Peppermint Omega

19

I had to look at the phone to see if it was still connected. It was, but I hung up, smugly. He had been by a few times while I was home, but I pretended not to be there. Then nothing. A week went by. I thought that he had finally gotten the picture to just leave me be. Why would he keep coming around me? 

You're easy, desperate, little voice supplied. Always horny..

'Shut up,' I muttered and moved toward my car.

As I ate, I thought about what to do and got angry. Who the hell did he think he was just claiming people like possessions?! He didn't know me or anything about me. Neither did I, but you don't see me desperately coming to his house in a full-blown heat to make him put out.

With a heavy sigh, I closed the to-go container and stuffed it back inside the bag. I'd trash that later and stuffed it in the floorboard of the passenger seat. Should I go home? Should I avoid him?

I needed advice and to clear my head. The only way to get it was to bring some flowers.

I huffed up the stone pathway up a small hill. It had been so long since I had been up here, nearly 6 years. I had been lighter and one less person, too. I chuckled to myself, trying to hide that I was breathing hard. Always paranoid, little voice poked. I really hate you right now, I thought and slid a peppermint in my mouth. The soothing taste gave me energy to power through the rest of the climb.

Markus was displayed in a wrought iron archway. Every Markus from my grandfather's family was buried here. There were plots for my uncle and his family, and my mother if she chose not to be buried with her family.

I walked up to a large pillar of black granite and rounded to the other side. A large Markus was craved ornately below was Gregory Blake and Margaret Anne.

'Hi.. Granny,' I choked and took out the fake flowers of her built in vase, putting them in Grandpa's side. I put the fresh cut lilies, her favorite, in her vase with a little water.

'Your grandson has been very naughty,' I admitted with still in my squatted position. 'He's managed to mess up and get himself tangled up.. in a sticky situation.'

Don't hide from her, little voice pipped up again. She'll know.

I chuckled feeling my eyes burn and my chest ache. I missed her so much. From squatting, I sat beside her gravestone and began to unload minus the intimate parts. I imagined that she would in her way be sitting and nodding her head along like I told a fantastical tale, and say, "Kiddo, you know what to do exactly."

Usually, I'd look at her like a dumbass. She'd thump my forehead and say, "Don't do everything you just did to get you here. Remember this feeling and use it to learn."

Of course, that is not solid advice, but it did make me think about my actions before doing them. Maybe that is why I got into this situation? I stopped thinking with my brain. The air got colder and colder the longer I stayed outside with her. Winter was my grandmother's favorite time of year. She would love to go ice skating. Maybe Moonie would like that?

'Granny, I love you,' I whispered getting up from her grave. 'Love you, too, Grandpa.'

*--*

For the next few days, I felt like I was living in a state of constant paranoia. Lucian was everywhere. His pheromones would constantly be in the hallways of the apartment building, different flavors, for lack of a better term. They would always be mixed with a tinge of sexual charge.. or maybe that was just me craving it. It was most definitely me, but eventually the feelings went away as the days passed without a word from him or a call.

It snowed early November and iced up the entire world. That sucked for me because I had a couple appointments, and I needed to get out of town to sign the finalization of the loan for the property. YEEE! Mr. Wulf would hand me the keys on Monday after signing. Life was finally going where I wanted.

After I made it out of the doctor's office yet again with a stern warning from Dr. Jones not to lose any more weight at this time and to continue to take care of myself, I went ahead and decided to make the drive right after. I knew the roads throughout the city would be okay to make it out fine. It was just the other roads I would have to be leery of and if I took my time, I might get there in one piece.

I hated winter for the main reason it got darker earlier - I lived in one of those states with daylight switches [twice a year we would lose or gain an hour]. It was unnaturally dark at 5:30 and it made me scared. To tell the truth, I have always been afraid of the dark. It had become less and less the more Moonie grew. I wasn't as afraid since I wasn't actually alone.

This long drive was boring. It was flat and really didn't have much of a view. Lots and lots of trees, for miles and miles, for long stretches of country highway. Earlier in the season, I did enjoy the drive. The excitement of getting to move and start a new chapter of my life kept me bouncing in my seat the whole way, but now that it was an actual reality, I felt nothing but doubt.

Could I really do this great big endeavor on my own?

My hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as I shifted my weight to lean more toward the center console. Soft sounds of Agatha Richi filled the car. I hummed along softly as her back up while keeping an eye on the road.

The last stop was made before getting into town and my nerves got the best of me as I leaned against the car while gas filled the tank. Should I really be doing this? But it was too late to change my mind. My heart was set on that property. It was going to be a lovely family home, a forever home, for Moonie and me.. and a tiny Rufus? Scooter? Bingo? Socks? I could envision it so clearly, so beautiful, and more full of love than my own life was.

My grandparents did their best, but nothing compared to the love of your parents. I was going to smoother this child. Not too much, whispered little voice, you don't want Moonie to hate you.

'Never,' I promised as I laid a gloved hand on my bump.

*--*

'That's it?' I whispered, feeling hella overwhelmed.

'Yep,' replied Mr. Wulf with a small smile forming. 'It's all yours now. Nest away.'

My gut filled with so many butterflies. This was mine!

'Oh,' he said looking over his shoulder after he left the porch. 'Don't call me to sell it again. I won't take her an 8th time.'

'I'll call you to invite you to the housewarming,' I promised with a nervous chuckle.

'I'll be sure to show up with a side dish and empty belly. Speaking of sides - side note, I don't like onions.'

'Noted,' I chuckled again, waving him off as he drove away from the house. My house. Our house, little voice mentioned as I rubbed my protruding belly again.