Page 33 of Talk About… Rivalry

“You are one of the sexiest alphas I've ever seen. How about you take this omega on a date?” she simpered. God I wanted to slam her face into the bar.

Then I realized Maverick wasn’t backing away and my stomach dropped.

I didn’t take a single breath as I waited for his answer. Maverick froze, eyes wide and swallowing hard.

Then his gaze turned back to me. He stared at me for a moment, not saying a word, and I swore he was waiting for me to interrupt. His expression was desperate but I froze, refusing to step in.

No, this was what he deserved. A date with an omega who could give him a life. I had no scent, we weren’t matches, and if he wanted to have fun, he should.

It couldn’t be me.

I clenched my jaw and looked down, my heart shattering in my chest as I heard him answer her.

“My name is Maverick, what's yours?”

“Kelly,” she said, smiling sweetly.

“How does seven, tomorrow night, sound?”

“Perfect,” she practically purred.

At this point I sucked in a breath, unable to stop myself, and looked up. Maverick almost looked like he regretted it, but there was also a determination in his gaze. He knew what he was doing and planned to go on this date. There was nothing I could, or should, do about it.

With his gaze back on me, I threw a ten in the tip jar and turned my back on him. I pushed my way through the crowd as tears burned behind my eyes.

When I managed to shove open the front door and stepped outside, I sucked in a breath of cool air and leaned against the brick wall, trying to center myself again.

It felt like my life was careening out of control and I couldn’t stop it.

This was far too reminiscent of the chaos my life was when my mom left.

I was losing someone I cared about.

Again.

Maverick was going on a date.

Rationally, I knew it was normal. It wasn’t like he was a blushing virgin who was pining away for me like I was for him. He had experience.

It'd be silly for him not to at this age. But the fact he did it after looking at me broke something in me.

Hell, I’d been on dates, too. Even though I knew they’d be nothing more than one or two nights before I found a way to pull back from them.

Then that awful voice in my head was back, reminding me that I was unworthy, not worth staying for.

Those old feelings of being abandoned and feeling unworthy all bubbled to the surface.

I was more angry at myself than him, because he gave me the fucking chance to step in and I didn't do it.

I was too scared.

Always too fucking scared.

When someone moved into my vision, I wasn't expecting to look up and see Bennett had followed me.

“Look, I'm not going to pretend to know anything about what happened tonight. However, I am an alpha with no strings attached. I travel a lot and I’m not looking for a pack. We clearly aren't matches, but I do know how to make an omega scream. So, if you'd like a distraction tonight, then I would be happy to provide that.”

He held out a hand to me, eyebrow quirked in question as he waited patiently as I took several breaths and considered his offer.

---