Page 36 of Curvy Nerdy Omega

“Reason and logic isn’t typically used when someone is feeling overly emotional,” I reminded her. “But it does seem like an overreaction unless something else was going on.”

I selected the note app and erased what I’d written, wondering why Frankie wasn’t asking me more about what I’d seen in Liam’s basement.

Tapping out the potential scenarios using our code, I tried to ignore how the queasy feeling in my gut was getting exponentially worse until I was sure I was going to throw up right then and there.

The only way to keep myself sane was to ignore it.

I handed Frankie the phone and grabbed my stupid Styrofoam cup before heading back to the counter where they had all the brewed coffee. More sugar and cream wouldn’t help wash away the bitterness on my tongue as I forced myself to consider the possibility that Melinda’s baby was Liam’s.

That kind of nonsense would explain why Melinda’s pregnancy could cause Gideon’s death though. If she was cheating on her husband with the younger brother of the heir and wanted power to fall to her child next, then getting rid of the competition would make the most sense.

Liam didn’t seem to care about who became the next leader of his pack, but Melinda…

Frankie whipped around and I headed back to our café table in the corner, pretending like I couldn’t see the outrage and disbelief in her eyes. “You really think he’d go for someone like her?”

I flopped down in my chair and ignored the way the hot coffee burned my hand as it sloshed over the edge. “I don’t really know him well enough to say whether he would or not, but they seemed close.”

Until they didn’t.

“If nothing else, she was very into him.” Alphas were stupid around omegas. If she’d made those pretty eyes at Liam when he was near his rut, then it wouldn’t matter if he was into her or not. “It’s just biology at that point.”

“I keep telling you not to say only half your thoughts out loud. I can’t read your mind.” Frankie took a napkin out of her purse and wiped the now-cold coffee from my hand. “Are you talking about how he’s an alpha and she’s an omega?”

“If she’s good enough for his brother, then she’s good enough for any legacy alpha, right?” I didn’t know why I was saying any of this, but I refused to let my own emotions cloud my judgment. “It’s only a hypothetical, Frankie. There’s no evidence to suggest one way or another. I’m just saying. It’s a possibility.”

She frowned when I shook three more sugar packets, but didn’t stop me. One long red nail tapped my phone as she considered the possibilities. “Those two took care of you for thirteen days and constantly sent me updates. I have a hard time believing that legacy alpha gives a single fuck about his sister-in-law after what I’ve seen.”

I shrugged, not bothering to argue since Frankie was better with people than I was. The queasy feeling in my stomach started to die down though.

“You’re not concerned about what I found down there at all?”

Frankie sighed and erased what I’d written in the app. “I grew up in a legacy pack, as did you. I’m shocked you assumed they weren’t all like that.”

I tsked and looked out the window again, annoyed by what she was implying. “And I’m surprised you aren’t trying to find every single camera in our apartment right now.”

“I’d rather deal with cameras than whatever he’d do instead.”

We shared a look and I shuddered, agreeing with her wholeheartedly.

“For a legacy alpha of his caliber, he’s shockingly restrained,” Frankie muttered as she tapped something into my phone. “He just spent thirteen days steeped in the pheromones of a very powerful omega in heat. That you’re sitting here without him breathing down your neck means he’s got more control than most alphas I know. Cassius too.”

I eyed the phone she was typing into, deciding not to tell her about the tracker. “As soon as they detox, everything will be fine. They’ll live their lives like they did before and we’ll solve this case. Boom. Done. Never to be seen again.”

Frankie snorted and grabbed my wrist so I’d stop shaking the sugar packets. She placed the phone in it and raised an eyebrow like I was being purposefully stupid. “What’s there to detox from when they’ve been watching you like hawks since the first moment they saw you?”

“That’s not very reassuring.” I ripped my hand out of hers and tore open the packets of sugar with my teeth so I could read what she’d written and finish making my coffee just sweet enough to hurt.

I wanted to throw my fucking phone across the café when I was done reading but I set it down as gently as possible and decided to forgo the cream this time. I drained the cup of scalding hot coffee and glared at my best friend, wondering if I was the only one losing my mind here or if she was too. “Absolutely not, Frankie.”

“Oh, so you’ll go instead?”

I narrowed my eyes when she crossed her arms over her chest again, giving me the same sassy look she had when I’d insisted on getting my driver’s license and she’d been convinced I’d crash and die.

Yeah, I’d crashed, but only because it was raining and the tires were bald. That shit wasn’t my fault and we both knew it. Plus, I didn’t die. So there.

“I don’t want you traipsing off to visit your father right now when Liam has Arturo in a fucking cold locker,” I hissed, leaning so far across the table the whole thing nearly tipped over. “Plus, what if someone sees you?”

“They won’t.” Frankie smirked. “And we both know my father recognized you in that picture. Do you really want to deal with him interrogating you about that when you have no idea how you’ll react to another legacy alpha’s pheromones right now?”

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