Page 6 of Begrudgingly Yours
I can’t describe just how happy I am by my best friend’s new bonds. After watching her dickwad of an ex try to stomp out her light, I wanted to burn down the world. Those months were beyond stressful, but her happiness has only gone uphill since she met her scent matches. Thinking about it too long makes me a bit emotional.
Since we no longer live together, we meet here in the dining hall a few times a week to catch up. Over the summer it was easier, since neither of us had a set schedule, but since the new semester has started, I’ve been swamped. And, even though Stacia doesn’t attend Bensen anymore, being knee-deepin her manuscript and her new job has taken up a lot of her time.
We’re just a couple of starving artists, trying our damn best.
She spots me and smiles widely as I take a spot beside her. She steals a tater tot off my plate, but smacks Ciro’s hand when he tries to do the same. “Don’t you know not to steal food off of an omega’s plate?”
Ciro jokingly scoffs at her. “You just stole a tot yourself!”
“Yes, because Rory loves me. I’m her favorite person, and we’ve known each other a long time.”
“That may be true, but I’m working my way up. I’m definitely at least her second favorite.”
He looks at me for confirmation, which prompts me to shake my head. “Don’t put me in this position. Ciro, you’re definitely my favorite of Stacia’s mates, but she’ll always have the top spot.”
“What?!” Kendall balks. “I thought we were creating a rapport.”
“And I told you from the start that Ciro is the most interesting.”
I try not to laugh at the smug look on Ciro’s face as Kendall sneers at him. Before they can continue bickering, I look at my best friend. “Thank you for telling Opal about my totally-not-weird thing with cherry coke.”
She laughs. “You mean your completely superstitious tradition thing?”
I jab her in the ribs with my index finger. “My love for it is not mutually exclusive with my auditions, you know this.”
“Yeah, of course, but the way you are when youdon’thave one before an audition? I was just letting Opal in on a little must-know secret.”
I groan. “Oh god, did you tell her that?”
“No!” But the look she gives me is sheepish. “Notcompletely. I just told her you would appreciate it. I’m so glad you two are getting along. I really need to come by more often.”
That sentiment causes me to smile. “You’re always welcome to. She’s great and the only replacement I’d accept after you left me for your mates.”
“So, how did the audition go, then?” she asks as she continues to eat her salad.
Ciro’s eyes widen. “Oh yeah! Your Shakespeare class. How was it?”
“Despite the lucky soda, I think it wasjustfine. I would have done better if a certain someone didn’t make it his mission to cause me immense irritation.”
Stacia’s grin turns teasing. “You didn’t tell me Jett was in your class.”
I sigh.Of course she knows exactly who I’m talking about.
Kendall’s brows shoot up, his curiosity evident on his face. “And who is Jett?”
I sneer at him. “This is why you’re not my favorite.”
Stacia playfully slaps my shoulder, and I put my hands up in surrender.
“So, why did he distract you from a good audition? Or are you just using that as an excuse?”
I shoot daggers at her. “I donotdo that.”
“Come on. It’s much easier to blame it on him, especially since you’re already so dead set on thinking the worst of him. Although, I still don’t understand why.”
“Because he is the spawn of Satan himself!”
Stacia gives me a smirk and just shrugs. I know she’s only teasing but it really hits me in the gut. Before I can retort to her obvious attempt at pushing my buttons, Kendall calls out to someone and beckons them over. When I look up to see who, I freeze because it’s actuallytwosomeones.
