Page 5 of Omega’s Oath

Chapter 3

Rose felt her heart thud in her chest at the sight of her old friend standing against his truck in her drive. She took Aide’s arm as she dropped her feet to the ground and faced him. She left her hand on his arm and felt his hand lightly on her back as she approached Harlan. She knew Aide was staking some kind of claim and it usually would have pissed her off but tonight she let it go, glad he was there and not sure why.

Harlan walked toward her slowly, his eyes moving over her, taking her in as she did the same. He’d aged. He still had thick, blond hair but it had more gray in it now and the wrinkles at his eyes were more pronounced. His once muscular frame was softer, but he was still fit, his height just a little over six feet.

“Harlan, what are you doing here?”

Rose saw irritation cross his face before it was gone, and he smiled, holding out his arms for her. “Is that any way to greet your oldest friend?”

Rose shook her head and laughed as she moved into his arms. His familiar scent reminded her of easier times when they’d hung out and shared all their secrets before life had gotten in the way and everything had changed. But they did change, and she wasn’t that person anymore.

“It’s good to see you, Harlan.”

He pulled back and his eyes moved behind her head. She knew he was taking in Aide and waiting for an introduction. Suddenly she had no idea how to describe the relationship they had. They were friends but also more than that, he had become vital to her in a way she’d never imagined. After the night they slept together, she’d been determined to lock him from her life but somehow Aide had got under her walls, working his way in, and proving he could be the friend she asked for.

Yet, the subtle changes in him and the way he was with her, had allowed hope for more to creep into her heart. Only her love for her child had kept her from making the mistake of thinking this time would be different, that he wouldn’t back away when things became more intimate.

Turning, she looked at Aide, noting the way he was watching Harlan with suspicion. “Harlan, this is my friend Aiden Jackson. Aide, this is my childhood friend Harlan Goodwin.”

The two men shook hands, the tension between them palpable until Harlan turned to her dismissing Aide. “I was in San Antonio for work and your sister said you lived here, so I thought I’d drop by and see if you wanted to catch up.”

Rose had no idea her sister was still in contact with Harlan, but she wasn’t surprised. Harlan had been their neighbor and her family still lived in the same house she’d grown up in.

“That would be great. How about we meet for lunch tomorrow, say around midday?”

Rose saw a flicker of disappointment on Harlan’s face and remembered from their childhood how he liked things his own way, but she wasn’t that girl anymore. She held her tongue and waited for him to answer.

“Yes, okay. Shall I pick you up?”

“I can meet you. How about Calgary on the river?”

“Yes, that sounds great.”

Harlan stood still as if waiting for something else before he nodded and leaned in to kiss her cheek. “See you tomorrow, Rosie.”

She ignored the nickname that she hated, and he insisted on using, and smiled. She watched him walk to his truck and get in before glancing back toward them and driving away.

Turning to Aide, she felt exhaustion suddenly overwhelm her. “Would you mind if we gave the movie a rain check? I’m suddenly exhausted.”

His warm brown eyes moved over her, softening in the light from her security lamp. His hand lifted and he moved a strand of hair from her cheek with a sweep of his finger. Rose let her eyes flutter closed at his touch, wanting something she wasn’t sure she could ever have. One encounter with him had ruined her for other men.

“Get some rest, my Rose, and I’ll call you tomorrow.”

He leaned in and she breathed in his scent, her heart fluttering like a butterfly. His lips touched her forehead softly and she fought the urge to lift her lips to his in invitation.

Instead, she pulled away and walked to her door, unlocking it, and stepping inside. Turning she gave him a slight wave as he watched, hands in his pockets, from where she’d left him. “Goodnight, Aide.”

“Night, Rose.”

Closing the door, she locked it and waited as she heard his truck pull away and headed to her bedroom, kicking off her shoes as she went. Placing the cake box, which was still in her hand, on her bed, she sat down and rubbed a hand over her bump.

“What a surprising day it’s been, my little one.” Her son chose that moment to shove his foot under her ribs and she laughed. “Hey, watch it, young man. I do have internal organs you know.”

The fluttering movements continued until he seemed to find a comfy position in the now cramped space. Her belly was stretched tight and she knew he still had growing to do in the last month.

Rose got ready for bed, sliding into an oversized man’s tee and leaving her legs bare. Taking a large glass of milk and the cupcakes, she moved to her bed and climbed in, leaning against the new V pillow Aide had bought her a few weeks ago when she’d been complaining about not being able to get comfortable.

As she flicked the TV on and settled in to watch Big Bang Theory re-runs, she noted that at every turn during her pregnancy Aide had been there offering support and asking for nothing in return. He’d changed, or had her attitude to him changed and was she now seeing what she wanted to be true?