Page 134 of Forget
I can wait my turn, find ways to tell her I’m sorry, that don’t depend on words, because I’ll just make it worse otherwise. I just manage to trip over them when I’m with her.
“How did you get the delivery service to bring you new food?” Rebecca asks as tea service is served.
Aisling wrinkles her nose as she explains. “My father is Cian Sullivan, though I don’t usually tell people that when I’m working with them,” she says. “Tricut Delivery Services repeatedly told me that the food was fine and they wouldn’tredeliver. However, the milk smelled, the produce was bruised and overripe, and the meat putrid. I thought that the delivery service wasn’t being scheduled because my house manager has been ill. Come to find out, they were ignoring the delivery orders.”
That explains the grocery trips.
“Does your father not want you to use his influence?” Mom asks.
“No,” Aisling says. “I’m sure he wouldn’t care or would help if I asked, but I like to do things for myself.”
“We all need help sometimes,” Mom says sagely. “Tell us aboutOmega’s Haven.What do you want for it?”
“We want a place where people, omegas especially, can feel safe,” Wren says softly. “The stories we hear are horrifying. I lead a weekly group with Aisling atOmega’s Haven, and we hear so many people tell us about how they’re fired for going through their heat and having to call out, or how they’re kidnapped off the street and forced to pack up with alphas who hurt them. Every omega has a different story, but they’re all important to what we do.”
“I lived on the streets when I was sixteen,” Aisling says. “My mom died and I had to do some pretty fucked up things to hide that she was dead, while I got a second job. I quit school, though I got a GED later, and didn’t know who my father was. Essentially, the shelters weren’t an option because I was a minor. They also don’t take omegas typically because they’re ’troublemakers’.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Mom mutters. “Omegas aren’t any more troublesome than any other designation. So where did you sleep?”
“I scaled the wall at a park and spent my nights there,” Aisling says with a shrug, ignoring the panicked looks of thewomen in the room. They’re all mothers, and their hearts have to be hurting for her.
“I’m not used to asking for help because I’m used to figuring it out. I want to be able to offer resources for omega’s heats, shelter, outreach for lawyer advice, help fill out the paperwork for protective orders at the court, job interview rehearsal, therapy sessions with an incredible therapist, and so much more. Granted, we are only starting in one city…”
“But maybe it’ll catch on,” Wren finishes. “We’re also working with an occupational technician who helps people find jobs. My number one gripe with aptitude tests was that they didn't help me to find what I’m good at. My brain works differently, as do most omegas.”
“I didn’t think about that,” Sue says, frowning. “My husband is an omega, but he needs to have things set a certain way. Dale cleans the house because it’s done how he wants, and the curtains all have to be open at the same place. I just thought that was Dale.”
“It’s an omega thing,” Aisling chuckles. “It affects me to be around a lot of alphas at once when working because it feels like I’m high. It’s hard to focus, so when I was a bartender, I used alpha pheromone blocker gel. I swear, sometimes they’d do it just to set me off, and it was embarrassing for me.”
“Alphas can be dicks,” Rebecca says with a smirk. Rebecca and Sue are distantly related, and Sue just rolls her eyes.
Shaw just huffs out a laugh under his breath, watching as they chat and eat. They manage to cover a lot of ground, and the Society’s members look really impressed.
“Do you have anyone who teaches knitting yet?” Mom asks, biting her lip.
“We started a group for those who already knit, but they’re definitely established,” Wren says. “I just started knitting andit’s really helpful for anxiety. It helps me focus, and the end result is so satisfying.”
“It would be nice for people to take something with them after their stay with us too,” Aisling says, wheels turning as she nods.
“Then that’s what we would like to do,” Mom says with a smile. “I know that alphas can be difficult for some of your omegas to be around…”
“I’m finding that if I warn them, it’s easier for them to handle,” Aisling says. “It also may be a little different for a female alpha to come into the outreach area than a male.”
“We could have a ‘learning how to knit’ class biweekly,” Wren muses. “Introduce the idea to the residents and then see what they think. You may find more people attending as time goes on.”
“The warehouse portion of the building would also be the easiest to set up a comfortable space,” Aisling agrees. “Yes, I think that could work.”
My lips twitch as they hammer out logistics before saying goodbye. Wren, Shaw, Aisling, and I walk out together to the parking lot, and Shaw glances at her.
“The she shed is yours if you ever decide you need some space,” Shaw says. “We were talking about it the other day, and I know you’ll need to have your own?—”
“That’s Wren’s ‘I’m sorry we’re dickheads’ gift,” Aisling says with a smile. “I can’t move in there. Maybe I’ll find a place in Minneapolis.”
“Over my dead body,” I growl, though they all ignore me.
“You’ll be too far away then,” Wren says with a pout. “We have to be able to figure something out.” Turning to me, she points at me, annoyed. “You’re fucking with my time, asshole. Your pack is fucking up left, right, and center. ”
Jaw dropping, I look between them. Aisling looks amused, while Wren is practically snarling at me.