“Of course,” Eli stepped inside with a sheepish smile. “Sorry it’s kind of a mess.”
It wasn’t, really. It was only cluttered in the way that meant someone did real work in here. Supposedly Eli was writing a book based on his research, which was cool as hell.
Another ideal omega in Ash’s orbit, although maybe not in the way people expected.
“You doing okay?” Eli asked. “You’ve been quiet. Spencer too. Maybe I’m lacking in my hosting duties.”
Ash rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. “Just an off day. It’s not you.”
Eli nodded thoughtfully. Then he froze, inhaling a short breath. His cheeks flushed a brighter pink. “Um, Ash? You smell a little like … marshmallows.”
It was Ash’s turn to freeze. He’d been off and on emitting a faint scent all week, and Ryder had been dousing him up in his stronger pheromones to cover it up. But Ash had just dipped in the pool before coming inside, and then he’d gotten all workedup with Spencer in the kitchen, and Ryder hadn’t reapplied before he’d left.
Eli held up his hands. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“No. It’s fine.” Ash cleared his throat. He could make up a lie here, something about some omega he was dating. But it seemed shitty to lie outright to someone who’d been nothing but kind to him. “I’m … presenting. Kinda slowly and weirdly, but … yeah.”
Eli’s eyes widened. “As an omega?”
Ash nodded.
Eli beamed. “Oh, Ash. That’s amazing.”
See? Eli was fuckingnice. Nice and super smart and not a total emotionally stunted mess. A perfect fit for Noah, who was also nice and smart and not a mess.
Oh fuck. What was his big brother going to say when he found out how terribly Ash had handled all this? Just like that, Ash panicked again. “You can’t tell Noah,” he blurted out.
Eli blinked brown eyes at Ash, seemingly taken aback by the command. “I can’t?”
“I’m not—I just want it to be … settled first. It’s been confusing and … emotional. And I want to figure it out on my own before I have to go all public.”
“Ah.” Eli twisted his hands as he studied Ash’s face. “But you have help, right? You’re not doing it totally alone?”
“Yeah. I have … help.”
“Okay.” Eli let out a relieved breath, although his fingers were still locked tightly. “Then, of course. My lips are sealed.”
Ash gave him a skeptical look. “Really? Just like that?”
Eli looked almost affronted by the question. “Ash, it’syourpheromones.Yourpresentation. I love your brother, and I think he would be a good ear here if you’d let him, but it’s your decision one hundred percent. No one should tell you otherwise.”
Something loosened in Ash’s chest, something tight and terrible that had been plaguing him for weeks. He knew he wasn’t making the most clearheaded choices in the world, but it still felt good for someone else to acknowledge they werehisfuzzy-headed choices to make. Someone who’d been through some version of this, who knew on some level where Ash was coming from.
“Thank you.”
Eli took another breath and made a face. “But you might want to head out, or at least get another dose of Ryder’s pheromones. Otherwise, it might not stay secret for long.”
Two peoplenow had told Ash he should get out of here.
He should. Hewould. He just needed another dip in the pool first, and a little time to figure out how to get Spencer to leave with them.
Liz and Faith had given Ash and Ryder a ride here, but that didn’t mean Ash and Ryderhadto go back with them, right?
Ash stepped outside in a daze. The sun was blazing, hotter than it should be for October—two seconds outside and sweat was already dripping down Ash’s chest.
He shielded his eyes with one hand. Spencer was over with Chase and Killian, trying to talk them into a game of chicken, judging by the big, elaborate hand gestures he was making. Chase looked fond—as much as anyone could tell under the shadow of his baseball cap—while Killian looked equal parts annoyed and fascinated, like Spencer was an enigma and a nightmare rolled into one.
Or maybe that was just the age difference coming into effect. What waswiththese guys and dating professors? Spencer betternot try it. Ash would … he didn’t know what he’d do. Bite him, probably. Bite every-fucking-one, just to be extra sure. Ash’s gums almost itched just thinking about it. His gums and his skin. God, he wanted to take these trunks off. But no, that wasn’t—that wouldn’t be good.
