Page 15 of Alpha Jax

“Good,” I breathe, closing the open dresser drawer with my hip. I’ve already filled the dresser with all of the clothes I brought along. I straighten, waving Brooke inside with a hand. “Come on in!”

She does, crossing the room and sinking down onto the edge of the bed, looking around. “This used to be my room, you know,” she says fondly.

“Really?” I stride over to join her on the bed, perching on the edge beside her. I’ve still got my leggings and sports bra on- I need to catch a shower and change at some point.

“Mhmm,” Brooke hums. “Your brother just surprised me today, actually, with a double room for us to share. We’re just on the other end of the hall.”

It still weirds me out a little that Brooke and Theo are a thing. They’re so different- I never would’ve paired the two of them together- yet I’m not sure I’ve ever seen two people so in love.

Speak of the devil, Theo pops his head into the room, face splitting into a warm smile. “I thought I’d find you in here,” he drawls, striding inside. That smile isn’t for me, though; he’s looking right at his mate like she’s a tall glass of water and he’s been wandering the desert for days.

His gaze slides over to me as he makes his way toward us. “How’s it going so far, Q?” He ruffles my hair when he approaches, and he’s lucky I contain my irritation at the gesture- from my seated position, it’d be really easy to punch him in the nuts.

“Ask me again in a few days,” I say, reaching up to smooth my hair. “I’ve been here for all of what, four hours?”

“Fair enough,” Theo chuckles, moving beside Brooke and setting his hand on her shoulder. It’s like he always has to be touching her- I feel like I’d find it really annoying if a guy was that clingy with me.

“You excited to start at the IT unit next week?” Brooke asks.

She gave me a rundown over the phone last night of what I’ll be doing with the IT unit and when I’ll be starting. I’ll be the only one on the IT unit who also serves as a squad fighter, so I’ll have to juggle both on a hybrid schedule. It may seem like a lot, but it was at my own request- I love both IT stuff and physical training, and I didn’t want to have to choose. So, when I was recruited for the IT unit, I bargained with them to let me do both. I guess we’ll see how it pans out.

Since I wanted to arrive with the rest of the recruits for combat training and they were starting them on a Thursday, they decided it’d be easier for me to hold off starting with IT until Monday. Which is fine, except I’m itching to get into the IT unit and get started there.

I nod enthusiastically. “Stoked. Do you guys want me there for mornings or afternoons?”

Brooke shrugs. “Totally up to you. Whichever you’d prefer.”

“Probably afternoons,” Theo interjects. He glances down at Brooke, then back to me. “The squad members that have other commitments typically train in the mornings, so if you’re gonna do both, you’ll probably want to do afternoons in the IT hub. That way, you’ll get to do combat training with the full squad.”

“And let me guess,” I fold my arms across my chest, tilting my head, “that’s your schedule too, right?”

He nods.

I blow out a breath. “You know I don’t need a babysitter, right?”

Theo throws up his hands in surrender, chuckling. “Hey, I’m not trying to babysit! I’m just looking out for you. Is it so wrong that I wanna spend time with my baby sis?”

I roll my eyes exaggeratedly. I guess I can’t argue with him there- but at the same time, I really don’t need my big brother breathing down my neck while I’m trying to settle in. It’s like the men in my life don’t trust me to take care of myself- back at home, my dad was always crazy overprotective. If Theo thinks he’s going to pull the same thing while I’m up here at the squad complex, he’s got another thing coming.

“So Monday afternoon then?” he asks, waggling his eyebrows.

“Got it,” I nod, throwing a finger-gun and a wink at my brother. “Sounds good.”

“Well, we should probably leave you to finish unpacking,” Brooke says, rising to stand. As soon as she’s on her feet, Theo’s sliding an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into his side. “We’ll stop by and grab you on our way to dinner, if you want?”

I get to my feet as well, offering Brooke a smile. “That’d be great, thanks.”

The two of them head out and I go back to the open suitcase in front of my closet, pulling things out and putting them away. I’m just setting a framed photo of me and my mom on my dresser when I hear Kyla’s voice call out “knock knock!” from the doorway.

I spin around, face spreading into a grin as soon as I see her.

“Okay, what the hell?” Kyla whines, stepping into my room and looking around. She tosses a thumb over her shoulder. “Have you seen where they’re putting the rest of us up? It’s like a damn orphanage! And you’re over here living the high life with your own room?”

I laugh, rolling my eyes. “Oh c’mon, I’m sure it’s not that bad.”

Kyla sets her hands on her hips, staring into my eyes with a straight face. “We’re in fuckingbunk beds, Quinn.”

I shake my head, chuckling to myself as Kyla moves closer to me, still looking around my room.

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