Page 48 of Alpha Theo

Brooke’s still typing away, working on her program as usual.

Click. Click. Click.

Damn, I’d hoped she’d just tell me about the date so I didn’t have to ask. But Ihaveto ask- I need to know if I still have a shot here.

“So how was it?”

Brooke doesn’t stop typing right away. She finishes the line she’s working on, then sighs, pushing back and spinning in her chair to face me. She crosses one long leg over the other, folding her hands in her lap.

I hold my breath.

“How was what?”

I blow it out, rolling my eyes. “Thedate.”

Brooke pauses. “It was nice.”

“That’s it?” I ask, arching a brow.

She blinks those big blue eyes. “What do you mean?”

“Well I just expected a little more context, considering how you couldn’t stop talking about the date yesterday. Was the food good? Did he pay? Did you fuck him afterwards?”

Brooke’s eyes fly wide. She looks around in a panic to see if anyone overheard, then returns her gaze to me, brow furrowing, eyes darkening. She scowls. Folds her arms across her chest. Leans in and drops her voice to a whisper.

“No, I didn’t…sleep with him,” she hisses through clenched teeth. “It was ourfirstdate.”

“Blowjob, then?”

Brooke swats my arm with the back of her hand, the contact with the leather of my jacket sleeve making a smacking sound. “Would you stop?!”

I shrug, smirking, leaning my chair back on two legs. “I mean if the guy bought you dinner, he at least deserved a handy.”

Her scowl deepens.

Fuck. It’s like my mouth is moving before my brain can work, my crass commentary spilling out like word vomit. I know this is absolutely the wrong approach, but I can’t stop. The sting of Brooke choosing Connor over me has me lashing out- even if I was never really a contender in the first place.

She pushes her glasses up the bridge of her nose, then folds her arms again. “If you must know, we… kissed.”

Damn. Now it’s my turn to scowl. I look away for a moment toward the window, steady my expression. Get back on my cocky bullshit before facing her again.

“So I was right, then.” I scoff. “Itwasboring.”

“No.”

I drag my feet off of her desk, sitting up in my chair. “No? Of course not, how could a date with such aniceguybe boring. Let me guess, it was magical, perfect, and now the two of you are going to ride off into the sunset together, right?”

Brooke just stares at me. Her eyes start to get glassy, and I can scent the salty smell of tears forming in them. My wolf howls in response, clawing at the inside of my chest, and the look on her face suddenly has me feeling so damn shitty.

I rake a hand through my hair, dropping my voice low. “I’m sorry, kid, I was just messing around.”

She shakes her head, turns away. Wipes at an eye with a sleeve.

A lump starts to form in my throat and my face burns. I feel like such a fucking asshole. Why can’t I ever just keep my damn mouth shut? Brooke’s soft, sensitive, and I’m all sharp edges. I had no fucking business talking to her like that.

I don’t know why, but I have this strong urge to comfort her, soothe her. I scooch my chair closer, reaching out to set a hand on her shoulder.

“Hey… I didn’t mean it…”

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