Page 42

“What happened to your phone?” Noel asks.

“It overheated and then with everything else, I forgot.” I don’t know where it is. Hopefully not still on the beach. “I’m sorry you were so worried.”

“It’s all good.” Noel leans closer and whispers, “So what’s this about you and his best friend?”

“Alden told you?”

“Not much. He just wanted me to make sure you were okay. So, are you okay?”

I shrug. “Mostly. He’s perfect. Totally perfect. I mean, I’ve never had a heat like this.” I gesture vaguely at the room, the stocked buffet table, the nest and bed. “Like, look at all of this. I feel like a kept omega.”

“Kept?” Noel laughs.

I don’t. “But he doesn’t even know why I’m here. He doesn’t know I’m not looking for a long-term arrangement. I showed up in his life and hooked up with his best friend, and probably made things really weird between them. And⁠—”

Noel crosses one leg over the other and leans in. “Hooked up how?”

“You know, with the fingers and the…” I pantomime a blow job.

“Wow.” Noel sputters. “I don’t know what to say. What a tragic life you lead, having to choose between multiple alphas willing to fellate you.”

“Shut up.” I groan and cover my face with my hands. “The other alpha left while I was asleep. I don’t know why. It’s stupid, but it hurts my feelings. A lot. And I feel bad that it hurts my feelings because Alden is perfect. I’m so confused.”

“Aw, babe.” Noel takes my hand and holds it between his. “Do you want to leave? You can come with me.”

“No.” I sniff, and rub my nose with the back of my hand. “It’ll be fine. I’m just a mess right now.”

“You’re not a mess. We all get like this. Hormones are a bitch.”

Another cramp twinges, this time more of an ache, and I’m starting to feel a little faint. I point to the pitcher of ice water on the dresser and hold out my empty glass. “Can you?”

“Does he have some grapes I can feed to you too?”

I’m not going to tell Noel that Alden bought a big bag of Cotton Candy grapes because I mentioned they’re one of my favorite fruits to eat. Noel says I have expensive taste when it comes to produce.

Noel pours water into my glass and returns it to the dresser.

“Thanks.”

“He seems smitten,” Noel says.

“I’m smitten.”

“Good. You want my advice?” He doesn’t give me a chance to answer before he continues. “Don’t stress about the friend. It probably has nothing to do with you. Imagine if I had sex with your alpha accidentally.”

“I’d kill you.”

“Yeah, I know. Please don’t. I’m just saying, I’d get the hell out of our place in a hurry too. I wouldn’t want to ruin things between you and your date, because I want you to be happy. Even if I liked Alden. Which I don’t, for the record. I’m a bit more than he can handle.”

I laugh. “He’s too nice for you.”

“Damn straight.” He stands. “Live in the present. Worry about your article and your soap opera roommate situation later. Figure all that,” he raises his hand and waves his palm over my general area, “out when you’re back to yourself.”

My eyes start to mist. “Thanks, bestie.”

“Anytime. I’ll see you in a couple days, okay? But if you change your mind, just have your alpha call me. I’m sure he’s already on the hunt for your phone, but the Boy Scout already asked for my number because he’s all responsible and shit.”

“He really is.”