Page 36 of Alpha's Unclaimed Mate

“This is Manhattan. People want roses, not roadside weeds. I just keep them in stock in honor of an old customer. Sometimes they even sell. Otherwise, I just enjoy them.” As she hands them over to me, she smiles. “I think they’re lovely.”

I smile back. I feel so much better with the bunch in hand that I decide to also get a dress for myself for the event next week. There’s a French artiste’s boutique down the road. I’m almost home, carrying my old flowers and a new dress, when my phone buzzes.

Glitch. 7 p.m. sharp. Don’t even think about bailing.

I type a quick reply and hit send:Bet. I’ll be there. Don’t be late tho, I’m starving.

Despite the instant thumbs-up my message gets, Jane arrives ten minutes late.

“Chill, I know,” she says, sliding into the booth. “I had a court appearance for a client and then I had to rush back to file documents.” She works in one of the small boutique law firms, so her court appearances started basically as soon as she joined.

We order our usual, a round of margaritas and a plate of nachos.

“It feels like it’s been forever,” she sighs as we clink our cocktail glasses. “You know you should’ve moved in with us.”

I shake my head. “Nope, no way. I love my new place.”

Jane wipes the extra salt off the rim of her glass while looking at me. “You’re looking good, you know. More toned. And your skin is seriously glowing.” She takes a sip before asking, “Don’t bother denying it. I’ll bet ten dollars you’re hooking up with someone.”

I sip my drink, trying to play it off cool, but my mind floods with the images of the last time I was with anyone. The memory of black eyes looking at me with so much love makes my insides drop. “How’s your work, by the way?”

Jane giggles. “No. We’re not talking about work.” Popping a nacho into her mouth, she brings up her favorite topic. “You know, you should really start using those dating apps. You’re totally ready. I mean, look at you.” She gestures at me dramatically.

“Maybe someday.” I manage a smile.

Thankfully, she doesn’t push further. “So, how’s it going working with Dade now that he’s your boss instead of your professor?”

“I don’t know. We won the Adler account today, something I’ve been chasing for months, and he didn’t put me on it. Ben and I are the only ones in the firm with zero fixed accounts. We only support others on theirs.”

She frowns. “Strange. But he wouldn’t seek you out for his firm if he didn’t think you were capable.”

I sigh. “I think he feels I’m too soft and not assertive enough.”

“C’mon! It’s Dade we’re talking about. Do you really think hewould hire you if he didn’t think you were the right fit? Though I do think you could be more assertive.”

“Well, I decided to practice pushback with the people who are actually on the Adler account. I did everything required until office hours ended, and I punched out at five sharp.”

Jane giggles. “Good for you. Always push back.” Flipping through the menu she asks, “What do you want?”

The garlicky shrimp smell fills the air as our food arrives, making my stomach churn. I push the platter away, opting for the loaded potato skins instead. Jane arches an eyebrow at me.

“What’s up with you?” she asks, biting into her shrimp taco. “You love tacos.”

“I’m just not in the mood today,” I say, rolling the cheesy potatoes around in my mouth, trying to ignore the churning in my stomach.

Jane shrugs and continues eating. “So, speaking of being in the mood, I’ve been having the worst period cramps lately. It’s like my uterus is staging a revolt.”

Her words hit me like a bolt of lightning. My fork clatters onto the plate, and I freeze, calculating backward. Three months. I haven’t had a period inthree freaking months.

My mind races, panic rising in my chest. I discreetly push my cocktail aside, suddenly unable to even look at it.

“Seren, are you okay?” Jane’s voice cuts through my spiraling thoughts.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine,” I reply, trying to keep my voice steady. “Just tired, I guess.”

She looks at me suspiciously but doesn’t push further, and thankfully, she shifts the conversation to Hollywood gossip.

After we finish dinner, for once I splurge and take a cab, stopping at a pharmacy on the way home. The cashier rings me up without a word, but I can feel her eyes on me as she hands me the pregnancy test kits. I feel like the entire store knows what I’m buying.

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