Page 52 of Claiming Xan
Of course, TJ was there and my spirits faltered a little when he looked me up and down, made a face, and said, “Looks likesomeoneis in a good mood.” Like it mattered to him. What the hell was his problem, anyway?
Annoyed, I planted my hands on my hips and met his gaze head-on. “As a matter-of-fact, I am, and so long assomeonedoesn’t ruin it, everything’ll be great. Thank you very much.”
Our boss, Roger, rolled his eyes, then grabbed a stack of invoices off the counter and shuffled off into the back room. His office door snicked shut with an audibleclick, and my other coworker for the day, a shy Omega named Angie, giggled.
TJ huffed out a, “Whatever,” then stomped off to another part of the candy store to no doubt stock some jars or something. Didn’t know, didn’t care, so long as he wasn’t bothering me.
“What’s his deal?” Angie asked, hiking a thumb in the direction TJ went.
She was pretty new—both to the job, and to Greymercy—and she didn’t have a clue about what all had gone on between me and TJ the past several months. She was a sweet girl, if not a bit naive, but I didn’t mind filling her in.
“Honestly? I have no idea,” I admitted, wiping the perspiration off my brow with the back of my hand, then wiping my hand off on my jeans. “He’s been harassing me to go on a date with him since I started working here, and whenever I turn him down, he gets all butt-hurt.”
Angie’s hazel eyes fell to my rounded belly. “But you’re…”
“Yeah, I know.” I waved a hand. “And I’m mated now, too. He doesn’t seem to care. I don’t know if I’m just a conquest at this point or what, but it’s hella annoying.”
“Weird.” She wrinkled her nose. I couldn’t help but smile; it made her look a little bit like a bunny rabbit. “So when are you due? Can I ask? Is that rude?”
“Nah.” I laughed. “Early March.”
“Oh dang, so close to the month of love!” she exclaimed. “It would be cool to have a baby born on Leap Year, wouldn’t it? Then it would technically only have a birthday every four years. That’s fun.”
“My luck, it’ll cling to my womb till the end of March.” I tipped my chin towards her, curious now. “But enough about me—what about you, Angie? Doyouhave an Alpha? Kids? Spill the beans, girlfriend. We’re coworkers now, so that means I’m officially allowed to put my nose in your business.”
She shook her head, biting down on her bottom lip. “N-Nope. Not yet, anyway. But there’s this girl…”
“Agirl?”I leaned in, bouncing my brows. “Ooh, gossip? Do tell.”
She giggled again and covered her reddening face with both hands, like she was embarrassed to even admit it. Then she peeked out from between her fingers. “Oh, she’s wonderful. A breath of fresh air. So kind-hearted and sweet, and everyone whose ever met her loves her.”
“Including you.” I smirked.
She blushed an even deeper shade of pink, if that was possible. “Including me,” she admitted softly. “But I don’t think she’s noticed me. Not like that. She’s nice to everyone, so what makes me any different, you know?”
“Thenmakeher notice you,” I told her with a sharp, affirming nod. “Be bold. Stand out from the crowd for once.”
She blinked. “How, though?”
“Buy her flowers! Ask her out!”
She gasped, staring at me. “B-But… I’m an Omega!”
“So what?” I retorted. “The Alpha-centric bullshit issolast season. It’s time for us Omegas to take the bull by the horns and tell our Alphas exactly what we want.”
“Did you?” She barely squeaked out the words.
I glanced over. “Huh?”
“Did you…with your Alpha?” she asked. “Tell him what you wanted, I mean?”
This time, I grinned. “Sure did, and you can too. If you like her? Show her. Flowers. Girls love flowers, even Alphas. Trust me.”
She ducked her head. “I’ll try.”
Roger chose that moment to pop his head out of the office to bark, “Less yapping, more working. Thank you.”
“Yes, sir,” I said in the sweetest tone I could muster, but after the door closed, I rolled my eyes and mouthed the word “Alpha-hole” to Angie.
