Roxie looked at me. “What do you recommend?”
“Everything,” I admitted, which made Mac beam his award-winning smile a little brighter.
“Mac, what are the chances you’ll surprise me?” Roxie questioned, looking up at him with a pleading look that would bring any alpha to his knees.
She was good.
“You got it. And what about you?” He cast his eyes at me, almost like a challenge.
“You know what? Surprise both of us.”
That was, apparently, the right answer. His booming laugh was back and he clapped his hands before heading to the back, calling back his confirmation over his shoulder.
“You got it, boss.”
Cara swept in a moment later, shaking her head. “I see good old Mac got to you first.”
“He always does.”
“He’s got a soft spot for omegas,” Cara said with a chuckle. “What can I get you to drink?”
“My usual lemonade,” I ordered.
She gave me an indulgent smile. “I already had you written down, I was talking to your pretty, little date.”
“Sweet tea for me,” Roxie ordered, her cheeks darkening.
Cara swept away, and Roxie’s gaze drifted over the place. I tried to see it from her perspective.
The walls were covered in various pieces of art. Irish flags, pictures of the countryside, and random decor that shouldn’thave made sense together but somehow worked. It was cluttered but cozy in a way that spoke to my omega heart.
“What do you think so far?” I asked when those icy blue eyes were back on me.
“I like it here,” she said, her hands running over her tattooed arms. I didn’t even think before I shrugged out of my jacket and got up, walking around to drape it over her shoulders. She gave me a curious look but said a quiet thanks as I sat back down. I knew I was confusing her but I couldn’t figure out how to explain my complicated feelings.
This was exactly why I’d closed myself off all those years ago.
“I’m kind of glad you took me here. I’m not really the fancy type. Unless I have to be for my job.”
“Tell me more aboutThe Gathering Place. I’ve obviously heard of it but I want your perspective."
The smile she gave me was genuine, lighting up her face until her light blue eyes were almost sparkling under the light.
“It’s my own way of rebelling against impossible standards. A lot of lifestyle magazines, especially the ones targeted at omegas, are full of this message that we need to be these pristine, perfect, obedient people. Frankly, that’s never been me. I’ve never quite fit the mold.”
“Probably not the exact same situation, but I get what you mean. Everyone treats male omegas like a novelty. Like we’re a trophy of some kind. The amount of asshole alphas who proposition me…”
I gave a shudder, and the look on her face told me she understood completely.
“I swear, the audacity of some alphas,” she huffed. “I was doing an interview one time with a design company, and the alpha who owned it said if I gave them a good rating, he would reward me with his knot. Like it was some precious gift to omega-kind.”
“What the fuck?” Anger flared in a possessive wave that had me choking back harsh words as she continued.
“Yeah. I ended up leaving him out of the article. The funny thing is, I would’ve given him a good review. Which I’m petty enough to have told him. I sent what I’d planned to publish and said due to misconduct that I wasn’t going to include it and suggested in the future he treat omegas with respect.”
“Fucking alphas. Why can’t we just find the right kind of men? Ones who simply worship us but don’t try to erase us?”
Our conversation filtered off as Cara came back with our drinks, sliding them across the table with a promise that Mac would be by with our food before too long.
