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“Tanner! How long have you been out here? Are you cold? Why did you wait out here? You know Anna’s home. She would’ve let you in. Let’s go inside!”
“Wait.” He stopped my ramble and opened his arms. “Come here.”
I walked straight into my best friend’s arms as he wrapped them around me and leaned down to rest his head against mine.
“You smell like flowers.”
“You smell like the cereal kids eat on Saturday morning.” I laughed at how quickly that was the picture that came to mind when I smelled him.
Oh.
That’s why he was here. I sobered up and leaned back to look him in the eye. “You smell delicious but in a strictly nostalgic way.”
He let out a sigh of relief and pulled me back in tight. “Anna is going to be so disappointed in us.”
My chuckle was muffled by his chest. “Let’s go break the news.”
Chapter Nine
CEDAR: Courting date with Alpha Fitzwilliam Rossi. Monday 8pm. The Botanist. To confirm text YES. To decline text NO.
Themorningofmyfirst courting date, I woke up before dawn. The date wasn’t for hours, but my mind decided to start worrying about itnow.
Who was Fitzwilliam Rossi? I didn’t recognize that name, but I assumed he was one of the alphas I danced with. Maybe the one I kissed?
I stress baked approximately nine dozen cookies and then paced around the house for hours until Anna finally kicked me out, telling me to go get my nails done and chill out. Unfortunately, being forced to sit still for an hour didn’t help my nerves one bit. At least my new deep red nails were beautiful.
“Go with this one,” Anna said as she held up a maroon sweater dress.
“I thought we decided on the blue dress?”
“That was before you got red nails. Now you need to wear this one.” She shook the dress at me again.
“Are you sure? That bow/belt thing would make me look like a present.”
“Exactly! Youarea present!” She laughed and then wiggled her eyebrows. “And your alpha will want to unwrap you.”
“The alpha. Notmyalpha. Don’t get ahead of yourself,” I scolded.
Anna rolled her eyes “If not this one, then the next one. Get dressed.”
She finally just threw the dress at me, and I put it on. As usual, she was right. The dress matched my new nails perfectly, and I looked more sophisticated than I felt.
It was snowing again, so I grabbed my coat for the walk across campus. The Botanist was a local bar in town, and we weren’t supposed to drink alcohol on these initial dates, so they had a special menu during the Season for courting alphas and omegas. Seasonal Mocktails. The name always brought a smile to my face. I loved puns.
I reached the bar a few minutes before eight and was pleasantly surprised to catch the hint of lime in the air. It was the alpha I’d kissed! Or really, the alpha who kissed me. And he was already here. Extra points for being punctual.
“Mia?” I turned and saw an alpha sitting in a small booth by the window.
“Will?” I asked, recognizing the school’s infamous player, shocked he was talking to me. My surprise continued to grow as he stood and reached for me, his lime scent unfurling and reaching me first.
I froze, the memory of our secret kiss at the Ball bombarding me. There was no way those kisses came from him. I wouldn’t allow it. He was everything I didn’t want in a mate. Flirtatious, conceited, irresponsible, gorgeous. Well, that last one wasn’t too bad. I guess.
“Fitzwilliam Rossi.” He stressed the middle of his name and rolled his eyes with a fond smirk, making those famous dimples appear. “My mother is a bigPride and Prejudicefan. I go by Will. You look stunning tonight.” He admired my appearance while I just stared blankly at him.
“You’re my date.”
“Yes.”
