Page 142 of Forget
Chapter 26
Evan
Glancing down at my gloved hands, I know that my knuckles are split underneath them. I beat the shit out of Aiden first before I let the others have him. This isn’t the first time that he’s fucked out his problems.
The difference is that Aisling isn’t us. Caelin is kicking himself for suggesting that Aiden be her shadow, and I’m pissed off. She got a late start today, and she’s wearing more makeup than normal.
Foundation and coverup are dead ringers for the puffiness under eyes that she is hiding. She's also wearing a high-necked sweater that made me smack Aiden over the head when her head was turned.
For fuck’s sakes, our alpha is supposed to have more control than this. Instead, I’m driving her around today. Aisling isn’t speaking to me and I can see how it would rankle Aiden. She also refused to use his first name. She’s being a brat, and that’s why Domh can’t be with her either.
He’ll probably end up spanking and then fucking her too. God save me from alphas.
The only exception might be Caelin, but he’s working across town for the boss today. The network system is having issues at one of his businesses.
“All done here,” Aisling says with a sigh as she climbs into the truck. She's been running around Minneapolis since early this morning for appointments. I don’t know how she does it.
“You need to eat, so we’re going to breakfast,” I announce as her stomach rumbles.
Scowling at the noise, she nods. “I guess I can fit that in,” she says. “I have an appointment with the Naughty Tote at two, and then an appointment at the University of Lyons. They’re follow ups to previous discussions.”
“The Naughty Tote,” I say slowly. This is more than she’s said all morning, and I’m trying to follow her thoughts. “At their corporate office?”
Glancing at me when she sees I’m not going to fight her on this, she nods. “Yes, please. They’re donating products toOmega’s Havenfor the heat center. It’s been working really well over the past few months, giving them a safe place to have a heat for omegas who are without a pack. It’s actually open to anyone who needs it.”
It sounds suspiciously like something she would have needed at one point and my heart does something odd. Keeping the scowl off my face, I nod neutrally. I wish so much that someone else would have created this, so that Aisling wouldn’t have had to suffer.
This center is a labor born of trauma, a way for her to attempt to heal the omega within that was forgotten. I fucking hate our society for their treatment of her and others.
“I’ve heard good things about the Naughty Tote,” I say instead of all the thoughts bouncing in my mind. My index fingertwitches as I drive, all of my anxiety focused there. “What kind of food sounds good?”
“It’s still really cold,” she murmurs. “A French onion soup sounds great.”
“Soup it is,” I grunt, driving to a place near her next meeting that’s known for phenomenal soups and desserts.
Finding street parking, I put the truck into park, turning to find her staring at me funny. “What? Is there something on my face?”
I trimmed my beard last night, but it’s a bitch to bend my fingers right now.
“No, not at all,” she says with a small sigh. “You’ve just been really accommodating today.”
“Aisling, I drive your family around all day,” I remind her. “I don’t mind being on the road, in fact I really enjoy being busy. It calms my mind, keeps me out of trouble. Besides, I can connect the dots of what your day to day life looks like better when I’m behind the wheel driving you.”
Aisling turns her body toward me, wearing blue, wide-legged pants today and a high-necked cream sweater. I don’t usually see her in pants and wonder if this has anything to do with her mood. A long, navy coat covers it all and she’s wearing high-heeled boots. Bold, considering the weather.
“And what have you learned?” she asks.
“That you need three clones,” I say honestly. “You’re busy as fuck.”
Smirking, she nods. “Just a bit,” she murmurs, pushing open the door to the truck.
“Watch the ice, please,” I tell her, glancing out toward the street to make sure that I can step out. Seeing a break in traffic, I hop out and close the door, quickly coming around.
I know she’s not helpless, but I still want to make sure that she doesn’t break something getting out of my damn truck.
“Fuck,” I hear her say, and I find there’s a patch of black ice on the sidewalk that she can’t step over.
“Amen to that,” I say, leaning over to wrap my hands around her waist. While she’s tall, I easily lift her over the ice before setting her on her feet. “It’s fucking everywhere right now. I’ve been watching people slip and fall left and right.”