Page 56 of The Omega Lesson

I grin, although I’m pretty sure on the way to the bathroom he mutters under his breath, “Minus the damp and asbestos, of course.”

I pack an overnight bag and lock up the house in record time. We split up on the verge, Mattie keeping Jack company in the van while I sink like warm butter into Noah’s Maserati. I soak it all in as he fires up the engine, the roof folding back in a way that makes me ooh and aah. I don’t have a car, let alone a dream car, but now I’m getting all sorts of ideas. “Shouldn’t we be driving the Amalfi Coast or something? A ride across town feels like such a waste.”

“That can be arranged,” He grins and my heart flutters. Because as pretty as his car is, Noah’s smile is a thousand times better. I reach up and play with his floppy black hawk. “You’re going to get this all mussed up.”

He purrs almost as loud as his engine. “Then you’ll just have to brush it out for me.”

I hum, picturing him with his head in my lap while I run my fingers through his silky hair. “Why did you get rid of the pink? I’m pretty sure Miller would’ve given you the job with a rainbow mullet.”

I expect him to say something flippant, but he catches my hand, his dark eyes boring into mine as he kisses the knuckles. “Because this is the real me. And I want you to know exactly who I am, Lexi Novak.”

God, my heart.

It’s the kind of raw, innocent statement I hear from Bree. But coming from Noah? I’m pretty sure that tingling feeling in my chest is a different but very real kind of love.

He grins like he can see right through to my palpitating heart, then guns the engine and we’re off. Of course, we only make it as far as the corner before he cocks a brow at me and asks, “Wet yet, sweet thing?”

I’d be lying if I said the combination of Noah, his car, and the breeze tugging at my hair wasn’t doing things to me, but the smile slips off my face as I recall Anton’s nasty comments about my personal life. I’ve been keeping things like this bottled up for so long, but maybe it’s time to start being more honest about the real me, too.

“I spoke to my brother this morning. He wasn’t pleased that I’ve been seen chasing the Lyall boys around town.”

I try to keep my voice light, but Noah’s head whips my way, his eyes narrowing. “He said what?”

“He goes to an alpha club in the city. Seems we’re the hot topic of conversation. He also said his law firm is trying to get a deal going with Lyall Corp and he thinks our fling could muddy the waters.”

“That’s something Travis has going on. And so far, the only fling Travesty’s a part of is chucking his toys out of the playpen.” He says it with a smirk, but he’s grinding his hands on his steering wheel. “Your brother has a pack, right?”

According to Anton, he hasthepack. A bunch of upwardly mobile lawyers, doctors, and business execs who live with him in a fancy apartment across town.

“Yep. They had their bonding ceremony the week after Richard left. I was a bit of a mess, and I think he’s been worried ever since that I’ll embarrass him like that again.”

“Because you had your heart broken and your child taken away, and you were expected to make nice a week later?”

“Well, that, and because Richard turned up with his omega, Moira. And she was carrying Bree. In matching frilly dresses. It completely messed with my head.”

“Fuck me.” A pulse is pounding in his temple as he glares through the windshield. “Your brother invited your arsehole ex? Why?”

“Because Richard works at the same firm as Anton. My dad, too. They still catch up once a week for dinner.” He makes a strangled sound, and I kind of regret ruining the mood. But if Noah wants me to know the real him, he deserves the same honesty from me. And one thing that hasn’t changed over the years is my strained relationship with my family.

Something that stays with me all day, despite Noah’s attempts to distract me. He gives me a proper tour of his house, including the Olympic sized swimming pool and the stables, both of which are on a level of luxury that goes way beyond the Prendiville facilities. He has so much land, the local wildlife congregates around the edges, and my heart gives a pang when I see a mob of kangaroos lounging along the tree line. Bree would think she’d died and gone to heaven to get this close to them in the wild.

Maybe it’s the reminder that Richard has screwed over my weekend that gets my blood boiling. But by the time we start talking about getting ready for the tennis tournament, I feel like doing something drastic.

“Can you dye my hair?” I ask Noah as we head into his bedroom on the top floor. “I was thinking I’d like to try pink, since Bree loves it so much.”

And because I’ll never look at pink hair again and not think of this beautiful man.

“That’s something I can definitely do,” he purrs, tugging on my ponytail like he can’t wait to get started.

“Great, but it’ll have to be temporary. A rinse, or whatever. I’ll need to be back to boring black for work on Monday.”

He makes a rude sound at that, but since he’s now also a member of the Prendiville faculty, he doesn’t argue with me. Instead, he takes me into his luxurious bathroom and opens a cabinet door to a magical kingdom of dyes, shampoos, and deep conditioners. Half the labels are in French, but as soon as he cracks a few caps, I’m in sensory heaven. “Are you sure Jack’s the only omega in the family?” He cocks a brow at me and I bite my tongue. “Sorry. That was a stupid thing to say.”

“Nah, if anyone’s earned the right to question the alpha BS, it’s you.” He gives me a soft smile as he starts prepping my hair. “And I don’t hold to one designation, anyway. I mean, I get the biological need. Alphas want to fuck omegas. But have you ever met a more fuckable boy than our bratty beta? Besides, soft things are the bomb. Yeah, fast cars and fist fights get my blood pumping, but those fur blankets weren’t just for you, sweet thing. You get me?”

I smile at him; this tattooed man with his hands covered in plastic gloves while he massages pink dye into my hair. “I get you, Noah.”

An hour later, he’s given me a hot pink manicure and a seaweed wrap and is blow drying my hair. I’m mesmerised by the silky pink strands, which somehow perfectly complement my complexion. I’ve always felt like my colouring was too stark, but the pink softens me, making my dark eyes glow and my pale skin gleam. It’s silly to be so transfixed by a little hair dye, but I can’t help but wonder if this isn’t the real me trying to peek through.

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