Page 26 of Knot Just for Show

After the first day of whirlwind dates, I was ready to shove some dinner into my face before a shower, then sweet, blissful sleep.

During breakfast the next morning, Roxy and I rustled ourselves up some yogurt, granola, and fruit, along with anappropriately large volume of coffee to abscond with. We laid out our monogrammed fleece blankets on the carpet side by side in the far corner of the ladies’ lounge below the impressive living wall of hanging plants.

While our breakfast picnicking spot was not obscured from the small camera team following our every move and interaction, it did afford us a good distance from our fellow contestants. With this much relativeprivacy, we could be free to talk about our dates from the day before without worrying about being overheard.

“Ok, so—how did the rest of your dates yesterday go?” I ask, my voice still lowered despite our healthy separation from the group.

“Well, you weren’t wrong—I did enjoy talking with Mavren.” Roxy raises her eyebrows at me, but lays a hand over my knee as we sit cross-legged beside one another in yoga pants and hoodies. “I know we haven’t gotten our schedules from Kimmy yet, but it’s absolutely no contest—the five guys I’m actually looking forward to going on second dates with are Anton, Teddy, Karl, Ian, and Valentine.” She gives me a knowing wink. “Mavren was cool, but defs seemed like too much of a goodie two shoes for my taste.” Roxy crinkles her nose before popping a blueberry between her lips.

Though I hadn’t realized I had been holding my breath, I finally exhale upon hearing Roxy’s response. Karl, the hockey player, and I had struggled to maintain the most basic of conversations. Ian, the investment banker and adrenaline junkie, was a somewhat obvious choice to match with Roxy—the aerialist, pole artist, and exotic entertainer—but felt like oil to my water during our date. Valentine, a soft-spoken and sensitive computer programmer, is one I would have figured for diametric opposition to Roxy. You know what they say though, ‘opposites attract,’ and all that.

I run through the list of her potential suitors, and even though it’s still so early in the process, I can’t help but relax a little, knowing that we have a pretty small amount of romantic overlap.

While we have not been given our schedules for the day, thus we don’t know who’s actually requested a second date withus, regardless of what was said in the bubbles yesterday; I am delighted that the only potential ‘bone of contention’ between Roxy and I is Teddy—the sweet, but unlikely to end up holding my interest, meathead, who likely wouldn’t want anything to do with me in the real world once he sees what I look like.

“Eeee! I love that for you!” I squeal, reaching over and trying to squeeze Roxy’s rock hard bicep.Jesus, I’m glad she and I are friends and I’ve not yet had the opportunity to piss her off.

“Ok, but enough about me—who areyougoing on a second date with today? Do you already feel like you’re going to end up asking some of them for their scent cards before the third date?” Roxy shimmies her shoulders at me and makes a kissy face.

“I’m hoping for second dates with Mavren, Lysander, Ash, and Ronan.” I blush, pushing a few clusters of granola around my yogurt rather than looking directly at Roxy.

“Awwwe—are you going to give Teddy the cold shoulder?” She bats her lashes at me. “Not that I mind–more for me.” She licks her lips and we both laugh.

“No, no–I just…I don’t know how to explain it. I don’t think that his interest in me is going to last. I think he was more freaked out by the idea of me turning him down than the actual fact of the matter,” I sigh.

“Hmm, that’s honestly fair. You might be right, but also he could just really be a himbo with a heart of gold and a few IQ points short of you, Miz Brainiac.” Roxy gently collides with me, shoulder first–nearly knocking me off my sit bones and onto the floor.

“Touche. I’ll give him an honest chance—just don’t be mad if suddenly he begins to fall for my charming intellect and sparkling wit,” I gush, posing like a reclining emperor for a moment for effect.

Roxy nearly blows orange juice out of her nostrils, struggling to choke down her drink against her laughter.

“Okay girl, keep that confidence. In the words of the prophet,You betta werk, bitch.” She tosses her hair, winks, and blows me a kiss in a sequence made to evoke crossing oneself and praying.

The two of us dissolve into laughter once more before Roxy restarts her line of questioning.

“So the super aloof Lysander, oversharer Ronan, professional party boy Ash, meathead Teddy, and goody-two-shoes Mavren…at least you can’t be accused of having a ‘type,’” she laughs.

“What is it they say? ‘Variety is the spice of life’ or whatever.” I wave her off brazenly, but I’m well aware that these men are all wildly different people, plus, I don’t know any of their designations.

As if she’s reading my mind, Roxy shoots me a devilish look.

“So, are you going to ask foralltheir scent cards? I know I’m a greedy girlie and can handle myself…but I’m surprised by you, little Ursula over here, possibly looking to get into a trial heat with up to five different knots.” She makes an obscene expression, a parody of orgasm; eyes rolled back into her head, mouth slightly ajar.

“I actually hadn’t stopped to think about that, really,” I admit sheepishly. Though, now that she’s said it, I can feel my pulse quicken. There’s a throb between my legs and I hope that I’m not cranking out too much perfume at the mere thought of being with five men at once, let alone with five knots.

“Or, what if it’s the other direction—five betas, thetas, or deltas?” Roxy gives a tiny shudder, and I can see the kernel of true worry in her posture—in the wild look in her eye.

“Yeah, that would be super unfortunate,” I agree, drawing my knees up toward myself.

“I can’t imagine that Anton or Teddy aren’t alphas though, right?” Roxy sanity checks against my own assessment.

“I mean, it’s possible they could be deltas… But I really don’t think that’s the case. I’d bet you five bucks both of them are as alpha as they come,” I assure her.

“Alpha as theycum, huh?” Roxy teases.

“Oh my god, you are so bad—and we’re still on our fucking suppressants.” I jab her in the ribs and she gives it back in kind, pinching my thigh.

“You know how it gets before you go into heat—once I’m actually in it, I’m fuckin’insatiable. Not like I have to tell you or anything, fucking omegas,” she laughs, flicking one of the loose curls next to my ear playfully.

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