Page 11 of Begrudgingly Yours
I scoff. “They get girls all the time. They were just being polite.”
Stacia flattens her lips, but doesn’t contradict me. Hockey players are treated as gods on most college campuses, and the team here is no exception. I bet they had their selection of gorgeous puck bunnies and sorority girls before I came along.
Opal pops open a can of cherry coke and hands it to me. The gesture makes me smile. “Where did you get this?”
“I got you a case, so you can feel more lucky just in your day-to-day,” she quips as she tries to pull her curly hair into a ponytail.
Stacia gives her a teasing smile. “And what about you, O? Have you met anyone new this semester?”
As an actress, you have to excel at facial expressions, both reading them and mimicking them. So, I swear I see the tiniest change in Opal’s expression at the question, the slightest notchof her lip turning down before it’s replaced by her usual peppiness.
“I’m putting away the dating hat for a while. I don’t think I’m ready to keep trying. Cindy keeps trying to set me up on dates, but I’ve told her it’s over for now.”
Both my omega and I simmer at the mention of Opal’s childhood friend. For a while, Opal was actively seeking out dates and putting herself out there, until Cindy set Opal up with an old pervy alpha that we all suspect she met in an alley behind Hooters.
She claims that the person she sent never showed up and that the creepy alpha that Opal met had taken advantage of the situation. Since they’ve known each other since childhood, Opal believed her, but I still have my guard up. My instincts are screaming at me to not trust Cindy. My omega doesn’t even like when she comes by the house. I have to lock myself in my room to get away from her.
If anything, I’m glad that awful date put Opal in our path, because I won’t let anything suspicious like that happen to her again.
“She should respect your wishes then,” I finally say, acting cordial. I take a sip from the can before placing it on one of the Studio Ghibli coasters that Opal has all over the coffee table. “We’re only juniors. There’s no need to rush.”
Again, Opal’s face contorts into a barely-there wince before she smiles. “I agree. If I meet someone organically, fine, but until then, I’m going to focus on myself. I quite like myself.”
Stacia grins. “As you should, you’re fucking awesome.”
We go back to the movie and I realize I feel a lot lighter than I did earlier tonight. This is definitely what I needed, a girls’ night with two of my favorite people. Everything else can be figured out tomorrow. I’m no longer lying by omission to my best friends, and that feels like a step in the right direction.
SIX
It’s not unusual for our fraternity to be full of strangers on Saturday night. Sam may be the most well-rounded president that Alpha Xi has ever seen, but even he knows that frat houses are supposed to be social sanctuaries. He has rules about violence and cleaning up after, but other than that, he doesn’t care if we throw an impromptu get-together.
In tonight’s case, it’s a full-blown party.
Our president couldn’t make it anyway. It’s been a bit crazier around here ever since Sam and Thatcher met their omega, Kit. He’s such an unserious dude compared to Sam it’s hysterical, but the way they look at each other shows that—sometimes—opposites really do attract.
Because Bensen has a rule about packs living together on campus, they had to sign a lease somewhere in town. It’s strange not having leadership in a house full of unruly men, but Sam’s instincts are scary. He always seems to show up when you least expect it, like he knows some of the guys are getting into trouble when they shouldn’t. It’s remarkable, but also terrifying.
Usually I’d be up for a good party, but tonight I’m feeling a bit glum. I’ve glued myself to the corner of the living room, nursing the same beer I’ve had all night. I’m not usually one for introspection, but it feels like I’m being forced to look at my emotions… to look at the havoc that Rory Cromwell has inadvertently caused between me and my best friend.
Dax and I will always be good on the surface. That’s how I know he’s meant to be in my life forever. Still, even though our friendship secured us a fantastic win last night, we both can’t seem to get our bearings. We keep side-stepping each other, avoiding the conversation that we both desperately need to have, and it’s left both of us feeling a bit awkward.
We just need to rip the band-aid off; we’d be better off for it, but we can’t seem to get our fingers around the edges. Dax is normally very straightforward, but something about our precarious situation has him weary. I’ve never seen my brother look so lost before, and it makes me want to take the reins and figure shit out. It’s an instinct that I’m not used to having because I’m much more comfortable in a passive role than an aggressive one.
My whole life, it’s always been my beta mom and me. My father—who was an alpha—died when I was a baby. I barely remember him, and my mother never wanted to move on. I have never known pack life, or what bonds with other alphas are supposed to look like. I still have my worries and doubts, even though our best friends in Pack Pearson are a wonderful example of how easy it can be.
Freshman year, I met Dax and some part of me has known ever since that he would be a part of my own family. But the bond—the thing that most people describe as a click of certainty—has never fully set in, and that alone has left a hole for insecurity to creep in.
For the millionth time tonight, Dax finds me in thecorner I’m merged to, a new cold beer in his hand. “Damn, Ev. Are you afraid of that beer or something?” he asks with a half-baked smile when he sees the full lukewarm one between my fingers. I shrug as a familiar baritone calls out to us from the crowd.
Kendall’s blond head appears through the horde of people with his usual giddy smile. His entire pack follows behind him, their happiness vibrating off of them like a beacon. Uriah holds Stacia’s hand, while Atlas trails behind them. Ciro’s wide grin and glossy eyes display how much alcohol he has in him as they crowd around us.
We all greet each other, and they get comfortable around the cozy corner that I was using as a hideaway. I look up to greet Stacia, but she avoids my gaze. I quirk my brow at the action as the guys converse with Dax about the game last night. We’re the only two not in the conversation, and yet she still won’t look at me, which leaves me extremely curious.
I’m about to ask Stacia about her book when another voice invades my alcove. I only barely contain the groan in my throat when Dax’s sister stalks into my line of sight.
“Hi, guys!” Nicole squeals. She has a glass of something pink in her hand and it sloshes off the rim as she excitedly pushes herself into the group. “How is everyone doing?” She catches my eye and tries to discreetly send me a flirtatious gaze, but Pack Pearson catches it, looking between us with incredulous looks. Dax doesn’t notice as he takes a sip of his beer. I can feel the impatience already bubbling up from deep down.
I really don’t have a problem with Dax’s sister. Nicole can be a really sweet person, but she’s also very pushy. I can never tell if she just ignores the wall I try to put up between us or if she’s used to getting what she wants, but she never takes the hints that I put out. I don’t want to cause any issues. In my head, Dax is already my pack mate. She’s his family, so she’ll be in my life as long as Dax is—which I plan on being forever. Idon’t mind playing nice, because my loyalty to Dax is what matters.
