“Nerual’s going to have to carry him to the center.” Jenna laughed. “I’m predicting his water breaks behind the counter.”
Tara huffed a laugh.
“My car’s over there,” Keld interrupted. “The gold one.”
“Is that a Range Rover?” Jaeyong asked, eyes wide. “Wow. I thought Mer didn’t care about cars.”
Keld shrugged. “Most don’t. I like them.”
“Matches your scales,” Jenna commented. “I can’t decide if that’s cool or egotistical.”
“Why can’t it be both?” Keld unlocked the doors with a tap of the handle, then eased Grayson into the back seat. “If he seems like he’s going to hurl, yell at me. I donotwant to be cleaning vomit out of my nice upholstery.”
“ ’M not gonna puke,” Grayson mumbled.
“I’ll believe it when I see it,” Keld retorted. He shut the back door and slid into the driver’s seat. “Everyone buckled?”
A general mutter of affirmation rose from behind him.
“All of you live at Sandpiper Park, right?”
Another general grumble.
Keld glanced in the rearview mirror. “Would it kill you to speak? I didn’t have to offer to drive you all home.”
“Yes, we all live at Sandpiper Park,” Tara said. “Sorry. It was nice of you to drive us home, but it doesn’t exactly cancel out the whole bad date and alleyway kiss thing.”
Keld grunted. “Fair enough.”
The trip was brief—only about ten minutes—but the stubborn silence that permeated the cab of the vehicle made it feel much longer. Keld pulled into his usual parking space and went to retrieve the semi-conscious Grayson.
“Do any of you live in his building?” Keld asked, hauling the Omega into his arms with a grunt.
“No,” Jaeyong answered. “Aureli does, but he uh…”
“Is at a sleepover,” Tara supplied. “Grayson’s in apartment 604.”
Keld paused. The unit directly above his, this whole time…
“I’ll take you up,” Jenna said, though her tone made it clear this was more threat than kindness.
“Much appreciated,” Keld said. “Good night Tara, Jaeyong.”
“Yeah, night, uh…” Jaeyong had the decency to look embarrassed.
“Keld,” he supplied, barely suppressing an eye roll.
“Right. Keld. Uh. Thanks again.” The slight young man scuttled off, his blonde friend in tow.
Keld and Jenna walked, side by side, into building A. Jenna tapped the elevator button.
In Keld’s arms, Grayson groaned. “I’m never drinking prosecco again.”
“Sure you aren’t, babe,” Jenna said with a pat on his arm. “Let’s just get some water in you.”
Grayson let his head drop against Keld’s shoulder, nuzzling into the crook of the Alpha’s neck. Keld’s breath caught just as the elevator doors slid open. He followed Jenna in and tried to ignore the heat radiating from the drunk Omega’s face.
“Which floor are you on?” Jenna asked, breaking the silence that throttled the small space.
