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“There’s always that nurse you made cry,” Jamie says.
I sigh. “That was—”
“—grosslyoverexaggerated,” Mackenzie finishes with a chuckle.
I feel my lips twitch at her glee even when I’m trying my best to look stern, shaking my head at her.
“Wow,” Matías chuffs. “I was thinking you guys being a couple seemed a little sus, but you two are definitely in love.”
Mackenzie’s laugh falters for only a second, and I tense against her when I scent a burst of her honeysuckle-like fragrance tickling my nostrils. I swallow thickly when she seems to collect herself moments later, her scent dissipating as she leans her head on my shoulder.
“Hopelessly in love,” she half sings.
I’m still looking at her as I mutter, “Deliriously happy.”
“Okay,” Priya groans, sticking her tongue out. “Never mind. I’ve decided I am too single and definitely still too sober to be assaulted by you two and your bliss. I’ll just assume you immediately fell in love and lived happily ever after post–myocardial infarction.”
“As one does,” Mackenzie says seriously. She nudges Priya again. “There’s always Conner.”
Priya points at her with narrowed eyes. “That’s it. You’re on refill duty. Let’s go.”
“Fine, fine,” Mackenzie laughs. “I need a drink, anyway.”
I scoot out of the booth to let them out, lingering when Matías and Jamie follow after them.
“I’m making him dance with me,” Jamie explains as they pass.
Mackenzie hangs back while the others head toward the bar, her hand grabbing mine as she looks up at me with concern. “You okay to hang by yourself for a little bit?”
“I’m fine,” I assure her. I can tell that she’s still worried about leaving me on my own, so I add, “Go have fun.”
She flashes me a smile, giving my fingers a squeeze as a similarsensation ensues in my chest. I watch her for longer than is necessary, for some reason wanting to make sure she makes it through the crowd okay, only able to relax when I catch sight of her and Priya laughing about something at the large wooden counter while they try to flag down a bartender.
“So,” Paul says as I settle back into the booth. “Mated, huh?”
I reach to rub at the back of my neck. “Yeah, it’s... been interesting.”
“Funny how you never mentioned it to me,” he says with a hint of amusement in his voice, creases forming in the warm brown skin around his eyes. “Considering I am probably the only person from work you keep regular contact with.”
“Sorry,” I offer. “We didn’t... It’s complicated.”
“It wouldn’t have anything to do with your alpha status being outed, would it?”
“That’s...” I struggle for anything remotely close to a good excuse, coming up short. “Is it obvious?”
“Not to the average bystander,” Paul chuckles. “But I know you.”
“It’s been a fucking mess, Paul,” I sigh.
“I imagine,” he offers. “So what is Dr. Carter’s role in all this?”
“She’s...” I turn my head, my lips pressing together as I watch her head tilt back with mirth at something Priya has just said. “She’s helping me out.”
“From what Priya tells me,” Paul notes, “Dr. Carter is something of a saint.”
“She is,” I mutter back, still looking at my pretend mate as she laughs.
Paul reaches for the glass in front of him, and when I finally tear my attention away from Mackenzie, I notice he’s smiling into it as he takes a drink, his dark eyes glittering. “You two are veryconvincing. Watching you two together, no one would suspect that you aren’t an item.”
