Page 86 of Knot That Serious

“Never?” Beckett asked, brows raising. “Surely Jack has…”

“Oh, no, I wasn’t talking about Jack,” Eli laughed. “Jack has thrown me tons of surprise birthday parties. They’re not really a surprise anymore, but it’s still so sweet.”

“Good, that means I don’t have to kick his ass,” Beckett drawled.

Eli chuckled. “Jack hasn’t done anything wrong… this time,” she teased, and poked his thigh with her other foot.

“Well, for what it’s worth, I hope you have fun tonight,” Beckett said. “Be safe, and if you need anything—like, if this alpha turns out to be a creep—you just call, okay?” He paused. “Actually, how well do you know him? Is he a good guy? What if—”

“Beckett,” Eli said, sitting up and placing her hands over his. “Thank you for your concern.”

Something in his expression shuttered, walled up, and disappeared. “Right.”

“I don’t need my roommate’s boyfriend to protect me,” she added. “Raj seems like a nice alpha.”

He narrowed his eyes, but continued rolling his thumbs into the ball of her foot. “Right. But I’ll do it anyway, if you need me to.”

“I appreciate it,” Eli said, and leaned back against the couch. “But I don’t think that will be necessary. In fact, I think the date is going to go great.”

Because it’s all fake, Beckett!

Beckett hummed, and Eli arched a brow at him, but he was concentrating on—

“Ooh, that’s nice,” Eli said when he dug into a sensitive spot.

“I know,” Beckett said, smug. “Like to see anyone compete with my foot rubs.”

Eli snorted. Surely Beckett wasn’t jealous? Of Raj? Of her date?

Shit.

Maybe the plan was working a little too well.

17. Rooftop Romance

Raj

Raj smoothed his hand down the button up he was wearing, down the lapels of the sweater he anticipated he’d need not for himself, but for Eli.

He lifted a hand and knocked.

Eli answered, dressed casual and warm, like he’d told her to, and she grinned up at him.

God, she was so cute, with her big smile and her cute pink curls and the freckles dusting her nose.

She was wearing clunky boots and blush-colored corduroy pants, a black tee tucked in, and a big sweater. Maybe she wouldn’t need his after all.

He might just give it to her anyway.

“Hi there,” he said, when his gaze trailed back to hers.

“Hi,” she returned.

He held out his arm like a proper date. “Ready to go?”

“Totally.”

A deep voice trailed out from the apartment. “Better have her back at a decent time, young man.”

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