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“Right, here goes.” Casey gives me an uncertain smile, then looks down at the cake on his plate. “I’m twenty-three, work online in various design areas from book covers to websites to ad graphics, but I also got a job at the gym nearby as a cleaner. I don’t play loud music or stay out late, if that concerns you. I’ll pay on time and keep everything clean.” He swallows hard. “It’d be perfect if you let me stay here. But if not, that’s cool.”
I watch him fidget with the plate. He crumbles some of the cake between long fingers. An artist’s fingers, I think. I can’t stop looking at him.
It annoys me that I’m so transfixed. That my dick is so hard, scent or not.
Then again, I could blame Gigi too. I could blame my stupid body for acting like it’s sex-starved when it certainly is not.
“It’s Sawyer’s apartment,” Gigi says. “If he wants Casey to stay, then he stays.”
“All the same,” Casey says. Such a quaint expression. “I’d rather you agree with me staying before I move in.”
“Graphic design, you say?” Sophie props an elbow on the table and cradles her cheek in her hand. “That’s cool. Do you play video games?”
His eyes light up. “Oh, yeah. Fantasy mostly. I can’t afford to spend too much time on gaming, though. Need to make ends meet.”
“Cool.” Sophie grins. “I’m not often here anyway, but when I am, I’ll hit you up to play together if you like. Now eat that cake, stop trying to kill it. I baked it, I swear it’s good.”
“Wait a minute,” I say. “We haven’t voted yet.”
They all look at me.
“Well?” Sophie’s dark brows arch. “What’s it gonna be, Ronny?”
I hate it when she calls me that.
“Come on, Ron,” Gigi whispers. Wait… Is she making puppy eyes at me?
Fuck me. Fuck me sideways.
“Now he has the proper suppressants,” she goes on, “and Sawyer vouches for him, and he says he’ll be good. It’s good to be good, right? I mean, we have rules, we follow them, and everything will be fine. Don’t you think? I?—”
“Gigi,” I snap and she flinches.
“Sorry,” she says, “sorry. You know I get like that when I’m nervous. Not that I’m nervous now…” She blinks, shoots me a quick glance. “Okay, maybe just a smidge.”
Am I making her nervous? Am I scaring her? As an alpha, I’m kinda used to that. Being taller and stronger than your average man, I tend to tower over people, like Bigfoot or something. Add to that the tattoos and piercings, and yeah.
Fuck.
Never thought I was scaring Gigi, of all people.
Because she’s my friend. Of sorts. Jogging buddy and early morning healthy-breakfast accomplice. Healthy-lifestyle guru and partner. Yeah, that’s all she is.
Even if she turns me on every time I’m near her. Lately, I can’t stop thinking about her, which makes me want to fight it, to push back at her, ask her about other girls, annoy her. Kill the flame in my blood when I’m near her.
And now, Casey.
Casey who’s pushing his chair back and getting up from the table, looking flustered, a dark blush on his cheeks. “Look, forget it. It’s okay. I told Sawyer that if even one of you is uncomfortable with me staying here, then I’m out. So I’ll get out of your hair, and thanks for the chance.”
Sophie frowns. “Um…”
“Casey.” Gigi jumps off the counter as he makes his way to the kitchen door, pulling his shoulders back consciously, so they won’t slump.
I like that about him. That he’s going out with his shoulders thrown back, his head held high. There’s something about him that pulls on me and, dammit, I start after him, too.
“Wait,” I say. “Just… wait. Hell.”
He stops, doesn’t turn around. This time he does bow his head. “Yeah?”
