Page 20 of Juliet & Her Romeos

His jersey was warm and smelled of rich Cognac and toasted almonds.

It hung past my knees, covering my hands.

Instantly, I felt protected like Ambrose was hugging me.

Ambrose looked awkward, not meeting my eye. “What did you do? Jump in the pond? Look after yourself better or you’ll get sick.”

Stunned, I watched, as Ambrose prowled away down the corridor.

The other students in the corridor were equally stunned to silence.

For once, Ambrose’s gang of worshipers didn’t follow him because they were too busy gaping at me.

Afterward, when I was dry, I reluctantly folded the jersey and placed it in front of Ambrose’s locker.

I left a thank you cookie from my lunch on top.

I’ve never wanted to part with something less than that jersey. My uncle and Head Alpha, Jacob, however, would rip it to shreds, if I brought it onto the Cinders Estate.

In the first month that I was taken into the Romeo Ballet Academy, and was shaking with sleep deprivation because of my insomnia, Laurent pulled me into an empty classroom.

Laurent is Ambrose’s younger Omega brother. As the only other Omega in the pack, he’s become closer than my friend. He’s like my brother too.

Laurent has waist long blond hair, which is feathered around his face that’s as sharp as a blade.

Or as sharp as his witty mind.

He’s dangerous. I know that.

His mom, on the other hand, only sees him as the most beautiful member of the family, who she uses as a honey pot for investors. She keeps him at her side for dinner parties and events, teasing who he’ll bond with.

Beating him, if he dares to protest.

Yet he finds his own, smart ways to fight back.

When Laurent passed Ambrose’s same high school number ‘five’ jersey to me, I snatched it, burying my nose in the delicious scent.

Then I peered at Laurent in surprise. “How did you know that I needed this?”

“Amby told me about how he gave it to you.” Laurent studied me with his cool, gray eyes.

He was dressed in a gray suit with glimmering waistcoat that was embroidered with roses. It was buttoned up to his neck and restrictive.

My cheeks reddened. “You were the year below me at school. You didn’t…?”

“Hear the gossip about my idiot brother openly courting our enemy by handing you his jersey like he was the romantic lead in some trashy show like Alpha High?”

“It was sweet.”

“My brother’s not sweet.” Laurent twirled a strand of hair around his finger. “Then there’s the fact that I found him sitting on his bed and sniffing his own jersey. It had your scent on it. I’m glad that I didn’t walk in to him using it as a jerking off aid.”

I pulled the jersey against my chest, protectively. “Are you…? Please don’t take this back.”

“It’s yours.” Laurent waved a regal hand. “Amby wanted you to have it. He slept with it, until the day that he was sent away. He wasn’t allowed to pack. I’m not allowed to ship anything to him in England.” His eyes sparked with defiance. “But Mom never said anything about giving away his things.”

“Smart.”

“Not really. Do you have any idea how much trouble he got into for that stunt?”

---