Page 15 of Team's Omega
I slumped onto a chair as soon as Jace was out the door. “Is it really that bad?”
“Do you want an honest answer, or the one you want to hear because you’re one of my bosses?”
“Ouch.”
“I’m just sayin’: I would have called in.”
I sighed, took off my glasses, and pinched the bridge of my nose. Was I being reckless?
“Then again,” Lucas conceded, “I have nasty pre-heat symptoms. I usually feel like shit the whole day before it starts.”
“Sorry to hear that.”
Shuffling, then he squeezed my shoulder. “I’m going to shelve the returns.”
“Ok.”
The sound of his footsteps, then the squeaking of one wheel as he pushed the cart out of the circulation area.
I took a deep breath and blew it out slowly, then I put my glasses back on and turned to the computer. I’d made my choice to come in, and to stay. The fact that it was the team’s final meeting probably played a part, but it wasn’t as if I was feeling bad… I was just closer to my heat starting than Jace and Lucas were comfortable with.
I focused on busywork for the next few hours. The time between semesters was slower, and I’d normally use it to work on long-term tasks. However, as the minutes ticked by, my mind increasingly wandered to the team.
Would Tyler, Nate, Garrett and Miguel keep coming to the library, or were their visits tied to the use of the AV study room?
Tyler had offered me the chance to hang out with them outside of the library, but was he just being nice?
What did I have to offer the handsome men?
“What’s wrong Cutie?”
I jumped, realizing that I’d been so lost in thought that Nate had come up without me noticing and was leaning on the counter.
I shook my head. “Nothing.”
He gave me an unsure look, then his blue eyes widened and nostrils flared.
Please growl,a small voice inside me begged.Give some indication that you want me.
Nate straightened, blank expression on his face, and tugged his shirt down. “I should get up there.”
“Ok…”
My heart sank as he rushed up the stairs. Nate was normally so flirty, but as soon as he’d realized I was almost in heat, he couldn’t get away from me fast enough.
On some level I’d always known that I never had a chance with any of the alphas on the team, but the way Nate had run off only proved it in the most painful way. If he didn’t want me during my heat, there was no way he’d be interested in me the rest of the time.
I forced a smile as the rest of the team came in, even as the rejection made me want to crumble. Worse, it quickly became apparent that Nate had warned the others. None of them approached, instead ducking their heads as they scurried past.
At least I only had two hours left before closing. Then I could go home, drown my sorrows with a pint of ice cream, and sink into a string of heat-fueled orgasms.
Lucas seemed aware of my mood, not-so-subtly glancing over every few minutes. But he didn’t give any indication of calling Jace.
“I’m going to walk through and let people know we’re closing in fifteen,” Lucas said after close to an hour of silence. “Not that there are many around.”
“Ok.”
A couple students came to the desk to check out books, but most people strode past without stopping.
