Peppermint Omega

8

I shook in place hiding my hands inside my sweater and looking down at my shoes. He jokes, 'If you want, we can beat up Evelyn together.'

I shook my head. 'When is the ride share going to get here?'

'Oh.. Right.. With you nearly dying I forgot about that..'

I wanted to die right then. The look of pure disgust in that man's eyes was unnerving. Purely unnerving. Did he do that with Evie? Surely not.. I started to shake. The front door opened, and Lucian came out, leaving the door open in his wake.

'Father says to come in and bring him,' he eyed me, with something unreadable, and waved the air around him. 'You should calm down. Father loathes the smell of scared.'

My mind was spiraling out of control. I stuffed my hand in my pocket feeling around for a candied disc to find the last one. My eyes filled with tears. Don't do this. Don't do this. Not here. Not now.

I sniffed back and bit my bottom lip trying to calm down. The last disc was in my mouth and out of the wrapper at my fastest time. The mint exploding in my mouth, and I looked at a guilty looking Wyatt. My shoulders sank. 'I'm sorry, Quinton. I never ordered it for you, but I did now. It will be here around 10.'

I took a calming breath, the cool mint filling the air around us. 'What time is it now?'

'A little after 8.'

I nodded, dragging a ragged breath inside, feeling the illusion of calm wash over me. 'Well, after you. We shouldn't keep your father waiting.'

Upon entry, Frank darted toward me wagging his tail. It was all the dopamine filled my head and body with good vibes, nearly making me almost forget that I was in the house with higher statuses.

'So, you brought my son home.. Quinton, is it?'

'Ye-es, sir.'

'You delivered him in one piece, so he wasn't too much trouble then..' I don't know what that was supposed to mean, so I didn't reply with anything but a nod.

Louisa was moving around the house in a flurry of movements. She made him a drink and fetched his slippers and tablet. I observed her. She reminded me much of my grandmother, who did the same thing until he died. I was still standing at the edge of the room. This time both sons sat stiffly on the couch as the father sat across from them in the right winged back chair.

'Have a seat, dear,' Louisa told me and shifted her gazed toward the couch. I didn't want to sit anywhere near them. The whole room read too much static energy that was ready to explode.

'Could I help you?' I asked looking for an out and excuse not to be in the room with them. Each of them held an expression of discontent in various forms.

'Oh, no, dear. I have it all under control,' she refused with a polite smile.

I died a little when she said that. With a heavy sigh, I walked behind the father and sat on the L part of the couch. Frank moved from his spot at the father's feet to put his paws on the edge of the L. I shifted toward the back of the couch, and Frank inched forward. So, I completely scooted in the corner to allow Frank to completely come up on the couch. He curled up and placed his head on my lap.

Awww.. This does it. I'm going to get a dog.

Most of my fear and anxiety left as I plunged my hand into his soft golden fur. He didn't even move, only to expose more of his belly to me. A small smile formed on my face. I felt like someone was looking in my direction. More than that, like completely staring holes into me, but I couldn't tell who it was unless I looked up - I rather not.