Blizzards and Brews (Holiday Hollow Omegaverse)

Chapter 2

Chapter Two

Lindsay

W alking into Beatty’s house at the end of a long work day a few days later brought out a small sigh. It just didn’t have the same appeal as walking into my own place.

But thanks to my fuckboy ex… I no longer had one.

It had been a busy afternoon shift with Ollie and I was ready to relax and be alone. But that wasn’t my luck most days.

Not wanting to seem ungrateful, I fixed my face into an easy smile as I headed up the stairs. Just as my foot hit the bottom stair I heard voices drifting from the kitchen.

Biting back a sigh, I walked down the hall to join them, recognizing Summer's voice right away. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to talk to them. They were amazing people. I was just tapped out for today.

Both Beatty and Summer, her granddaughter and my friend, looked up at me. Summer’s smile brightened as I walked in and she gave a cute, little wave.

“Just getting off work?” She tucked her blonde hair behind her ear. It was hanging loose around her shoulders in beach waves. I always thought Summer was pretty, but she looked even more gorgeous. Now that she found her pack she was practically glowing.

“Yeah, I was on the afternoon shift today. Adam had something to do, so it was just me and Ollie. We definitely kept ourselves busy.”

“I'd like to say that I'm surprised a bar was that busy during the afternoon but with the food that you guys have, I can't blame them,” Summer grinned. “I could use some wings right about now.”

“Hell, I work at the only other diner in town and I get tired of what we've got,” Beatty said with a grin. “Sometimes Leander and I meet outside and swap plates.”

Both Summer and I cracked up, not at all surprised by Beatty's admission. I swear that woman could sweet talk the devil before he even realized what was happening. And Leander? The man looked like the devil but was sweet as pie, well, once you got to know him.

The phone rang in the house and Beatty rushed out of the room, leaving us alone.

Summer locked those blue eyes on me. “I heard you’re staying here with Beatty for a little bit,” she hedged. There was curiosity in her voice but also concern. “Are you okay, girl?”

It was nice to have a friend that wasn't just fishing for gossip. Sometimes in Holiday Hollow, it felt like sharing the tea was a way of life. Hell, I could appreciate it from the sidelines as well. It just hit a bit different when you were the topic of conversation, though.

I wasn't eager for this news to spread. It would end up right back at the bar and I’d have to answer more questions than I was willing to.

“Yes. I'm trying to keep it under wraps, though,” I admitted as I sat down next to her. “You know how the guys can get. We're practically family, they're a bit overprotective.”

“A bit?” Summer snorted. “And family?”

“What's that supposed to mean,” I laughed, shaking my head. “Why does everybody think that there's something more going on? It’s all platonic.”

“Oh, I have no doubt that there's not anything more going on, but I also know that it's probably due to stubbornness. Take it from someone who knows stubbornness. You can get in your own way and spend years regretting it.”

“This is just temporary,” I said, changing the subject right back to me staying at Beatty's and keeping it away from the guys. “I'm not sure what I'm going to do next, but I’ll figure it out. The breakup was… unexpected to say the least. I mean, I never thought he was going to be the one I'd spend the rest of my life with. He was just someone to spend time with. Turns out, I shouldn’t have trusted him at all.”

Summer's blue eyes softened and she reached over to give my hand a squeeze. I wasn't usually the touchy-feely type, but right now I kind of embraced it, letting my friend comfort me. It wasn't often that I let my walls down and I needed it in the worst way.

For some reason, sitting and chatting with Summer in Beatty's kitchen had me ready to tell it all. Though I kept some information to myself. She didn't need to know the depth of how much my ex fucked me over.

The truth was I’d come home after a shift one afternoon to find my entire house gone.

Everything besides the clothes on my back and whatever I had in my locker at work was completely gone.

How does an entire house full of worldly possessions disappear you ask?

Well, a few years after my parents passed I decided I couldn’t stay in that big house alone anymore, especially once I’d found out my designation. I’d sold it and bought a small piece of property and a perfectly designed tiny home just for me. I needed my space, and it allowed me that in spades.

Of course when Jason told me he needed a place to stay, I’d initially balked. We’d only been seeing each other for a couple months in what I thought was a tourist tryst, or as Janet liked to say, a Holiday Honey.

I was tired and fucking lonely and somehow he’d worn me down to where I agreed.

Two weeks after that, I was standing in an empty lot with a key leading to nowhere.

I’d reported it to the police and swore Hunter, our Sheriff and an old friend of mine, to secrecy. It wasn’t that I didn’t have money to rent a place, but as much as I loved my small town, I knew they’d all come out with their pitchforks if they knew someone had hurt one of their own.

I couldn’t have gone to the inn or else it would have spread like wildfire. So, here I was at Beatty’s licking my wounds and trying to find a solution.

If I didn’t adore running water and electricity I had half a mind to pitch a tent on my land.

But the truth of the matter was that I felt so fucking embarrassed it happened in the first place. I mean, I was Lindsay fucking Stone, level-headed beta and all around kick ass. I wasn’t a push over and I definitely wasn’t some cheap mark in a long con.

“You really should do something for yourself,” Summer said quietly. “I know when I was raising Theo by myself, things would get hard. There were nights I sat and just cried. Eventually, I had to remember that I was still a person. Your situation isn’t the same, but it is important you do more than just work and sleep. It gets monotonous and awful after a while. I don't know if you have any hidden hobbies or talents, but maybe embrace them. Either way, find something to indulge in a little.”

It was such a passionate speech that I blinked down at the table for a few moments before I answered.

“I don't know how long it's been since I've done something like that for myself,” I admitted. I ran my hand through my messy hair and let out a breath. How long had I been simply going through the motions?

I'd put my heart and soul into running the bar with the guys. They really were my family. Of course, my heart wanted more, but I knew it wasn’t right, so I never indulged in those fantasies for long.

It just felt like I was running from myself for so long. Somewhere along the way I’d convinced myself if I kept busy enough and never relaxed, I’d never find time to overthink.

Now, I was on a downward slope, unable to stop myself as I hurtled toward burnout or depression.

Never in my life had I hated being a beta. I was more than happy to not have to go through heats or face the constant, raging hormones.

A normal period was bad enough. No fucking thank you.

Unfortunately, being a beta meant that we didn't get the first pick of packs. Hell, sometimes betas didn't get a pack at all. The instincts and biological needs of alphas and omegas called out to each other. Male betas fit the pack lifestyle but female betas were an afterthought.

Most female omegas didn’t want another female in the mix. Who could blame them?

That little voice in my head started to speak up, to remind me that I knew what pack I wanted, but it was too painful to give that voice a chance. Instead, I shoved it away and put a small smile on my face, trying to lighten the conversation with a joke.

“Maybe I should take up crocheting or ax throwing. I've heard that can be cathartic.”

“Ooh! How about one of those rage rooms?” Summer said excitedly. “Don’t worry. We can find you something.”

Oh God, did I just make this a mission for her? I might be regretting this entire conversation.

“I’m sure I’ll figure it out,” I reassured her quickly, steering the conversation in a different direction. “Thanks for the talk, Summer. I needed that.”

“Well, I would have suggested going out to the bar for a girls’ night, but the guys and I just got some news and they’re a bit feral right now. I wouldn’t doubt it if Miller and Cole were casing the damn block as we speak.”

Her hand gently slid down her dress pressing it close and revealing the small bump there.

“Congratulations!” I exclaimed. “I knew you were glowing, but hot damn, mama. I didn’t expect y’all to be cooking another bun so soon.”

“Me either,” she admitted with a small blush. “But to tell you the truth, I’m kind of excited. I was on my own last time, and this is a totally different experience. The guys have been so amazing and even Theo is already talking about how he’s going to be the best big brother.”

“You deserve all the happiness,” I told her sincerely, already making a mental note to get with the girls to throw her an awesome shower.

She smiled before giving me a pointed look. “You do too, Lindsay. If I can handle coming back to Holiday Hollow and facing my fears, I’m sure a fierce woman like yourself can do the same.”

Beatty came back in and the two fell back into conversation but I couldn’t get Summer’s words out of my head.

I deserved happiness. I deserved fun.

And for Hollow's sake, I was going to find it.