Blizzards and Brews (Holiday Hollow Omegaverse)

Chapter 16

Chapter Sixteen

Lindsay

I ndulging in Ollie’s bath was everything I needed, especially since he had all the good products and the tub was literally almost the size of a hot tub.

Of course, I ended up finding some of the whipped marshmallow body butter that he preferred and using way more than the specified amount. It was the closest thing I’d ever found that mimicked his natural scent and I loved that he still used it after all these years.

One of my close friend’s Claire, swore by the omega run brand, and I had splurged and gotten some for Ollie on his twenty-first birthday. Even a decade later, he still had it.

There was so much history between us and yet, all of this felt new and scary. Also exciting if I didn’t think too hard about all of the things that could go wrong or the eventual heartbreak I might face.

But, I was a woman of my word and it was clear that they weren’t going to let me run anymore and the truth is, I didn’t want to. I’d spent almost half my life now denying who they are to me, and even if it was just a brief moment, I wanted to enjoy it.

I looked in the guest bedroom I usually used but couldn’t find my backpack, so I ended up taking a t-shirt and a pair of boxers from Ollie’s room before throwing my hair up in a towel and heading down stairs.

“Does anyone know where my bag is?” I asked.

To my surprise all of them were working in tandem, Adam and Dustin were putting away groceries while Spencer and Ollie were making plates of eggs and toast.

“We put it in your room,” Ollie said. “Do you mind grabbing drinks for everyone while we finish cooking and putting up the delivery? I can show you after.”

“I need to get some real food in you and Ollie,” Spencer said, holding out a hand for me. “It's too close post heat and from not seeing you last night and the stress of this morning, I’m feeling a little out of sorts.”

Adam grunted. “What he said.”

My eyes widened. Dustin passed me a carton of pineapple orange banana juice with a wink and whisper. “Just think of what they can accomplish when they work toward a common goal.”

Yep, my mind went exactly to the gutter and there was no hiding the flush on my cheeks.

“Was that bath a little warm, Linds?”

“Oh shut it and take your cute, little lip ring out of here,” I said, gathering glasses and taking them to the table.

In no time at all we had fed our faces. It was the quietest we’d been in a long time but it was comfortable silence.

It was too easy being with them and Spencer fit right in with us. I had to hush that voice in my head saying this would be temporary and simply embraced the moment.

With my stomach full and the kitchen warm, I was having a hard time staying awake. Finally, Ollie took pity on me.

“Come on, let’s go see your room,” he said gently. Dustin helped me to my feet and I slid my hand in Ollie’s. He pulled me close and leaned in, brushing his nose over my neck. “You smell like me. And you’re in my clothes.”

He let out a little rumble of satisfaction and walked with a bit more enthusiasm as we headed upstairs. Instead of going to my usual room, he pushed open the empty room across the hall.

Only it wasn’t empty.

It was an oasis.

Not just any oasis, but one tailor-made for me.

“Ollie,” I breathed out as I stepped inside. One thing I appreciated about the triplets was that they always stuck with locally-made furniture and it was no different here. The unique deep, dark wood pieces accented all the green perfectly.

“Green has always been your favorite color,” he said in a quiet, happy tone. “Remember that one time we went to the botanical garden and they had that greenhouse pathway we kept walking around in? I used that as my muse.”

“I thought of that immediately,” I said, the memory replaying as I spun under the canopy of vines he’d draped across the four poster bed and over to the window.

The bed looked heavenly with soft, fluffy pillows and comforter. Everything in here was a mix of dark green, browns, and gray. It was the epitome of cozy comfort.

The wall of plants had me turning an amused look at him. He smiled sheepishly at me.

“I haven’t killed one since you taught me,” he said proudly.

“I love it, Ollie… this is,” I couldn’t find the words but he didn’t mind. He came over and put his arms around me, his chin resting on my shoulder as I studied the plants.

“It’s what you deserve,” he said before pointing at a plant. “I got this one after we threw that Halloween event at the bar.”

“Where is this one from?” I asked, warmth filling me at what he had done. Ollie never did things by halves. He had a memory associated with each one, memorializing them into something tangible that we could look back on. It was so uniquely Ollie.

“The succulent was from the summer we had that obsession with signature drinks.”

I barked out a laugh at the reminder.

“Remember ‘the hollow’? God that one was good,” I mused.

“But the one Dustin made, the green one? It was so sour we had everyone making faces all night,” he said, laughing along with me. “We should have taken pictures and done a picture wall.”

“We should. There’s always some new Holiday Hollow tradition rolling through, it won’t be the last crazy adventure we have as bar owners in an adorably psychotic town.”

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Ollie said as he nuzzled into my neck. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Me, too,” I admitted. My voice was quiet and I felt him still before giving me an extra squeeze.

Neither of us wanted to break that moment so in a hushed voice he told me the stories behind each one, his soft, hoarse voice filling my senses and easing my mind. By the time he finished, I was more relaxed than I’d felt in a long time.

“We’ve got an audience,” Ollie said, letting me go so I could turn around. Adam, Dustin, and Spencer were leaning against the door frame and smiling softly. They were a sight and my chest warmed as I took in my pack.

Mine.

Finally, my brain was starting to accept the idea and I refused to burst that bubble with logic. At least not in this amazing moment.

“Let me brush your hair,” Adam said, grabbing my brush out of my bag and sitting on the bed.

“What?” I asked, cocking my head to the side. Did this grown-ass alpha just ask to brush my hair?

And why did I love the idea so much?

“Just sit,” he groaned, rolling his eyes. “I need to take care of you.”

There was a desperate edge to his voice that had me going over and sitting in front of him, facing away so he had access to my hair.

“Be gentle, if you haven’t done it before,” Spencer said quietly. “Do you use leave in, angel?”

“I need to pick up some. More omega sister knowledge?” I teased.

He nodded, giving me one of his signature winks. “Yes, and you learn fast if you don’t take your time to work out the knots. Gripping the hair above a knot as you work it out also helps.”

“Thanks,” Adam said. His voice was amused more than exasperated and I loved that he was willing to be open to advice from the other alpha.

They were the two sides of the alpha coin. One fiercely protective and a bit possessive, the other cool and confident.

The first strokes of the brush through my hair had my eyes rolling back. Spencer gave Adam a few pointers then left the room along with the others, giving us a moment alone.

“I really wasn’t trying to keep you guys out. I just didn’t know how to admit that I’d let my life get so fucked up,” I admitted quietly.

“We know,” he reassured me, his hand coming to rest on my shoulder. “I was scared, firefly. More than I’ve felt in a really long time.”

“I also hate that I just let you expect me to run. It was always self-preservation, knowing you’d find an omega one day.”

“We made it clear what we wanted but we couldn’t force you to see it. Dealing with Ollie’s emotions is enough for me. I love how protective and fiery you are. That you don’t take anyone’s shit, even ours. You’ve always been it for me, I’m just happy that you’re seeing that now,” he said as he gently worked out the last knot. I expected him to stop then but he continued to stroke through my wet hair, offering quiet reassurances.

Even I could admit it was nice to hear that I was enough for them.

That was all I ever wanted to be.

“This is really nice,” I admitted, looking up at him.

“This is the beginning, firefly,” he said, his thumb ghosting over the bottom of my lip. “We’re going to court the hell out of you. Just like we’ve wanted to all along.”

The tension between us was insane and all I could do was remain captured in his sapphire gaze.

My eyes drifted shut as his thumb dragged tenderly across my skin and I soaked in his bitter and sweet caramel scent.

“You need rest,” he finally declared after I’d nearly toppled to the side. I was exhausted.

Adam moved, picking me up off the floor and settling me on the bed then covering me up.

“You know where to find us if you need us,” he said with a gentle kiss. I couldn’t even open my eyes to respond.

Yet the moment the door closed and I was alone, it was as if my body and mind refused to cooperate and give me the sweet relief of sleep.

After an hour of tossing and turning I gave up and padded down the hall. I heard movement in Dustin’s room and didn’t bother to knock as I pushed the door open.

He was sitting against the headboard in just his boxers, his guitar strung against his lap. The moment he saw me his lips turned up into a smile and he beckoned me over.

“If you think I’m turning down naptime cuddles you’re delusional,” he laughed, watching as I crawled into bed before setting his instrument aside, clicking off the light, and sliding under the covers with me. He yanked me closer and wrapped me in his arms, both of us sighing at the same time.

“It’s been awhile since you’ve played for me,” I said with a yawn.

“Soon. But we need rest first,” he murmured in a sleepy voice. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“Me too.”