Page 83 of Patiently Yours
She nods while trying to hide her smile of amusement.
Atlas walks over. “What does this guy look like?”
She winces. “Greasy. A sneer on his face that might just be a medical problem. And he smells like bug spray.” She gags a bit from the memory.
“How unfortunate.” Rory ponders. “I wonder who decides our scents. Do you ever wonder?”
“Yes, let’s get philosophical.” Ciro beams. “It must be meaningful on some level. Otherwise, why else would Atlas smell like a library of all things?”
I put my hand on Atlas’ shoulder. “And chamomile tea. A bookworm’s paradise.”
He gives me that dazzling grin of his before he turns to the others. “We’re going to come up with an excuse and tell him that she went home.”
Ciro raises his hand. “I vote the excuse be diarrhea. Maybe he’s one of those guys that still believes women don’t shit and he’ll go home faster.”
The omega lets out a chuckle. “Better yet, tell him I’m pouring out from both ends and that I’m on the way to the hospital.”
Her statement leaves the four of us in giggles.
“And!” Rory adds. “Tell him that he may need to schedule a doctor’s appointment because her germs fly at the speed of light.”
I hit Rory’s shoulder. “It’s like lice, hopping from one head to the other. Inevitable!”
Ciro bangs a fist on the table and hollers.
My alphas shake their heads at us as we bellow our laughter. Somewhere deep in us, we know it’s not that funny, but that’s what a little bit of alcohol does to you.
“You four be safe.” Atlas places a kiss to my forehead before the three of them walk away. When we let our laughter dissipate, we sit back at our table and pull out a chair for our newcomer.
“Would you like something to eat?” I ask her before putting out my hand. “I’m Stacia, by the way. This is Rory, and this is my beta Ciro.”
Ciro beams in his drunken state at me claiming him. I’m still not use to saying it out loud, but I must admit it feels fucking amazing.
Freeing.
She sits and swings her curly red hair behind her shoulders. “I’m not really hungry after that awful fucking date, but thank you for the offer. My name’s Opal, it’s nice to meet you. Thank you so much for the help. I didn’t think I could take another second.”
Rory takes a sip of her rum and coke, tilting her head. “What happened, if you don’t mind me asking? Also, a date in a place like this?”
“Whoa,” Ciro says, putting out a finger, “don’t say that, we literally brought our omega here. Today. Right now.”
Rory rolls her eyes. “I’m here, too, you goof. I mean like a legit date.”
“My friend set it up. I have no idea where she met that guy, he’s in his fifties. Andshechose the place.” She gives a deep sigh. “He’s… the most misogynistic person I’ve ever interacted with. He kept saying things… about omegas. It made me feel sick so I had to get the fuck out of there.”
Rory and I look at each other before looking back at Opal. “This… sounds kind of alarming. Do you think she sent you on a date with him on purpose?”
Opal’s eyes widen. “No, no, there must have been some mistake. For all I know, I was stood up by the real date and I accidentally got into this. I was sitting at the bar, he tapped my shoulder, I said ‘Travis?’ and he nodded his head. That’s the first rule of omega car services, wait untiltheyask the name. So, maybe it was a misunderstanding. Just some pervy alpha taking advantage of the situation.”
I see the look of hope in her face that this was a big misunderstanding. I hope so, too, because if not this “friend” sounds like a real piece of work.
“Well, I’m glad you found us,” Rory remarks. “Though, it probably wasn’t hard, we’re the most fun-looking people in here.”
Opal cracks a smile. “I originally had the idea to sneak through the bathroom window or something, but I was passing by and saw you guys. I felt like this was a safe place to land, so thank you.”
I pull out my phone. “Well, we should all exchange numbers, so if you’re ever in a bind again, or just need a safe place to land?—”
“Or to hang out with new,funfriends—” Ciro chips in.
