Page 58 of The Alpha Under My Bed

I smirked, shaking my head. “Nah. I’m a good best friend. I already promised I’d look the other way when you add more sugar to your lemonade.”

She grinned, kicking my shin lightly under the table. “Damn right you will.”

For a second, it was easy.

For a second, she looked happy.

And I would do anything to keep her that way.

One funnel cake turned into two. Then fries. Then fried Oreos, because Ellie had zero impulse control when it came to sugar, and I wasn’t exactly putting up a fight. Then I made the mistake of letting her talk me into splitting a plate of loaded nachos from a truck that smelled like pure sin.

By the time we were done, we were both wrecked.

Ellie slumped back in her chair, near death, cradling her stomach. “If you make one comment about how much I just ate, I will actually kill you.”

I groaned, shifting in my seat. Fuck, I was full. “Not saying shit.”

Her eyes narrowed, suspicious. “You always have something to say.”

I grabbed another fry, mostly to prove a point. Mistake. My stomach hated me. “Not this time.”

Ellie just stared at me. “Bull. Shit. You probably don’t even feel sick, do you?”

I smirked. “What, you want me to start groaning and clutching my stomach?”

“Yes.” She waved a limp hand at me, suffering. “I want your fake beta ass to suffer.”

I chuckled, stretching my arms over my head. “I feel great.”

Ellie gasped, fully betrayed. “That’s not fair. You should be in just as much pain as me.”

“Maybe you should’ve stopped at one funnel cake.”

Her glare was instant. “First of all, fuck you.”

I grinned, sipping my lemonade. “I mean, I’m just saying.”

“You are the worst influence.”

“Please.” I nudged her knee with mine. “You were gonna get it anyway.”

She didn’t argue. She also didn’t stop me from ordering two large lemonades—one for her, one for me, even though neither of us had any damn business drinking anything at this point.

By the time we made it back to the bike, Ellie swung her leg over, sighing as she adjusted her skirt for what had to be the tenth time since we left.

“Not a single warning,” she grumbled, glaring at me as I handed her the helmet. “You knew I was gonna wear a skirt, and you still pulled this whole let’s-take-the-bike thing.”

I smirked.

Cute.

Like she hadn’t been clutching onto me for dear life an hour ago.

I reached back, grabbed her wrists, and yanked her arms tighter around my waist. “Hold on, sweetheart.”

She sucked in a sharp breath, pressing flush against me.

My grin widened.

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