I hear footsteps and another pause. "Oh fucking hell, Dels, not again."
The linen cupboard door swings open. Loz squats down, a silhouette shrouded in brightness, and reaches out to me—but pauses before she touches me.
"Are you okay, babes?"
I wince at the blinding light.
I nod, shrinking back, blocking the light with my hand. She squeezes her way into the cupboard next to me and wraps her arm around me. A small sob escapes.
"No you are fucking not, babes. Don't you fucking dare lie to me. It stinks like a fucking fire in a florist's in here." Her voice is a low murmur. She brushes my hair from my face.
I let out a shuddering sigh. "Not really." My voice is barely a squeak.
"Was it those fuckers from last night?" Her voice holds a hint of a warning growl.
My shoulders hunch as I curl into myself. "Yes. No. Kind of? It's kind of a long story." My voice is thick. It hurts to talk.
"Fucking North Shore prick. I should have fucking known," she mutters under her breath. I snort.
"I swear, Loz, it's not their fault. They didn't hurt me on purpose."
She scoffs. "But you're still fucking hurt, babes. I don't fucking care if it's on purpose or not, I'm gonna kick their arses."
A hint of a smile drifts over my lips. Loz sighs. "So. Men suck. It's official. So do you wanna stay here, in the bottom shelf of your fucking linen cupboard that would give the fire marshal a fucking heart attack, and mope in the dark, when you have nothing in your fucking fridge apart from half a bottle of soya sauce—" she takes a deep breath, "or, do you wanna come with me and we'll order some serious comfort food—I'm thinking roast chicken and chips and I'll crack out the chicken salt I had sent over, and ice-cream for afters—and watch some crappy TV, ogle some hot alphas, and bitch the fuck out of those fuckers who hurt you?"
A tear slips down my cheek. I pause, then nod. "Ice-cream sounds good."
She nods, backing out of the cupboard, swearing softly as she whacks her head on the shelf above.
"Good. Get your arse out of this fucking death trap, babes."
I wriggle my way back out, clutching the tear-stained shirt against my chest. She raises an eyebrow and purses her lips.
"Grab your shit for the week, babes. You aren't going anywhere 'til we got this shit sorted."
My mouth drops open in protest. "Loz. No. Your heat. Your alphas are coming on Tuesday."
She shrugs. "My omega will get over it. And she fuckingwillfreak out if she thinks you aren't safe." She sighs. "If you're really that worried, just stay in the Annex. Fuck, we can have thatHeat Helpersmarathon you've been wanting for ages in there if you want."
I bob my head, a hint of a smile creeping over my face. "Thanks, Loz."
She takes a step towards the door, then turns back to me and prods me in the shoulder. "Lancey-boy's waiting downstairs, and he's fucking pissed you didn't call him to come and get you. How did you get home?"
"… took a cab…" I mumble.
"Forfuck'ssake Dels," she growls. "I swear to fucking god, you havenosense of self protection sometimes." She prods me in the shoulder. "Never. Fucking. Do. That. Again." Each word is punctuated by a prod. A laugh slips out of my lips.
She wraps me up in a hug. "Seriously, babes, you know the horror stories. Please call Lance next time, okay? 'Specially if it's near your heat."
I nod into her neck. "I just… had to go. I didn't have time to think."
She pulls away and glares at me. "You'd better spill the fucking beans properly on this one later, Dellie, 'cause the more I hear, the more I think these fuckheads are in need of a good old fashioned arse kicking."
I give a pathetic half smile. "Chicken and chips first, though."
She smiles, pulling on her oversized Chanel sunglasses. She's suddenly Lauren Treloar again, the picture of elegance,like she wasn't just crawling around in a linen cupboard in a crappy studio apartment in K-town. "Damn right, babes. Let's roll."
"Fucking hell," murmurs Loz, licking grease and chicken salt off her fingers, as the omega on screen waxes lyrical about natural fibre nesting materials. "I thought I was theonlyone who hated that fake polyester fluffy shit."
