Page 15 of Mate Match: Curtis & Jae
“What?” He still sounded a little groggy.
“My dad and sister are on their way here. We do Sunday brunch once a month and it’s my turn to host.”
It took a moment for it to register. “Shit!” He scrambled to sit up. “Uh, fuck! I do want to meet them, but not like this. In like a couple months, after we’ve dated more!” I could tell he was struggling to keep it together. He paused, craning his neck in his search for clothes. “You’re right, it’s too soon. Will you be okay if I leave?”
“Of course.” I could admit to myself I felt a little disappointed, but I put myself in his shoes. An unmated omega who had just met an alpha, gone through a heat, and was about to meet two other alphas? That would be intimidating. I’d readomegas needed safety and comfort in the days after their heats, especially if they were surprise ones. I just wanted to keep him comfortable. That wouldn’t be possible with two strangers in the house.
“Hope you don’t mind, I washed your clothes.” I pointed to the pile neatly folded on the dresser.
Jae leaped up and kissed me soundly on the mouth. I wanted to hold him against me. “You are so amazing! Do I have time for a shower?”
I winced. He sagged back before brightening. “Quick rinse and I’ll be out of here. We can plan our next date later if you like?”
Another date? “That sounds great.” Keeping my voice even was difficult. I locked down on my pheromones and excitement. Another chance to make Jae smile!
He hopped out of the bed before wincing. “Damn. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so well used after a heat.” He missed my blush as he went into the bathroom. Sex with him had been out of this world.
It only took him five minutes to have a quick wash and dress, which was impressive.
“My ride will be here in a minute.” He stepped into my open arms, cuddling close. “Thank you for an amazing heat experience. The way you took care of me? I’ll never forget that, even if things don’t work out between us.”
Just imagining us going our separate ways hurt. I didn’t even want to think about it. I was going to look on the bright side.
“I think they will.” Putting that into the universe felt like the right thing to do.
“I do too. Call me later, okay?”
“Okay.” My relief at Jae feeling the same clogged my throat for a moment. I coughed to cover the swell of emotion.
Following him to the door, my stomach dropped when a familiar luxury car pulled up. My sister, Lara.
Jae’s gaze landed on the car. He paled slightly. Going onto his tiptoes, he kissed my cheek. With a final squeeze of my hand, he dashed by the car just as the door opened.
“Hi and bye!” I heard him shout in some relief as his ride pulled up at the end of my driveway. He was there and gone in just a moment.
“Who was that?” Lara asked as she approached.
I struggled to get myself under control. I wanted to call Jae and have him come back. To send my family away, but they were already here and our bubble had been broken. “That’s Jae. The guy I matched with.”
“The omega from the app?” She turned back as if looking for him. “He’s cute! Did you have another date?”
“Why don’t you come in before you give me the third degree? Where’s Dad?”
“He’s here,” he said, getting out of the car. “Lara was in too much of a hurry to get the tea, as you say. She forgot it takes me a minute to get out of this thing. It’s too low! Why couldn’t you have taken the SUV?”
“You know why, Dad! Jennie needs it for Milo’s soccer practice.” Lara rolled her eyes affectionately.
My sister, also an alpha, was married to Jennie, a sweet omega she met at work. Jennie was now a stay at home mom to their son, Milo. They hoped to add to their family at some point, but they’d struggled with miscarriages. Now Milo was seven, it looked unlikely there was another baby on the cards for them. Jennie was working on starting her own business and loved to call me for help and to complain about my sister, teasingly, of course. I adored her, and we’d grown to be good friends. The two of them were a great match. Jennie was Lara’s rock when things got rough at the clinic.
“I forgot, sweetheart, sorry.” Dad frowned. He hated forgetting things, having always prided himself on his memory for details.We were keeping an eye on things. Truthfully, I think it was more his hearing than his memory. He didn’t always grasp the details when we talked fast or if there was a lot of background noise. “When’s Milo’s next game?”
Lara took Dad’s arm to support him into the house. Not that the old man needed it. He was only sixty-seven, and fairly active, too. He’d fallen in the yard last month and I think it had shaken Lara. Truthfully, it had gotten to me, too. It was a reminder we wouldn’t have him forever.
Inside the house, I served up the casserole. Dad smiled at it, his eyes filling with unshed tears for a moment before he brushed them off. He still loved our mom. Always would.
“So, the omega…” Lara began.
“Jae. His name is Jae.”
