Lessons in Love

Chapter 16: Awkward Run Ins

POV: Beta Ben Westlake

I practically skipped through the door to my parents’ house. I felt high. She had smiled at me, I thought stupidly. I had made her laugh on a day where she had gotten some pretty bad news – that wasn’t nothing, I reminded myself as I came to a screeching halt in the living room. Sam and Katherine were still there with my mother, all with serious, concerned faces.

“How is she?” Sam and Katherine stood up as I entered the room.

“She’s okay,” I tried to wipe the smile off my face.

“Did she call her family? Are they okay?” My mother asked.

I cleared my throat. “She wanted to call in privacy.” I said, trying to sound serious. “I gave her my number, though.” Oh sweet Goddess, I prayed, please don’t let me be smiling the way I think I am. I cleared my throat again, forcing my face into a frown. “She said she’d let me know.”

Everyone seemed to let out a pent-up breath. Sam and Katherine had clearly become close with Riley in the short time she’d been here. I chewed the inside of my mouth to keep from smiling at that. I liked the idea that my mate was so amiable.

“Well, we should let you get back to your day.” Sam said, and they said their goodbyes. My mother showed them out, and we headed for Sarah’s Place.

She linked her arm with mine as we made our way. “Are you going to lie to me if I ask you who Riley Campbell is to you?” She said quietly.

I looked around, but there was no one paying attention to us. A smile crossed my lips, and I felt my face turning red. “I don’t know what you mean, mother.”

She laughed at me. I felt lighter at the sound of it. It was rare that I got to hear my mother laugh like that. I didn’t begrudge that it was at my expense. “I’m nervous, and so is she. And dad …”

“Shhh,” my mother patted my arm. “Tell me what made you smile the way you did when you came into the house.” She demanded.

That foolish grin I’d been sporting came back instantly thinking of it. “I …” I was mortified to say it, and I raked my hand through my hair. “It’s nothing.” I gave my head a shake.

“Oh, it’s something.” She gave me a sidelong glance and slowed her pace. She was going to get an answer before we went into that building.

“I made her laugh.” My face felt like it was on fire. It was worth it, though. The way my mother’s eyes lit up at the simplicity of my happiness made my own smile broaden.

“You will make sure that she and I meet regularly.” My mother said. “I would like to offer her as much support as possible.” She gave me a look that told me that support wasn’t about my father’s curriculum but rather how to wade through the dangerous terrain he was building.

“I’ll keep a slot on your schedule open.” I promised.

POV: Riley Campbell

When he had brushed his hair back off his face, I thought I was going to die. How could such a simple thing have been so attractive. Also, that smile of his. It hadn’t been as joyful as the picture I had seen of him, but it wasn’t too far off. I had felt his happiness and excitement as he left. It was a feeling that stuck with him for about an hour and was followed by an hour of quiet rage. I figured he had been with his father then.

After hiding out for an hour, I ventured back out with Sam and Katherine. I gave them a lie about my aunt having a near death experience that seemed to hold up. We wandered off to the greenhouse where they were selling all kinds of plants and herbs. I gravitated to the herbs, trying desperately to figure out which ones matched Ben’s scent. I ended up buying a little of everything, though I was pretty sure the rosemary and thyme were the only ones I really needed.

“You like to cook?” Katherine asked as we left the greenhouse.

“Honestly, it’s not my favorite thing, but I love the smell.” I said as honestly as I could.

“Ms. Campbell,” a woman called out. I turned to find Ben and his mother approaching. Sweet Goddess, he looked good. “How are you, dear? You look much better.”

“I am. Thank you, ma’am.” I replied. “It was a near miss with my aunt. There was an electrical short in her shop.” I lied. Ben raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything.

“You two must be very close to have felt that so deeply.” She said. There was something in her smile that made me wonder if she knew I was lying.

“We are,” I said. At least I didn’t have to lie about that. “I spent my summers working for her. She makes lotions, soaps, teas, oils, anything with a floral smell, really.”

“Was there a flower in particular you worked with?” Ben asked and immediately blushed. He clearly didn’t recognize my scent. I completely understood and gripped the bag of herbs in my hands a little tighter.

“I worked with a lot of her ingredients, but I always loved working with roses, hydrangeas, and jasmine.” I smiled at him. He was smiling back. It was sweet until I realized how utterly awkward the whole scene was. If his mother wasn’t suspicious before, she was now. I turned my attention to the Luna. “You have beautiful hydrangeas in your front yard, by the way. They were sold out here today.”

“You will have to come for a visit this week and take some clippings home with you. Perhaps you could bring some of your aunt’s tea.”

“I would love that, thank you.” I said as they headed toward the greenhouse.

She and Ben went inside as Sam came up behind me.

“You want to talk about that?” Sam asked, raising an eyebrow at me. Katherine joined us after shooing her son off to chat with his friends.

I looked around in a panic. “Not really,” I said. “Was it that obvious?” Sam didn’t respond right away. He was too busy laughing at me.

“Very subtle.” Katherine was giggling, too.

I moved us away from the crowd gathering near the greenhouse. “Look, please don’t say anything. We haven’t exactly had a minute to discuss this.”

“What’s to discuss?” Sam shrugged.

“Ms. Campbell,” Alpha George’s voice was like nails on a chalkboard to me. “Planning the big clean up, are we?” He grinned, and I wanted to punch him in his fat face. Rick stood behind him, looking worn out already.

“I was just informing Sam that I had volunteered him to help clean up the high school.” Sam stiffened beside me. “It’s where the girls will go to school.” I informed him with a smile on my face.

“Of course,” Sam recovered quickly.

“I’m so glad you’re on board, Ms. Campbell.” He put a heavy hand on my shoulder, and it took everything I had not to grimace. He leaned in closer. “It is so important for women to know their place.” His breath was vile.

“Sir,” Rick stepped in quickly. “We should gather the Luna and Beta from inside.” He said flatly. George gave my shoulder a squeeze, but again, I didn’t react to it. It hurt like hell, but I wasn’t going to let him see it. “Sir, please.” Rick said evenly. George let me go, and they walked away.

I had smelled alcohol on George and suddenly connected the dots. The fearfulness in the poor Luna’s eyes was from her drunk husband. The quiet rage Ben experienced was probably a well-trained trauma response. A burst of elation cut through my thoughts, and I figured Ben had found the flower he was looking for. It hurt to know his father was going to disrupt that feeling.