Page 10 of Unforgettable Omega

“And his alpha swooped in all white knight,” Linc chimed in, a grin on his face clearly having heard the story before.

“What they said,” Jai snorted, “that’s why when Riley had issues with Grayson, I told him not to run. I told him to stay and work it out. He owes me for his whole marriage really.”

The teasing tone in his voice should have made Shay smile, but his insides felt like someone had used them to practice origami, all folded in on itself.

“Hey, are you okay?” Jai asked, probably realizing Shay hadn’t moved for a couple of seconds, “You look pale as a ghost and like you’re five seconds from puking.”

Shay had to pull himself together, “Oh, it’s nothing,” he tried laughing it off, but the guys weren’t buying it.

“Excuse me,” Shay said, and rushed inside the house away from the prying eyes of his new friends. Even almost five years later, thinking about that night affected him.

Shay felt a steadying arm on his shoulder that led him towards a bathroom, and walked in with him. He was glad, because he certainly hadn’t know his way around Riley’s home. He’d just wanted to get away from the prying eyes. When he looked back to see who it was, he found Jai beside him.

“The guys and I are sorry if we upset you. None of us can imagine how hard it is being a single dad.”

Shay sighed at Jai’s words. When he saw his face in the mirror, it looked like he’d seen a ghost which was ridiculous. His ghost only appeared in his dreams now. Maybe it was being back in this city, maybe it was finally having friends after being a recluse for the longest time, or maybe it was because he was surrounded by genuinely happy omegas, who seemed to be in love, and loved in return.

Shay had yet to meet his friends’ alphas, but whenever any of the guys spoke about their men, there was a happiness and contentment there that couldn’t be faked.

There’s also the part where you ran without speaking to the man you thought would be your alpha. But he’d come back–albeit a few months later but still– and well that hadn’t gone any better.

Yeah, there was also that. Shay mainly blocked that night out, and the day that he’d gotten up the nerve to… Yea he’d mostly blocked it out. Well except when he was asleep and it crept into his dreams, but in his waking hours, he blocked out meeting Drew, believing him when he said that they were more and coming face to face with the end of all his denials… nope, he wasn’t going there.

“Care to share?” Jai’s voice interrupted Shay’s thoughts.

“Not even sure where to begin,” Shay admitted his voice sounded tired even to his ears. What happened that night and after had been his secret. His and no one else’s. Well almost no one… she knew, Anneliese. That name still haunted his dreams.

“Just thinking about Andy’s dad,” Shay said, surprising himself for even admitting that much.

“Is he…” Jai paused and frowned. The man looked like he was debating how to finish the sentence, but couldn’t seem to come up with well anything.

Shay finally managed a smile, mainly because Jai’s face was so freakin’ expressive, and he saw how the man struggled to find the right words.

“Alive?” Shay supplied.

Jai nodded.

“As far as I know,” Shay sighed, “which isn’t much if I’m being honest,” he added dryly.

Okay that was a lie. He knew more than he cared to admit about Andy’s father. He was practically a cyber stalker when it came to the man. Although there wasn’t much to find about him, at least not his personal life. His business on the other hand. Yeah Shay had gotten into the habit of keeping up with financial and business news, just to keep track of the man who broke his heart, and destroyed Shay’s ability to trust.

“So you guys weren’t like married?” Jai asked, and Shay could see the man was trying to be careful.

“Nope, never married. Never dated,” Shay replied, “Just stupid young me falling for pretty words from on alpha who was just trying to get his dick wet.”

Shay was apparently on a roll, sharing his life story. Maybe it was time. He’d left college once he found out he was pregnant and returned home. His parents had been shocked. Shay had never been a rebel, or even a stubborn child. After they got over their shock though, they were supportive, and then super excited after a while. Now Andy was the light of their lives.

Shay had lived with them, and gotten a job at a grocery store close to their home. He worked there until he published his first couple of books. His parents had been a huge help to him, and now they were finally on the world trip they always wanted to go on, but had to postpone when Shay’s life had changed without warning. When Shay decided to move back here, to this city, they’d helped him move, sold the family home, they’d lived in their whole married life and bought a condo not far from his new house, to be close to him and Andy. The condo was currently being rented out while they were away, even though they didn’t need it, his dad having retired with a nice pension and great savings. But Shay had told them it could be used as an extra source of income until they returned, they agreed, but all the money was going into Andy’s college fund.

Shay’s parents had him a little later in life, and when he’d come home pregnant, they’d had to cancel their plans to travel together to help him out, but finally, he was in a position with his self-publishing, that he could be at home full-time, buy a house and be there for Andy, and finally let them enjoy their retirement.

The fact that he had picked the city he met Drew, and that Drew still lived in was just a coincidence. At least that was what Shay kept telling himself.

Shay looked at Jai, and he saw that the other man was doing his best to curb his curiosity and questions, but Shay could also tell he had a lot of them.

“It was one night, at a party. I thought…” Shay sighed, “Well, let’s just say I thought he was the man of my dreams. He made me believe in love at first sight. And… he was the first…” Shay’s voice caught, “My first… everything… but I guess he was just lying, because when he was sleeping his phone rang, and his girlfriend was calling.”

Jai gasped, his face went from anger to pity for Shay. The anger Shay was fine with, the pity he didn’t want or need. He was fine.