Page 43 of Trick or Heat

I wiggle my nose, getting his beautiful scent, but also something else. “You smell like that biker bar.”

He lets out a laugh. “Probably because I was just there.”

I pull back, looking at him. “Visiting Reed?”

“Who else?” he asks, his lips curving. “He was giving me some shit, to be honest. Told me I was an idiot.”

“Well, that’s not surprising,” I joke, thinking of Casey’s other omega friend. “Why did he call you an idiot this time?”

“Because I haven’t told you that I love you.”

All the air gets sucked from my lungs, my body stilling.

He takes that opportune moment to step inside my apartment and close the door, locking it before guiding me to the couch. My limbs feel stiff as I take a seat, my eyes never leaving his face.

His expression fills with nervousness, his bottom lip fixed between his teeth.

I blink a few more times. “You love me?” I repeat. “Like… wait, sorry. I’m being weird. You tell me you love me all the time. Why would he call you an idiot for that?”

Casey takes a deep breath. “I do tell you, but I don’t mean that way. Elsie…” My name lingers in the air as he licks his lips in a nervous tick. “I’m in love with you. I have been for a long time… and now that we’re destined for the same pack, I need you to know that. I don’t want to live our entire lives with this unspoken thing between us.”

Now I’m really stunned. He loves me? In the same way that I love him? Is this real life?

I reach down and pinch myself, hissing when it hurts. Yeah, this is real.

“Did you just pinch yourself?” Casey asks, amused.

I look up at him. “Yeah, I had to make sure this was real.”

A nervous chuckle escapes his lips. “Is that a good thing? I’m not really sure what you’re thinking.”

“It is a good thing,” I say. In fact, it’s amazing. My heart stampedes in my chest, my stomach lit up like a firework, because loves me. He loves me.

The smile that breaks out across my face is bashful, but happy. My entire world has been turned upside down, my fears from yesterday completely wiped away.

He sees my change in demeanor, his lips turning up slightly. “Elsie?”

I exhale and let the truth fly free.

“I’m in love with you too,” I tell him, and his eyes widen slightly, a glossy sheen encasing them. “For so long, Casey. I just never knew how to tell you.”

“For so long?” he asks, his features pulled in equal surprise and relief. “Like, when? High school?”

“Since… gosh, I don’t know. Since forever, I think.”

He shakes his head slightly. “I had no idea. I thought I was the only one…”

“I thought I made it obvious when my omega begged for you to join my heat.” I wince. “God, I was so embarrassed.”

“No, don’t be. I was so happy to be here with you.” He sighs. “I just thought you needed me. I didn’t read into it. I always assumed I would be giving myself false hope if I read into all the affection you give me.”

“All the affection that I want to give you,” I point out, scooting closer. “Because I’ve liked you ever since I figured out what liking someone meant. Maybe even before that.”

It’s true. My love for him was just sitting dormant inside me, waiting to be discovered. The second I got a glimpse of it, that was the end. I knew no one would ever compare to my best friend, and I was willing to accept that for the rest of my life.

Until I met the alphas, he was the only person I ever wanted that fiercely.

He clasps my hand, and this time it feels different. How many times have we touched where it felt natural? This time, however, I feel a dose of nervousness. This isn’t a friendly touch anymore; this is him trying to connect with me. Us crossing a boundary that we once subconsciously put into place.