Page 63 of Foxy Filthy Omega

Slicking the color on my lips as I let the engine warm up was a comfortable habit. I didn’t like going out on jobs with a bare face and the lipstick always felt like a shield against those who wanted to demonize any type of femininity in alphas.

I stuck the lipstick back in its slot and then reached back for the cooler where I kept extra cans of my favorite energy drink and froze when I saw a derpy-looking shark keychain sitting on the top of my energy drinks.

This wasn’t something I’ve ever bought.

Slipping my finger through the ring, I grabbed two and offered one to Soren, but he shook his head, eyes slightly wider than normal and the color was even brighter without his glasses on.

Dropping those in the cup holders, I cracked one open and flipped on my turn signal.

The shark dangled from my finger and I couldn’t say why, but I had a feeling Leo had broken into my car again and left it here for me.

No one else other than Lucy knew about my weird obsession with sharks and she was on the other side of the world right now. The only person who could possibly see something this stupid and think of me, was Leo.

I liked the texture of it too. It was squishy, like one of those stress balls.

There was probably a tracker in here, but I didn’t really care.

It never ceased to amaze me how Leo was never bothered by anything I did. He even went so far as to leave me a dumb little present like this after I’d stabbed him.

He always made it impossible to ignore him.

I tucked the shark in my pocket and focused on Soren. “Have you finished all the required reading for new Genesis detectives?”

“Yes, I have.”

I took a sip and pulled into traffic. “Good, because the last thing we need is to give the cops another reason to talk shit about us.”

He didn’t say anything to that, but I didn’t expect him to. I just needed him to not make any stupid mistakes in an active crime scene.

“Set up the GPS and put in the location,” I instructed. “Have you been to the Melides State Park before?”

“Once.”

Good to know.

A few seconds later the GPS installed in my car announced the freeway I needed to get on. I got into the on-ramp lane and glanced at Soren out of the corner of my eye.

He was studying the cherries hanging from my rearview mirror, looking way too big for my car. Then he glanced over at me, my lips, and then down at the cigarette lighter I’d converted into a lipstick holder.

“Red is my favorite color,” I muttered, feeling self-conscious for some reason.

“Is it? I never would have guessed.”

I studied him as I waited for the light to turn green, not sure if he was messing with me or not. His tone was innocent, but I had this feeling he was teasing me even though there was no obvious reason to feel that way.

“What’s your favorite color?” It was a stupid question but I didn’t like feeling like a silly little girl and the best way to move on from it was to redirect the attention back to him.

“I don’t have a favorite color,” Soren admitted, his gaze shifting to the car next to us. “But if I have to pick, I’d probably say black.”

Made sense considering what he wore, but I didn’t think he picked it because he liked the color. I was pretty sure it was because of the utility.

One of my psychology classes had gone into favorite colors and what they generally meant and how it came off to others. It’s why I’d chosen red as my favorite color.

Red was a color someone who was outgoing and extroverted liked. It was a declaration for everyone to look – to ‘notice me.’

I wanted others to see me as bold, energetic, and confident. I wanted them to think I was a person of action – someone who’d do anything to achieve their goals. That’s who I needed them to see. Not the sensitive and loving person with a deep, nurturing side.

Pink was too feminine, too romantic and playful. They’d all see me as compassionate and empathetic. Things I never wanted them to associate me with…things I pretended didn’t exist.

---