Page 20 of Blackest Ink
Dray sat up at that, face wrinkled. “How often did you, you know, get it on with your lady?”
“I dunno, not that often. Sex isn’t important to me.” Tripp’s cheeks burned.
“You got soft a lot while trying, huh?” Dray’s snide comment made Tripp’s shoulders pinch.
“Didn’t have any trouble with you even with whisky dick.” The low grumble earned a sniff of laughter from Dray.
“Because you’re gay. You’re hardwired for omegas. What kind of sex ed did you get? Alphas run the gamut for interest; about half are bi, and the rest are either or, straight or totally only into omegas. You, sir, are a gay alpha.” Dray threw his hands up and grumbled under his breath about lackluster parenting skills.
“Hey, it’s not like my father knew. He’s a beta.” Tripp’s cheeks burned in admission of it. His father liked to act alpha, wore cologne to mask his scent, but a beta was all he’d ever be.
Dray remained silent for a mile or so as they neared Tripp’s apartment. “So… Holy shit. Didn’t the council put you through the education course, then?”
Tripp knew the council offered education to alphas and omegas born from betas, but his parents had declined on his behalf because he’d already had an arrangement with Shelby at that time.
“Are your parents even okay with you being with an omega?” Dray’s hesitant voice squeaked a little.
“Eh. He said as long as they’re a snake. But I’d be with you even if you were a hippo, not going to lie.” Tripp shook his head. “My dad’s opinion doesn’t matter. I held him so high for so long, riding on all the things I could do that would get me written out of the will, but I’m fairly certain I’ll have more money than him in a few years.”
Dray coughed. “What? He owns a country club!”
“And? My company’s valuation is almost that much. But speaking of country clubs… My parents are there every other evening, almost. Want to meet them tonight?” Tripp snorted, and Dray balked.
“I’d have to put on some long-sleeve shirts, some coverup on my hands… I can take out most of my piercings…” Dray had his camouflage down to a science.
“But that’s not who you are?” Tripp heaved a long sigh. “If they don’t like you, then they’re not worth my time. Actually? You know what?”
Tripp dialed a number on his dashboard with a few button presses. The phone rang three times before a voice answered, the sound of milling voices and glasses clinking in the background. A gruff voice said, “Hello?”
“Hey, Dad. Got a moment?” Tripp took a deep breath and settled into his seat as he pulled into his apartment’s garage.
“I do. What’s going on? Shelby come crawling back?” His father grumbled, and Tripp hesitated.
“Why?”
“Ahh, her family’s bankrupt now and Marshal was hoping the marriage would bail him out. Fat chance. Also, that new boyfriend of hers is a sleazebag. Honestly, dodged a bullet.” Not an apology from Tripp’s father, but he’d take it.
“Ew. Anyways, you somewhere where you can sit down? I have some big things to talk about.” Tripp sighed as his father moved out of the noise and huffed as if he were sitting down.
“What now? That video you sent me? It cleared your name. It’s all on that tart now.” Tripp’s father grumbled, and something clinked in the background like ice in a glass.
“Well… I met someone.” Tripp hesitated as his father’s breath halted.
“An omega?”
“Yes.” Tripp ground his teeth audibly.
“Are they at least a snake?” A hiss caught in his father’s throat.
“Yes.” Tripp gestured at the console as if to say, “see!”
“What kind?” That had his father’s attention, bright and glorious.
“An indigo snake.” Tripp parked his car in a stall as Dray stared at the console with unease written all over his face.
“Boy, of all the snakes. Phew. Okay. When are we going to meet them?” His father had a little joy in his voice that would come crashing down.
“Well, as soon as you’d like. I can come by the club later this evening. But that’s not the big news.” Tripp buried that anxiety deep as his father grumbled for him to continue. “Dray and I met by chance and had a fling several months ago, and he’s pregnant.”
