Page 157 of Knot Baked Out For This
"Good! Maybe he'll slip in it and I'll have to catch him!"
"That's not how physics works."
"Physics doesn't apply to men that pretty."
We're all laughing when Reverie drops her bomb. "I might have a date soon."
The gym goes silent. Well, our corner of it does. The men continue being unfairly attractive in the background.
"WHAT?" Mila shrieks.
"WITH WHO?" Rosemarie demands.
"IS IT THE DELIVERY GUY?" I practically yell. "What was his name—Nash?"
"What delivery guy?" Mila and Rosemarie ask in unison.
Reverie's face goes pink. "It's not really a date-date. More like a business meeting that might involve dinner and possibly dancing."
"That's literally a date," I point out.
"It's for a potential contract!" she protests. "This organization wants to fund my social media influencer dreams, but the legal restrictions require pack bonds for Omega protection in media."
Mila and Rosemarie groan in perfect harmony.
"The pack laws are getting ridiculous," Mila mutters. "Can't even have a job without three Alphas signing off."
"It's for protection," Rosemarie says, but she doesn't sound convinced. "Supposedly."
"Protection from what? Success? Independence? Basic human autonomy?"
"Being in a bad pack is worse than the restrictions," I say quietly, and they all turn to look at me. "Trust me. Having Alphas who think they own you, who stalk you when you're finally happy, who send you—" I stop, thinking of this morning's roses. "It's worse."
Reverie leans over, studying my face. "But you're happy now. Everyone can see the difference. You're glowing, you're wearing actual clothes that fit, you're—" Her eyes narrow. "Is that a HICKEY?"
"What?" I squeak. "No!"
"That's absolutely a hickey!" She points at my neck. "Fresh one too! Still purple! Is it permanent? Did one of them MARK you?"
A hickey? When did?—
I run to the mirror on the wall, pull my hair aside, and?—
There it is. Right where my neck meets my shoulder, a purple bruise the size of a quarter, obvious as a neon sign saying "HAZEL GOT SOME."
"LUCA!" I curse, remembering this morning after the sunrise, when we got back to the apartment and he pressed me against the door and?—
Not thinking about that right now. Not with an audience.
The girls are cackling as I pull out my phone, face burning.
"Our boss is getting it on!" Mila sings.
"Finally!" Rosemarie adds. "It's about time!"
"We're going to be running the bakery while boss has babies!" Reverie teases. "Triplets at least, with three Alphas!"
"I hate all of you," I mutter, texting furiously.
