Page 21 of Stella

I stepped aside. “If that’s his idea of a peace offering, let him know that I can be bribed with food.”

“I’ll pass that along.”

I showed Jerrick the kitchen table. “You don’t have to be a go between. I’m not dating you because of Simon.”

Jerrick grinned. “More like in spite of?”

“That’s closer to the truth.”

Jerrick pulled the silver foil containers out of the bags, the room filling up with the scent of garlic, butter, and marsala wine sauce. My mouth watered.

“It’s not my entire story to tell.” Jerrick set a plate in front of me. “But it happens, a lot.”

“What?” I glanced at the clock, wondering if it was too early to eat.

“Being used.”

I looked at Jerrick. “You mean Simon? Or all of you?”

“Mostly Simon. He’s from old money.” Jerrick pulled more containers out of the take out bags. He’d ordered enough for a small army.

Or one grown man and an omega on the cusp of being in heat.

“I’m a computer programmer, and Evan teaches physical education to elementary students.”

“Awwwwww,” I squealed. My ovaries. The image of Evan running around in gym shorts helping fourth graders with jumping jacks was too much.

“He’s really good with kids.” Jerrick smiled. “Don’t tell him I ruined the ‘I have twenty-six kids’ joke.”

“Okay.” I got some plates and cups out. There was no use in pretending I wasn’t about to demolish the chicken marsala.

“Simon’s had friends, coworkers, random people on the street try to get him to help them with something. But a few years ago…” Jerrick’s face closed down.

I put my hand on Jerrick’s arm. “You don’t have to tell me.”

“I want to.” He sighed. “Her name was Ava. The sort of mate his family approved of, not like me and Evan. She was an omega, beautiful and well connected. It seemed perfect.”

I grabbed the forks too hard. I hoped against hope this wasn’t going to be that terrible. They broke up and that was that.

“Simon’s father hired my company to take care of their routine computer maintenance. We hit it off right away, but his father wasn’t happy. Wanted Simon to form a pack with someone more suitable.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Rich and powerful?”

“Yes. Someone who could advance Simon’s high powered real estate career.”

“But you’re dead sexy.” I snuck a piece of fried calamari.

Jerrick gave me a soft smile. “Simon thought so too. We met Evan a year later. Simon and I liked to take walks in the park and Evan was with his class on a field trip.”

“Irresistible.” I nodded. It was hard enough to not jump Evan’s bones, but seeing him with a bunch of adorable children? Impossible.

Jerrick sighed, handing me my marsala and all of the breadsticks. “We were happy. Simon’s father wasn’t. Kept telling Simon to find a pack who could support his career, not mooch off him.”

I rolled my eyes. “His dad sounds like a real winner.”

“He’s just as pompous and unbearable as you can imagine.” Jerrick brushed his hand over mine. “So when we met Ava, a society omega, we thought we might have found someone compatible with us. But she was a plant. By Simon’s father. To get him to break up with me and Evan and set him on the “right” path.”

“That’s horrible.” I studied his face. There was still something there. I pressed against his side, as if I could leech those old hurts away.

---