Page 12 of Romancing the Omega

“Bennett told me you were a lawyer for a while. Why did you change careers? That’s a lot of time spent in school to choose a different path,” Yeo said.

Caden looked thoughtful. “I didn’t mind it at first. Law isn’t something I’m passionate about, but you don’t have to be passionate about your job, right? It made my father so happy.”

“I guess if your career is just a job, that works,” Yeo said. “Lots of people work to make money to survive.”

“Yeah,” Caden said. “With the firm, though, I worked sixty to eighty hours a week. It came to be that was all my life was. Then, I found something I really liked. Something that I love with every fiber of my being.”

“What is it? Bennett wouldn’t say.”

Caden blushed red. “I’ll tell you another time. Okay? It’s kind of embarrassing.”

“You don’t have to tell me a thing, Caden. Whenever you’re ready, I’m right here.” Yeo couldn’t help but wonder what kind of career would be embarrassing. He didn’t want to push. There was plenty he didn’t tell people.

“I will,” Caden said. “Soon. Anyway, when I found my real calling, working at the firm made me feel like I was being pushed into a tiny room that I couldn’t leave. It was suffocating.”

“I know what you mean,” Yeo said, sighing. “I’m glad you quit. How did your family handle it?”

“That’s why it took so long to leave. I thought my father and brother would hate me. I feel like such an idiot now. My whole family fully supports me in any way. I was just too caught up in my self-doubt to see it,” Caden said. “My father may have a habit of embarrassing me in front of you, but my mother and him love me.”

“I could tell he does,” Yeo said. “It’s obvious in how he looks at you. That is one proud papa.”

“When I made the announcement, it seemed natural to move here from Georgia. Carter, one of my brothers, lives here with his omega and daughter.”

“Are you two close?”

“Not really,” Caden said. “I thought the move would change something between us, but so far it hasn’t.” He shook his head.

“Hmm. Maybe you two need to spend more time together, get to know each other,” Yeo said.

“Maybe. What about you? What made you want to open a bookstore in rural Maine?” Caden’s eyes were warm, and Yeo wished he was sitting on his lap like Zoe had.

“I was the CEO of Cook Enterprises. They’re a big deal in the south,” Yeo said.

“I’ve heard of them,” Caden said. “That’s a big change. Really big.”

“I hated it,” Yeo said. “Every second of every day was a performance. Someone was always watching, so I had to act a certain way all the time. I could never be me. Hell, sometimes I don’t even think I know who Yeo is.”

“Why did you do it?” Caden moved to sit on the coffee table. He took Yeo’s hand in his.

“You wanted to please your family, right? For the longest time, that’s all I wanted. I wanted my grandpa and dad to be proud of me, to not regret me. If it took pretending like I wasn’t an omega, marrying a woman I hated, and working at a company I abhorred, that wasn’t important,” Yeo said.

“What changed? With me, it took being at my lowest and having the support of some good friends,” Caden said.

“Summer happened,” Yeo said. He watched his sister talk to a costumer at the register. “My parents couldn’t accept who she is. They signed custody of her over to me, but my dad couldn’t take it. The way it looked to other people. He fired and disowned me, my wife divorced me, and I finally, finally, got to be free. Lord those were the best things to ever happen to me. I wish I had been strong enough to leave earlier,” Yeo said.

“Your father is an idiot. I heard a lot of things about that company, and they were all good.”

Yeo grinned. “They are having some problems adjusting. I don’t regret leaving, though. I got a top notch severance package and this place. You have no idea how much I love this place.”

Caden smile was lopsided. “I can guess.”

“You’re already here,” Grey said, running through the door. “It’s book club time.” The omega waved a worn copy of the Roxanne Baxter novel. He stopped moving and stared wide-eyed at Caden’s face. “Holy shit! You’re smiling.”

“Uh oh,” another omega said, following Grey over to their corner. This one was blond and very pretty. Yeo fought his urge to growl at the man when he put his hand on Caden’s shoulder. “Were we supposed to bring gifts for the host? I didn’t bring anything.”

A third omega pushed the blond away from Caden. “Seriously, Abel? That’s Caden’s omega.”

“Oh,” Abel said, sending Yeo a devious look. “I see how it is.”

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