop out only in time to see the altercation.

You know what? There’s an idea. You’re so fond of Ben, maybe you can start counting on him to bring you groceries or make sure you have enough money to pay for your medications.

” I run my hand over my stomach, reminding myself to stay as calm as possible.

“I wish we could’ve been a team. But if nothing else, I appreciate that you taught me a lot about who I refuse to be as a parent.

I don’t have a lot of compassion for you at this moment, and I’m afraid I might say some hurtful things.

” I toss a finger toward the garage. “So, I’m going to go, but I love you, Mom. ”

I give her a tight smile and aim for my guys. I’m going to start setting boundaries and only subjecting myself to healthy relationships. I have to set a good example for the baby, which means being stronger than I was.