Page 64 of Pack Rivals, Part One

16

Bea

"You look great,"Courtney says, as I open my mouth to ask that exact question.

"Really?" I stare down at my outfit, smoothing my hands over my skirt and chewing my lip. The buttons of my blouse are straining a little. Did my tits get bigger? Is that another omega side effect? Or maybe it just shrunk in the wash.

"Yes, really. You're gorgeous, Bea. You could wear a trash bag and you'd still look stunning."

I raise an eyebrow at her. Now I know she's lying.

She puts down her spoon and comes strolling over to me, bopping me on the nose with her forefinger.

"Hey," I protest.

"Cut it out."

"Cut what out?"

"I can see those tiny wheels in your head, spinning like crazy, telling you I'm being dishonest."

"Well, are you? Are you just saying it to make me feel better?" I'm not fishing for compliments here. I have no freaking idea. Karl was always the one to scrutinize my outfits. To tell me if I looked good or not. Most of the time I didn't.

Courtney cocks her head to one side and tucks a piece of hair that's fallen from my bun behind my ear.

"Why don't you believe me, Bea?"

I sigh and lean to hover on the back of the sofa.

"Karl."

"Don't call him that." I furrow my brow. "We only ever refer to that asshole as shitty McShithead from now on."

I laugh. "I like it."

"It's just a shame I can't call it him to his face," Courtney says darkly. Then takes my hands in hers. "I don't know what shitty McShithead was telling you all those years, Bea, but you are truly beautiful, inside and out. God, I feel like a mortal walking alongside a goddess whenever we go out together. Don't you notice the way everyone looks at you?"

I blink. "Yes, but …"

"But …"

"Kar–" Courtney glares at me. "Shitty McShithead always said it was because my hair looked bad or my outfit was all wrong. He said I was embarrassing."

"Jeez Bea, why did you stay with that creep? Why were you going to marry him?"

I peer out towards the window. The sun pours through the window as if beckoning me outside to face the day.

Why did I stay with him? Because he was nice at first. Really nice. We were only kids and yet he treated me like a queen. He told me he loved me, said we were meant to be together, looked at me like I was the only girl in the world. The bad stuff started later, gradually and slowly, building over time, so I hardly noticed it happening.

"He boiled me like a frog," I tell Courtney.

"Okay," she laughs. "But he's old business now. So stop listening to those stupid voices in your head and start believing in yourself."

I nod. Right. Starting with this new job.

"Are you nervous?" Courtney asks me as I chug down a coffee and stuff a piece of toast down my throat.

"Nope," I say. The new pills the doctor gave me seem to be working. I feel more myself today. Myself and excited.

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