Page 14 of Why Cruise

Theo nodded. He didn’t try to fix it or shove me in a direction like everyone else had been doing since the breakup. Well, the handful of people who still talked to me, that is.

“I don’t even know who I’m supposed to be.” The words spilled out before I could catch them, raw and honest in a way I hadn’t allowed myself to be in months.

“Do you know anyone on the cruise?” Theo reached across my plate to snag a spoon, then dipped it into my mountain of whipped cream. He was a real omega. He didn’t fall apart over breakfast.

“Just you.”

“I don’t count.” His voice was light but there was something underneath it, an old hurt maybe.

“Of course you count.” I caught his eyes, making sure he knew I meant it.

“My point is,” he went for another spoonful of whipped cream, “you don’t know anyone here. Nobody knows you. So you can be anyone you want.”

I pushed my plate toward him, offering the rest of my French toast. He cut off a huge corner, awkwardly wrangling it on his spoon. Something about watching him eat my food, completely unselfconscious about it, made my chest feel lighter.

“Aren’t we late for something?” I needed to change the subject before my brain exploded from all these possibilities.

“Yeah, but it doesn’t matter.”

“It matters to you.”

His uneasy shrug told me I was right.

I brushed hair out of my eyes and straightened my spine, channeling some of his quiet confidence. “Well, I definitely don’t want to be the omega who ruins things for their best friend.”

He raised an eyebrow, a smile playing about his lips. The morning sun caught his blond curls, making them glow like a halo. “I highly doubt you could ruin anything, but let’s get going.”

We stood and made our way out of the dining room. Theo had to tug on my arm to turn me in the right direction. I slowed as a realization dawned on me. Theo was a couple steps ahead now, giving me a good view of his entire fit. His hair was perfectly parted, even though the humidity was bringing his curls to life. His clothes were ironed, even his shoes were shined.

He turned back with a frown of concern on his face.

“Theo, you’re on a matchmaking cruise.”

“Yes, I know, we both are.” His smile was confused, but adorable.

“No! Theo!Youare on a matchmaking cruise.”

“Mackenzie, are you okay? We can go…”

“I’m here,” I dramatically pointed to myself, “because I’m pathetic and my best friend thinks I need some alpha fling to getover Daryl.” I rolled right over Theo’s words of protest. “I didn’t even know this was a matchmaking cruise. You’re here to find your pack.”

“Well, yes. I’ve been planning this cruise for like a year.”

“You have a spreadsheet, don’t you?”

Theo cringed. “Maybe?”

“Perfect.” I hooked his arm and got us moving again. “Show me everything.”

“You don’t have to… I mean, it’s just… finding a pack isn’t easy for someone like me.”

The way he said it, small and uncertain, made my heart ache. “Someone amazing?”

He rolled his eyes, but I could tell my words hit home. “A male omega. Packs don’t exactly line up for us.”

“Then they’re idiots. Operation: Find Theo’s Perfect Pack starts now.”

“We, uh, might need to find a better name than that.”

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