18. Locke

Chapter eighteen

Locke

We’ve been everywhere. I’ve seen the jams, the cakes, the knitting, the embroidery. Everyone has been up in our faces, talking to us, talking to Finn. It’s a perfectly quaint little town, and it would be absolutely charming, but for one glaring issue.

The distinct coldness everyone is showing Bray is getting on my nerves. They don’t talk to him, their eyes wash over him like he’s not even there. When he speaks, it’s like an icy chill descends.

I chew the inside of my cheek as I watch. Despite Bray’s situation, I’m not sure who has it worse. I’m adored by millions of strangers, but everyone I know hates me, but Bray has no one. He is an island of one.

Even the women who claim to have fucked him look at him with lust, desire, and a potent combination of derision and condescension.

Erin’s talking quietly with Shane. She turns and gestures for us. I smile and then reach out and tangle my fingers in Bray’s. He looks at me and then around at the people who are watching us, but I just smile wider and confidently cross the road.

“I ordered thick shakes,” Erin says with a wink in my direction.

Flashes of last night slam into me, leaving me overheated and desperate to drag her off and repeat the experience.

Finn laughs at something a tall guy says with a mass of straw-coloured hair and turns to us. “Guys, this is Doctor Wade James.”

He smiles, and it touches his distracted eyes. He’s a tall man, dressed haphazardly, and he looks awkward, and I wonder if he feels as awkward without his doctor’s stuff as I feel without my guitar.

“Locke.”

I wait for the recognition, but it never comes. He just bobs his head, says hello, mumbles something, and then abruptly turns and leaves. I think this town might be the only place on Earth that hasn’t heard of Locke Raines.

“He’s nervous around people when he’s not being a doctor. I swear, when you see him in action, you’ll understand,” Finn says with a shrug of his shoulders.

Finn leads the way to a small table and chairs set up under an umbrella. Bray sits down, and because there are only four seats, I sit on his thigh. When a woman walks past and gives us a filthy look, I just wink at her and stroke Bray’s chest with one finger. She hurries away, her eyes averted.

“This town is amazing,” Erin says in awe. I wonder if she, like I, is experiencing a slightly less enthusiastic version of amazing.

“You should see it when it’s not like this. It is the most peaceful place on earth.” Finn smiles as he gets lost in memory, and it makes me wish I could see it like that. I shift uncomfortably.

I’m not staying. I can’t stay.

We’ve talked about this. I have to go back. They know that, right? This isn’t forever, this is just fun times. Why am I forgetting? Why has this whole day had me looking for a future I can’t have?

The shakes are placed on the table.

“Thanks, Holly.”

Holly looks to be mid-thirties with rosy cheeks and dimples. She smiles at Finn, but her blush goes deeper when she looks at Shane, and I realise someone has a crush.

I want to tease the big alpha, but I don’t even think he realises. Erin and I exchange a look and then deliberately drop our eyes. A silent agreement.

As always, we’re on the same page.

I swear there is something spiritual about our connection. Something deeper.

I might go the rest of my life and never see her again.

That thought leaves me weak.

Live an entire lifetime and never see Erin? No, there has to be some way around it. Something…the familiar vice around my ribs clamps down, stealing my ability to breathe, but then I feel warmth against my back, a hard hand on my thighs, and mint fills my senses.

“Breathe, you sexy little thing,” Bray whispers in my ear.

I inhale.

“Good boy. Now, do it again.”

I inhale again and exhale roughly.

His hands stroke in circles, getting closer and closer to where I suddenly have a very hard problem.

Erin’s sitting beside me, so when she lifts her thick shake, pausing to stir it with a spoon while she’s listening intently to Shane, she’s not paying attention. But I am.

I get a whiff of banana and frown.

She moves the glass and the straw towards her lips. I frown. Something is bugging me, but I can’t think properly.

And then I remember.

I lunge forward and snatch the drink out of her hands. She whirls, her eyes wide and shocked as I growl and dump the contents on the ground.

“Locke?”

“You’re allergic to bananas!”

She nods. “I am aware of that.”

“Did you order a banana thick shake?”

Her mouth opens, and she looks at the glass like it’s a snake. “No, I ordered vanilla.”

“What the fuck!” Bray snaps. His aggression feeds mine, and I bounce up and turn to him, leaning into him.

“They could have killed her,” I snarl.

“I’ll-” Brays starts, but Finn cuts him off.

“I’ll take care of it, Bray.” Finn stands up and straightens his shirt.

“Nah, we’ve played your way. Let me handle it,” Bray growls and takes two steps when Finn stops him with a hand to his chest.

“No!” Finn snaps. “I’ll talk to her. I know Holly. She would never have done this on purpose.”

“Finn,” Bray growls and steps around him.

Finn jumps back in front and holds up his hand. “I’ll deal with it.” His voice is firm and unmovable.

I hold out the empty glass to him. He hesitates and then shakes his head. “I’ve never seen this happen before. I didn’t even know we sold banana thick shakes.”

I lean against Bray, feeling the rigid anger that has made all those hard muscles tight. I turn and bury my face in his shoulder. Second by second, he relaxes, and his arms wrap around me.

I exhale happily.

“Nice save, Omega.”

His deep, purred whisper goes straight to my soul and sings there. I could write an entire album about Bray. I do not understand this town at all. He’s incredible. Funny, charming, witty, protective, gorgeous.

When Finn comes back, he’s frowning and ushers us to stand up.

“Holly is freaking out because she doesn't know what happened,” Finn murmurs. “I told her it’s not her fault.”

“What?” Shane growls. He glances at Erin, who has remained silent, her deep brown eyes watching everything that plays out.

“Well, her ticket says four thick shakes. She doesn’t know where the fifth came from, but a couple of people saw a girl working there for a few minutes. It wasn’t Holly’s fault.”

“At some point, Finn, you need to stop excusing the asshole things these people do.”

“They don’t do asshole things, that’s all you, Brayson,” Finn growls back.

I give Finn a long look because I’m starting to think his blindness towards the townspeople is unintentional. “Your town is strange.” And I’m not sure how I feel about all this, especially the way it all appears. I’m not ready yet to get in between this war between the town and Bray, but I already know what side I’m coming down on.

“Yeah, this is a new level of strange. So, let’s go to the diner. We can have dinner and then head back to my place.”

“Sounds like a good plan,” Shane says in his deep voice. He glances between the four of us before finally settling his gaze on me.

He reaches up and strokes his beard, and I get a sense that he sees more than he’s letting on.

I get a look at Holly, red-faced, weeping, and peering at him hopefully. Maybe it was an accident.

Sorry, sweetheart, but he’s mine.

I frown and struggle out of Bray’s arms. He doesn’t let me go far, snagging my fingers and gluing himself to my side.

I hate people touching me. I hate it.

Why do I love this man being all up in my space?

When I get confused, all I want to do is get my fingers on strings or keys.

I could play until the world makes sense again. I could sing until all the confusion in my world fades away.

Bray glances at me in concern. “Are you all right?”

“Yeah, why?”

“You’re tapping my hand.”

I look down and jerk my head up, swallowing hard. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Bray murmurs. “When I’m in my head, I need a wrench or a spanner in my hands and an engine in front of me.”

I exhale. Of course, he wouldn’t think I’m weird.

“It's hard not to be all musical. All I know is music. It’s all I do.”

“So, you’re some big shot superstar? Are you famous?”

Is he teasing me? Does he know? No, there’s only open curiosity on his face.

“I do okay,” I say evasively.

Bray snorts. “I’d love to hear you play.”

I brush our upper arms together and slow down. He slows with me, and when I stop; he turns to face me.

His other hand lifts and cups my cheek, his thumb drawing over my bottom lip.

“You don’t need to worry. We will look after you, Locke. Shane and Finn are the best of people.”

I find it weird that he says that after how they have treated him.

“I’m not worried.”

He leans down and touches his lips to mine. I swear my soul jumps inside my skin.

“Everything is going to be okay. Whatever it is, it will work out.”

“Has it worked out for you?”

Bray smiles. “I thought it was never going to work out, but then the bus rolled into town, and this incredible alpha and this stunning omega stepped off, and I kinda think maybe my life may have changed.”

I close my eyes. “I’m not staying.”

“Better to have loved and lost,” Bray says softly. “Let me love you, Locke. Just for a little while, and if you need to go, I’ll let you go.”

My throat is so tight I might never be able to speak again. I jerk my head in a nod.

“Good. Come on, I think Finn is dying to feed you. He’s a feeder. It’s the answer to all the problems of the world.”

I snort a laugh and let Bray drag me across the street, but right before I enter the door, I look back, and I think I see someone staring at me. They don’t look familiar, but the way they stare at me is so violent, so angry, that I shiver.

I don’t know them, I think defensively.

But then Bray pulls me into the diner, and I’m lost to the smells of roast pork and gravy.

When I look up, Finn, Shane, and Erin are smiling, with two seats waiting for us.

Bray is right. Getting off that bus has changed my life forever.

We’re at Destiny’s, where we’ve been for hours. It’s late and most people have headed home. Finn is behind the bar cleaning up. Shane is leaning his chair up against the wall, watching Erin.

She’s standing in the middle of the dance floor dancing. She’s alone. Her eyes are closed, but she moves like she has no bones. Erin dances like it’s the only thing she wants to do.

Bray stands up and wanders over to her, pulling her hips up against his, and the way they dance is almost sinful. It’s a slow bump and grind of pure intensity. Heat licks up under my skin.

I get up and wander towards the stage. There’s a guitar up there. It’s been calling my name for hours. I surrender to the urge and pick it up. I sit down on the edge of the stage, strumming it until I like the sound I hear.

The song I play isn’t a song that is one of mine. It’s one of Ryn’s. She’s a genius songwriter. If only she could have been able to sing them herself. It’s a song of finding a lover and not being able to be with them. This song is special, and it’s a new one. It's a slow-build melody that circles up and suits my voice range perfectly.

I sing this song now. For these people that I really like. That are breaking apart my world.

The stragglers in the bar watch intently. Some wiping tears from their eyes.

But I don’t pay attention to them. As I get to the end of the song and my voice fades, I look up and find Finn with his hand raised in the air. He’s frozen. Erin is swiping at her eyes, but she smiles so widely it’s blinding. Bray stares at me, his eyes dark, his face a mask.

I don’t know what he’s thinking, so I look away and find Shane.

He’s got his face in his enormous hands and is doubled over himself.

I set the guitar back and move towards Shane, but he gets up and walks out. I chase after him.

“Shane?”

He stops dead, but otherwise, doesn’t turn.

“Did I do something wrong?”

He shudders.

“My book didn’t flop. Everyone thinks that’s why I’m out here. Because my book did so badly I needed to run away and hide. But it didn’t. Not at first. But then they said it was too cynical, too jaded, there was no light.”

I edge closer.

“I met someone. I thought I was in love with her. We were going to get married and bond with each other and…” Shane laughs bitterly. “She found her scent match, and she left me. One random day in the street, she walked past an alpha who was her everything. But I was so angry, so hurt. I couldn’t understand it. How can you fall in love with a stranger you pass on the street? I was a real jerk to her. I didn’t make it easy for her to leave me.”

I wait because I don’t understand.

“I get it, that’s why I’m so upset. That’s what your song did. I finally understand why she left me. I would have done the same thing if I met you.” He whirls and picks me up, walking me back until I’m pressed against the wall. “I should have waited. I can’t believe I almost threw this away. But this…being out here with population 320, it’s my punishment. You’re not supposed to come in like magic and reward me when I’m trying to suffer.”

“Shane!” I moan as he nuzzles my throat.

“I came here because I was angry. I was so angry, and I hated the person I’d become. Locke, I was so bitter, drinking all the time.” He says the words against my skin, causing me to break out in goosebumps. “The books and fame meant nothing with no one to share it with. I was so empty and furious that I had built this entire life for her, and she threw it back in my face. The words I said, I couldn’t find a way to unsay them, even when I wanted to. I made her feel guilty for choosing him.”

Shane pulls back. He’s breathing hard. But I’m not scared.

“And then I met you. And I can feel lightness and emotions I thought I’d forgotten. I understand her, and I’m so fucking ashamed of myself. Because you aren’t a choice. There’s no choosing you, Locke. I am yours. Forever. No questions. That’s what I finally have been able to grasp and comprehend.”

“Shane…”

“And that music, you have more talent than anyone I’ve ever met in my life. Locke, you are my miracle. I’m talking too much, and I probably don’t make sense. But it’s like hearing you brought me back to life. You’re giving me back words.”

I don’t let him speak anymore. I seal my lips to his and hold onto him. The kiss is slow and passionate. He tastes like the beer he drank and pine. He doesn’t even seem to be getting tired of holding me, and I’m okay to stay here forever.

“You are perfect,” Shane whispers and kisses me again. “So perfect. I’m sorry for almost losing you.”

I can’t help but think it’s not me that’s perfect but him.

And he’s already lost me, he just doesn’t know it yet.