Page 38 of Alpha Theo

Brooke takes another sip, swallows.

“Can’t, sorry. I’m dancing with Connor.”

I look around exaggeratedly. “You are? Right now? I don’t see him anywhere!”

She sighs, rolling her eyes. “You know what I mean.”

Fucking Connor.

I’m annoyed.

I look over Brooke’s shoulder, to Carly. “What about you? Wanna dance?”

Carly smiles so big that she looks like she’s gonna burst. “Yeah!”

Carly’s too skinny. Too eager. I’m not attracted to her, but it fucking bugs me that Brooke has turned me down twice tonight in favor of Connor. I hate the feeling of competing for her attention- and you know what? Two can play that game.

I glance back at Brooke to gauge her reaction, but she just presses her lips together in a tight line.

Fuck it.

I’ve never competed for a girl before and I’m not about to start now. Especially with fuckingConnor. Clearly, I’ll never be good enough for little miss perfect- so mister ‘nice guy’ can fucking have her.

I beckon Carly over and slide an arm around her narrow shoulders to lead her out to the dance floor.

I’ll dance with her, make her fucking night. Maybe I’ll let her blow me afterwards so I get something out of this, too.

Because that’s who I am.

Because that’s who people expect me to be.

Because everyone knows I’m not a ‘nice guy’.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Brooke

I stare at the back of Theo’s black jacket as he makes the rounds in the hub on Monday afternoon. It’s his first time back in a week, so it takes him a while to gather everyone’s report. He’s listening attentively, jotting down notes while my eyes practically burn a hole in his leather jacket.

He stops at Diego’s desk first, then Carly’s. Then criss-crosses his way to the back of the room. I’m the only one in the last row, so after he finishes with Justin, I know I’m next. I stare at my computer monitor; pretend I’m working as Theo heads for the conference table behind me. I cringe inwardly at the scraping sound of chair legs across the floor as Theo drags one over to my desk.

“Hey, kid.”

His voice is low, velvety smooth and enticing.

“Hi.”

My own voice comes out like a squeak.

Theo sinks down into the chair, starts shrugging off his jacket. I watch out of the corner of my eye as he pulls those bulky biceps out of the sleeves, tosses the jacket over the back of the chair. Then he leans back, slapping his big ol’ boots up on the edge of my desk.

“What’s up?” he asks, and even though I’m staring intently at my monitor, I know he’s smiling. I can hear it in his voice, practically feel it beaming at me. I don’t risk a glance.

“Just working,” I sigh.

I start typing. It’s nonsensical, I’ll have to delete it later. He won’t know the difference. I can’t focus and work with him sitting beside me today- my head’s all over the place, brain scrambled.

A silence settles between us, save for the clicking of my keyboard.

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