tenants that the light came back into my life. Oh, they’ll come and go, but this house will always be a warm and safe place for someone to come home to.” She glanced back down at her cup. “I’m sure Riley would make your home a wonderful place to come home to.”
Brendan almost choked on a mouthful of tea.
“I always wondered if you had supernatural powers.”
She grinned at him. “Ah, there is something of the witch in me, perhaps. Or the matchmaker.”
“Then you approve of Riley and me?”
“Do you need my approval?”
“Let’s just say I trust your judgment. Maybe better than my own.”
“Well, I do know one thing. You danced around each other long enough.”
“I don’t recall doing any dancing—” he started to protest, pausing at the sharp look she threw his way.
“That weekend away you two went on? The second one that turned into almost a full week on vacation? And don’t tell me that was just as friends. We both know it was more than that.”
“Alright, yeah. We did play at being a couple long before we… but things are different now. But part of that is because we’re here. I’m worried changing that will change things between us. At the same time, I want—no, I need—things to change. Our relationship won’t grow if we don’t give it the space to.”
“And living here is a restraint, because of my rules.” As usual, Mrs. O’Brien hit the nail on the head.
“That’s it in a nutshell.”
“My rules are what they are to keep harmony in the house and to keep everyone safe. But they aren’t meant for situations like this, Brendan. That’s why I’m giving you notice to be out by the end of next month. It’s as much for your sake as it is for the rest of the residents.”
“You’re kicking us out?”
Brendan had already planned to hand in his notice, he’d just been working up the courage to take that step. But he and Riley hadn’t even talked about the next stage of the relationship…
“Riley is welcome to stay as long as he needs to. But as long as you and he are dating, it would be better, for both your sakes, if you returned home. Do you think you might be using living here as a crutch, a way to keep things between you and Riley from progressing like they would if you were living elsewhere?”
For an old woman who never seemed to take much interest in romance, she talked a lot of sense.
“You’re right on all counts. Living here is very safe, but love is about risks. If I don’t take some, I’ll end up a permanent bachelor.”
She smiled at him and patted his hand. “That’s not a terrible fate, if it’s what you want.”
“But it’s not what I want. The more time I spend with William and Beckett, the more I see that I want what they have. And Riley… he’s the first omega I’ve ever fallen head over heels for. But I want to do right by him. He hasn’t had a lot of people to rely on in his life. I don’t want him to feel trapped. I’m worried that he doesn’t know he has choices. How do I make sure he’s choosing me for the right reasons?”
Mrs. O’Brien gave his question some deliberation.
“First of all, you leave him here when you move out. That way, he has a safe place to come back to that doesn’t rely on you. I’ll let him know that I’m always here for him, no matter what. I’ve never thrown an omega out onto the street, and I’m not about to start now. The rest is up to you.”
“But how…”
“Show him how serious you are. Give him something to hold onto, something tangible. You can make the promise now and still not rush the process.”
“Then you don’t think proposing to him is a terrible idea?” He stuck his hand into his pocket and pulled out a box. “I picked it out last week. But I was worried about coming on too strong.”
Her smile told him she wasn’t surprised in the slightest.
“I suppose that depends on how you’re counting.”
He frowned at her. “Meaning what?”
“Well, are you measuring your relationship from the day you met in that alleyway, or from your first official ‘date?’ Do you know how Riley sees it?”
“I get it,” Brendan said. He showed her the ring, watching her eyes light up.
“Very beautiful,” she said quietly. “I’m certain he’ll love it.”
“I still don’t know how to