Page 141 of Dream Mates
Creed’s look went impassive. “Graduation issoon,and I want to get my own job, not work for Strauss. Compass BioTek is a top company hiring people in my field. They’re doing great things and treat their employees well.”
“You applied for the job. I… good for you… but there will be fallout if you get it and take it. It’s also far away.” Verity winced. “Our parents don’t like Compass BioTek. You work there? Did you walk into his office and there was sizzle? Sorry, I read too many boss romances.” She giggled.
“Me, too.” I laughed. “Have you readAssistant to the Boss?We’re reading it for book club and so far it’s great. Very spicy, but fantastic.” Maybe I’d finish it tomorrow while lying on the beach.
“Is that the one with the omega boss and the alpha assistant?” Her eyes gleamed. “It’s in the pile for after I finish this project I’m working on. You’re in a smutty book club? Yes, please.”
“I haven’t gone to a meeting yet, but it sounded like a fun way to make some friends since I’m new in town.”
“I’ve got a couple of good titles to suggest,” she said. “Can I text them to you?”
“Sure.” I didn’t see any issue with Verity having my number. She seemed nice.
“So, howdidyou meet? Courted by the billionaire. There’s a novel right there.” Verity giggled.
“I think I’ve read that one,” I laughed. “He’s packmates with my mates. The first time we met I was standing in the kitchen, in PJs, arguing with one of the other alphas.” I pulled up the picture from my birthday. “There’s my mate Wes, and my mate Evan, and that’s Evan’s little sister Riley, she’s part of the pack, too. Then there’s Jett, Brennan, and of course, Spencer.”
“I’m so happy for you. You have two mates in the pack? Are they physicists? Why didn’t they come?” She looked around. “I’m a little nervous about you being here without anyone.”
I waved that off. “I’m fine. While my mate Wes works with me, he’s in cybersecurity and has work to do. Evan’s an advocate for the Omega Center. And Spencer is nearby at a meeting, he’s just not on campus.”
“Evan, that giant one, isnotan alpha?” Verity asked, studying the picture.
“Nope, he’s an omega.”
Verity fanned herself with her hand. “That teddy bear of a man is an omega? How do I get me a giant omega hunk? Mmm mmmm mmmmmmm. I had no idea they made them in extra-large and I do like my guys taller than me. Please tell me that he has a younger brother?”
Creed snorted. “Verity has a thing for big guys. And yeah, I didn’t know they made them that big either.”
Oh? Omegas tended to be on the small side, guys included, while most alpha females were not. I could see how Evan’s size might make him especially tasty. Also, Verity was taller than any of the alpha females I’d met so far. She was probably six-foot without her heels.
“He’s the only boy. But, yeah.” My grin went dopey. “While I love Wes with all my heart, Evan was everything I never knew I needed.”
And Spencer was everything I never knew I wanted.
“Cybersecurity? How didyoumeet? He came to fix your computer on your first day at work?” Verity asked. “Or did you have a one night stand in a bar and realized the next day that he was your new supervisor–Oooh, or did you yell at him in the parking lot?”
I laughed because I loved all those tropes. “I just started at Compass a few weeks ago. Spence got me the job after I moved here to be with Wes. I’ve actually known Wes since I was ten.”
“Ten?” Her hand went to her heart. “Friends to lovers? Wait, no, that would be childhood love, right? Playground?”
“The park–I told him I was going to marry him the first time I met him.” I grinned.
“That’s so romantic. Wait, you told him you were getting married when you were ten? Are you scent matches? I’ve heard that scent matches can happen before you ever awaken.” Her hands waved around as she talked.
I nodded. “We are.”
“Awww. But why are you just coming to be with their pack now? I’m guessing you recently finished your PhD. Could you not get into a program in your field near them?” she pressed.
“It’s a complicated story.” I sighed.
“Sorry, not trying to pry. It’s tough getting into a PhD program. It’s just that I find stories of scent matches fascinating, given I grew up with the story of Dad and Mumsy colliding at a conference.” She grinned.
“Really? A chemistry one?” I giggled.Finding chemistry at a chemistry conference.I’d read that.
Creed nodded. “Yep. Mom, Mumsy, and Baba were all PhD students and really good friends. They’d talked about forming a pack but–”
“Baba met Mama. She was an undergrad at their school. He was in love with her and wanted to marry her. But Mom and Mumsy didn’t really like her because she was a beta, andjusta French literature major. I know. Insufferable, right?” Verity laughed. “Baba was debating whether he wanted to marry Mama or form a pack with his besties.”
