Page 18 of Forget me Knot
Chapter 10
Lily
Slamming the brakes on outside Forget Me Knot, I look at the clock on the dash. One minute past twelve.
“Shit!”
I hurriedly get out of the car and launch myself at the door, unlocking it and wedging it open before I reach around to flip the sign over. If the omega is lurking, I need her to see that I’m open and ready to hand over the goods.
Bustling through the shop to the back, I force Max Hamilton from my mind. I have bigger things to worry about right now than an arrogant alpha whose head seems to be stuck up his arse. Picking up the black velvet pouch with the perfume inside, I fiddle with it, hoping to fuck I didn’t miss the poor omega. I got stuck behind a tractor, and I swear they do it on purpose some days, just trundling along and not letting anyone past, even when you already crawled past three pull-over places.
I look up when someone enters the shop, my heart leaping but them plummeting. The dark-haired woman comes closer, almost hesitantly, and it makes me look twice.
It’s her.
She has dyed her hair black, which makes her look even more washed out and pale, but it is definitely different.
“Hi,” I say in as casual a tone as I can muster. “Sorry I was late back.”
“Huh?” she asks, her eyes darting all over.
“Nothing,” I murmur, happy that she wasn’t hanging around waiting for me and we were both running a bit late.
“Do you have it?” she whispers.
I hold up the pouch, and she nods.
“You don’t need to use a lot. Dab a bit on each wrist and behind your ears, and it will mask your scent for around a day, as long as you don’t shower or swim. Reapply, if you do.”
“Okay, thanks.” She reaches for it, and I let it go, wishing I could help some more.
I know I shouldn’t pry; most of me doesn’t even want to, but I know the fear she has in her eyes because I’ve had it, too. Before I can stop myself, I murmur, “If you need anything else,anythingat all, please text me or call.” I slowly pick up one of my business cards from the counter and hold it out to her.
She stumbles back, staring at the card like it’s a dead fish. But then her eyes meet mine, and maybe she recognises something inside me that she feels right now, and she snatches it from me. “Thanks,” she mumbles and rushes off. I watch her go with a pang of frustration and worry, but there’s not much I can do about it now. Exhaling deeply, I get back to work, re-organising the shelf of essential oils and making sure everything is in its right place, neat and tidy.
My thoughts wander to Jack, and I realise I miss him. I haven’t seen him today, and it feels like there is a hole in my day where he should be. This whole thing with Max has thrown me for a bit of a loop. I’m not sure what to think about Jack and Sam, who I’m attracted to and then Max, who I am most definitely not. It’s more than attraction with Jack. He is my safe space. My person who knows my dark secret and will keep it safe no matter what. Sam is fun and flirty and gives my heart a jumpstart, and he knows how to handle a ginormous cactus, as well as rescuing cats from trees and people from burning buildings.
“Ugh!” I groan, shoving my hands into my hair. Why, all of a sudden, am I thinking these things? A few days ago, I was happy-ish to go along as we were and now everything has changed. I want more.
Blinking, I know it’s not all that sudden. My heat is approaching, and it’s making me want things I shouldn’t want. I have about a month to sort out what I’m going to do because buddying up with Jack this time might not be the best idea if he isn’t all that into it.
With this decision weighing on me, I’m startled by a blur and the door to the shop shutting. Seeing black hair swinging, I wait as the omega flips the sign over and rushes over to the counter, ducking around me and then crouching down, her face against her knees as her entire body quivers, her small backpack jiggling on her back.
“Uhm,” I murmur.
“Please,” she whispers, her voice muffled by her denim-clad knees.
I’m about to ask, please what, when I see a man stroll past with an all too familiar bowler hat on. He pauses outside the shop and glares at the Closed sign. He cups his hands and peers in the window, clearly able to see me standing there like an absolute spade, wondering what the fuck is going on.
“Please,” she murmurs. “Please don’t let him in.”
“I won’t,” I murmur, but I have to do something. He can see me, for fuck’s sake. Wishing I could bend my knees and slink to the floor, but it is not an option right now.
The bowler hat man’s glare turns into a squint, like he’s trying to burn a hole through the glass. I offer him my best customer-service smile, which probably looks more like agrimace. He doesn’t budge. With his hands on the glass, he’s clearly not planning on leaving anytime soon.
Great. Just fucking great.
Somehow, I need to get rid of this man.
