Page 90 of Crash Course Omega
Everest isn’t showing it, but he stands at the front of the crowd of mechanics, most of them glaring daggers at us because we’re taking up precious time.
They need to do maintenance on the cars for the free practice tomorrow, and we have already set them back by three hours.
Jaxx keeps spreading his pheromones over me, but the only person who says anything is Maddock, who also responds by dumpingmorepheromones, so I’m dizzy, turned on, and annoyed. Not a great start to the day. But I know as soon as I get into the car that I can leave all of that behind.
Especially my need to go to Everest and pull him into my arms and ask him if we can have a whole day tomorrow where we doour usual thing with just us, because I’m being smothered by two competitive alphas.
As soon as they get the last photos, I shoot off the car. The photographer calls for a break while they get set up for the next round, and I nearly roll my eyes. I can’t deal with any more pheromones.
But that means the three of us end up standing around awkwardly. Well, Maddock and I are acting awkward. Jaxx just keeps grinning like he normally does.
“Do you think I’ll be in with a chance of winning the charity race?” I ask Maddock, trying to fill the quiet space between us.
He pauses, his fingers knotted in front of him.
“Honestly?” he asks, twisting his lips. “Based on your last race, I don’t think you’ll do it. You’ll be up against some of us key drivers who never stopped driving, the chances of you getting ahead of them, especially on a track like Silverstone, are really slim.”
A sharp stab of annoyance hits me hard as I stare at him, but he blinks like he said nothing wrong.
“It wouldn’t kill you to lie to me for once in your life,” I say flatly.
“But if I tell you the truth, then you can temper your expectations and won’t be disappointed.”
“Did you ever think about how that might affect me? If you’d told me I could win, maybe I would have fought harder to make sure I got the top spot.”
He tilts his head. “But you always won anyway,” he says as his brow creases.
But it isn’t about that. It’s about the pressure he put on me. Because instead of having a supportive alpha who cheered me on for every race, I had an alpha who assessed everything I did and told me how it was wrong. Told me I would lose if I drove in a particular way. And made every race harder because I didit to prove him wrong, rather than make myself proud of my achievements.
And I don’t know if telling him how much that fucked me up is worth it.
“Because I was looking for your support, Maddock. Not your analysis of the situation.”
“But that’s why we have our bets, isn't it? So that we both challenge ourselves and exceed those expectations.”
“Now now,” Jaxx purrs as he smooths himself in, wrapping his arms around my shoulders, popping his chin on top of my head. “Let’s not fight before Harmony’s big shoot. We wouldn’t want you to drive distracted, would we, sweetheart?”
“And you don’t think you’re distracting her?” Maddock growls.
It happens again. The small fizzle that had started inside me the first moment Maddock became jealous has been growing through the photoshoot, and seeing him look at Jaxx with so much contempt just gets me excited.
“Are you two even going to attempt to get along?” I ask.
“I don’t know,” Jaxx purrs, nudging his nose against my ear. “Have you thought any more about being a pack?”
“There is no chance we’re going to be a pack,” Maddock growls. “Not with you, at least.”
I roll my eyes again, dragging myself away from Jaxx.
“Could you sort this out between yourselves? I need to get ready.”
As I step away, Maddock goes to argue with me, but I can’t afford to go any deeper into the conversation. Jaxx is right; I’m already messed up enough as it is, and that’s partially his fault.
Before I can leave the area, Everest suddenly steps in front of me. My eyes widen because I don’t expect him to talk to me when so many people are around, but he dips his chin, looking alarmed.
“If you make a good lap time, I’ll give you this jacket,” he says softly.
My gaze roams over it. He has it tightly zipped up to his chin, and, after a hard morning of work, his scent will be soaked through it. I don’t have enough for my nest yet, and if his jacket smells that strongly, I could definitely wrap it around my pillow and smell him for weeks.
