Page 7 of Switched

I nod slowly, feeling weird about it.

Working from home isn’t unusual, but this?

Heading back to my apartment before ten a.m. because my boss just dangled my dream job in front of me before adding a terrifying catch, well that’s not something that happens every day.

Add in just finding out that my boyfriend has been messing me around, and the thought of leaving the office only becomes fraught with complications.

Jules gives me a sympathetic glance. “I don’t know exactly what’s going on, Saph, but if Divina’s asking you to do something that doesn’t sit right with you, don’t do it just to get the job. It’s not worth it if it if you feel this bad.”

I smile at her. “I think I’m coming down with something. I’ll be fine.”

She nods slowly. “Well, rest up, and don’t come back here until you’re bug free. I don’t want to get sick while I’m working up the courage to meet one of the men behind the dick pics.”

“Oh my God, Jules. Do not meet one of those guys. Only creeps send unsolicited dick pics.”

She smiles. “Who says they were unsolicited?”

Laughing, I shake my head at her. “I really hope that’s joke.”

“Maybe it is, maybe it’s not.”

I make my way to the door, pausing when guilt reminds me Ben was one of her matches.

“Just don’t meet Ben. That creep you matched with.”

Explaining that comment would sting, but I’d rather have to do that than risk my friend getting hurt.

She blinks at me, and nods. “Oh, yeah, that guy. He was kind of hot, don’t get me wrong, but I already deleted that connection while Patrick was fumbling around looking for the door handle. Everyone knows Omegas preferred is code for Asshole, with a capital A.”

She’s not wrong about that. I should have known what he was.

“Alpha-leaning Betas are the worst,” she mutters, sounding like she has personal experience.

Maybe when I’m back, we can swap war stories.

Right now, I need to figure out the best way to get that Alpha-leaning Asshole out of my apartment.

“Yeah,” I agree, as I open the door to leave. “I’ll see you later, Jules.”

Chapter three

Sapphire

Once I get out of the building and take in some fresh air, everything hits me so much harder.

The thought of going home to confront Ben makes my stomach start to churn all over again.

Concentrating on my breathing to get through it without doubling over on the sidewalk, I slow to a stop outside of a storefront, staring past the pretty display while I try to pull myself together.

Suppressants might prevent my perfume from coming out, but they don’t stop my emotions from overwhelming me when I’m upset. I’ve always been over-sensitive, which is one of the worst things about being an Omega, if you ask me.

Struggling to avoid bursting into tears in a public place shouldn’t be something anyone has to navigate regularly. It sucks, and I’m sick to death of feeling like I’m weaker than everyone else.

You are, though.

Even Jules knew better than to respond to matching with Ben on that dating app.

Where was that same self-preservation instinct when the Alpha-leaning bastard gave you that searing stare of his on the day you met?

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