Page 28 of Excess

He was so dedicated to his family. He’d chosen not to take a mate in order to better support them. That wasn’t a decision anyone made lightly.

“What job do you do?” Freya asked, accepting the serviette Blake handed her and cleaning her face with limited success. “I’m going to be a vet when I’m grown up.”

“You must love animals, then. Do you have any pets?”

“I have a spotted python.”

“Oh.” I blinked. “That wasn’t what I expected you to say.”

“I did try to convince her to get a cat,” Blake mumbled.

“If I want to pet a cat, I can go to any of the neighbour’s houses,” Freya sighed, looking at him like the answer was obvious, and a snake was the only viable alternative. She turned her expectant gaze on me, and I realised I hadn’t answered her question.

“It’s not as exciting as being a vet, I’m afraid. I work on the product planning team for Om-Guard. I help decide what kinds of things we’re going to sell in shops,” I added clumsily, unaccustomed to explaining my rather dull corporate job to children.

Blake’s eyebrows arched. “Oh yeah? I suppose that’s the sort of thing someone would usually go to uni for.”

Someone, not you.

“Absolutely. I have a bachelor’s in Life Sciences, and an MBA,” I replied airily. Which was true, and kept me on par with my colleagues in terms of higher education. But I knew—everyone knew, including Blake—that wasn’t why I got the job.

If I’d left school in Year 11, and spent a decade partying in Ibiza and St Tropez, I may very well still be in the exact same role I was in now.

Blake didn’t look chastened by my words. If anything, he looked ready to challenge me all over again. It was a good thing I’d worn the painfully thick pre-heat knickers, because that arrogant, mildly confrontational expression really did it for me.

Not a soul on this earth had ever looked at me like that. Like they wanted to drag me over their lap and spank the attitude right out of me.

“My grandad says I have to work really hard at school to go to uni,” Freya said, startling me out of my inappropriate thoughts.

“It’s a good idea to work hard at anything you try,” I told Freya. “And as an omega, sometimes you might have to work a little harder than everyone else. But I believe in you.” I winked over the rim of my teacup, ignoring Blake’s penetrating gaze.

His phone buzzed on the table, and I watched out of the corner of my eye as he immediately tensed upon reading whatever was on his screen.

“Eat up, Frey. Your dad’s wondering where we are,” he said eventually, downing his tea in one gulp.

“I’m still eating,” she replied mildly, giving Blake a look that dared him to rush her as she took another enormous bite of cake.

I didn’t quite hide my smile in time, and Blake turned his long-suffering look on me instead. It was only now that his guard was down that I noticed how tired he looked. He hadn’t seemed that exhausted yesterday, even after we’d indulged in some rigorous afternoon cardio together.

Freya seemed more than happy to fill the quiet, and I hummed and agreed and asked questions in all the right places as she covered every subject from what she’d been learning about at school to which dinosaur she would have wanted as a pet. I kept waiting for Freya to ask who I was and how I knew her uncle, but I guessed she didn’t particularly care about those details.

It was… nice. I enjoyed the company of children, even if I had some reservations about having any of my own. Mama had nearly died having me, and the subsequent surgeries to save her life meant she’d never been able to have another.

“I’m going to stop eating now because I feel sick,” Freya announced, pushing her plate away.

Blake snorted, handing her another small stack of serviettes. “That sounds like a good idea.”

I messaged Lúcás as we made our way out of the cafe, letting him know my location and feeling slightly sheepish about it all the while. Having a driver was very normal in my circles, but I could see that it would be considered something of an indulgence basically anywhere outside of that.

“Thanks for answering Freya’s questions,” Blake said gruffly as Freya skipped ahead to swing around a light post. “And for returning my wallet.”

“My pleasure.” I hesitated for a moment, not wanting to overstep. “I’m sure Freya has other omegas she can talk to, but I’m always happy to answer any questions she might have if that would be helpful.”

I wanted to say more, to express some sympathy for what Freya had gone through, but I suspected it wouldn’t be welcome. Blake was too proud for that.

He nodded, watching Freya in silence for a long moment.

“Well, I’ll see you Monday then,” I said brightly, not wanting to end the morning on an awkward note.

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