Between feeling physically healthier than I ever have in my life, maintaining a job and savings, setting goals that stretch beyond basic survival, and starting business classes at the local community college, my confidence has been boosted to some degree. Which apparently means I’m going to let my pessimistic, skeptical, generally asshole-ish personality slip out.
While that normally wouldn’t bother me because I don’t want or need friends, or anyone else for that matter, I feel like letting this side of me show to the two asshats staring at me slackjawed and in shock was not a good idea.
“What did you say?” Kyle asks after what feels like an eternity.
I blink and cross my arms against my chest. “What, you’re an idiotandcan’t hear? Or are you just so stupid that I have to repeat myself until you understand the words coming out of my mouth?”
When I was a kid, the expression that is currently twisting Kyle’s face into what can only be described as the embodiment of rage would have terrified me, right now, adult Octavian is only kind of scared, and extremely annoyed.
And that has to be the only reason why I reach under the counter, grab a children’s menu, a three pack of crayons, and proceed to literally spell out what I said. Otherwise, I’m having an out of body experience and am seconds from watching my own murder.
“Kassie,” the male growls through clenched teeth. “You want him, so I won’t kill him, but I need–”
“It’s fine.” The female places her hand on her brother’s shoulder then reaches for the red crayon with the other. “He’s just playing hard to get, and I like that.” I watch her scribble a few numbers down on the newspaper and set the waxy art supply down. “He’ll come around, and when he does, we canbothhave him.”
Because apparently I now have a death wish, I gag, literallygagwithout even trying, then grab the paper, wad it up, and throw it in the trash.
Kassie gives me a rather evil grin as she pulls Kyle from the counter and starts leading him toward the door. “See you soon, Octavian.”
The second they exit, all the air whooshes from my lungs and my entire body sags against the display case.
I am a dead omega walking.
Living on borrowed time.
I never thought I’d make it to this adulthood let alone this age, it’s not surprising that I managed to manifest a premature death for myself by believing it for so many years, and right as things started to look promising, too.
I pull the sleeve of my hoodie down over my hand and press it to the glass, swiping it back and forth over the thick layer of dirt until there’s a clear view into the abandoned store.
Just a couple thousand dollars more and this place could be mine.
It will be mine.
I’m going to make sure it’s mine no matter how many hours I have to work at the coffee shop. I’m already so close I can practically smell the must and decay behind the window I’m staring into.
I don’t believe in love, not really. Not the kind between mates who share bonds or whatever. Jerome was the only person who came close to convincing me it was real but I never saw him with his pack for more than a few minutes at a time, so that didn’t really do it for me.
I think I’m probably too jaded and scarred to buy into the gimmick of ahappily ever after,and I think forever with someone who doesn’t irritate the piss out of you is a joke.
Love is bullshit, a tool used to cover insecurity and flaws, and bonds are just as much of a myth as Bigfoot or the Boogie Man.
I don’t believe in love, not that kind of love, but I do think it’s possible for someone to experience a version of love at first sight.
I did when I saw this rundown, abandoned building.
It’s across the street from the coffee shop I work at and it’s been for sale longer than I’ve been alive. The building isn’t much to look at when you first see it, but the potential for greatness is there, and I plan on bringing it to fruition.
It used to be the general store when this town was founded and the only reason it’s still here is because it’s attached to the opera house that’s just as old, and the historical society managed to save both as local landmarks.
You can tell it was built in the late 1800s.
The brickwork is solid, the moulding is gorgeous, and the layout makes me feel like a bunch of ranchers and cowboys are going to pass through at any second. There’s still one of those posts they used to tie their horses to next to an ancient watering trough that’s miraculously still standing.
This little block of Pine City makes Minnesota feel like the Wild West and while I have no idea why I’m so drawn to it, I am. And I’m going to turn it into the biggest music store this city has ever seen.
I lean in as close as I can, looking back and forth inside the small clearing on the dirty glass, trying not to smash my face against it while getting a good look inside. Considering I closed the shop and it’s now midnight, I can’t see much, but I don’t have to.
I can picture exactly how88 Keysis going to look, how the entire store will be set up, and it is absolutely love at first sight, even if it is just in my mind’s eye.