Page 72 of Claim Me
"Well, I can certainly see that you have an exceptional mind, Gabriel."
Bam, he did it again. Is this genuine, or is he just feeding me sweet praise to make me more… loyal?
Despite my doubts, the warm feeling I shooed away last time hits me again.
"You still won in math," I whisper weakly.
"Was that a competition? Don’t compare yourself to me, Gabriel. I’m twice your age."
"I don’t think it’s about age. I think you’re just better with numbers."
"And yet you’re still excellent. I haven’t met many people with a mind that works almost like a calculator."
I look away for a moment, scratching lightly at my jaw. "Yeah. Well. Thanks."
There’s a brief pause as he reaches for his tablet, glancing at something on the screen.
He’s already shifting gears, slipping back into his own world, while I’m still trying to make sense of my reactions. Praise from someone like him carries weight, maybe more than it should.
But at the same time, there’s probably a lesson for me in all this.
I could stand out among my peers just fine, yet here I am comparing myself to a guy with a Nobel Prize. My constant craving for validation feels painfully immature and probably says more about my self-esteem and character than I’d want Blue to know.
How does he see me now? Insecure, self-conscious, erratic, easy to steer the moment I get a sweet word.
In alphas, those kinds of traits are probably seen by most omegas as deeply unattractive.
Does Blue share this sentiment? Does he prefer strong, self-assured, confident alphas?
Leaning over the tablet, a strand of his dark navy hair slips across his cheek, his pink lips slightly parted. Why do I keep looking at them…
I turn my face toward the glass doors leading out to the rooftop garden, biting my lip hard, desperately needing to change the energy.
"I’ve never been out there. Would you mind if we stepped outside for a bit? It looks nice, all lit up like that."
He lifts his eyes from the tablet. There’s a brief hesitation, then he slowly nods. "All right. I’ll show you the garden."
"Garden sounds big."
"It’s fairly large. You might be surprised," Blue adds, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
When we step outside, the view really is impressive. Straight ahead there’s a beautifully lit rooftop pool, its surface smooth and dark like glass.
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Subtle underwater lighting gives it a soft aquamarine glow, outlining the clean geometry of its edges. Around it are long stone planters filled with soil, housing small shrubs and trees, no more than six to ten feet tall, forming a pleasant grove around the pool.
I recognize a mix of warm-climate greenery, compact palms, trimmed ficus, and dense ornamental grasses, with a few flowering plants tucked between them, something like hibiscus or bougainvillea, adding muted hints of color even in the evening light. The vegetation is contained but lush.
There are also spherical garden lamps casting warm golden circles of light, spaced evenly along the paths and between the planters, creating pockets of illumination. The light reflects off the pale stone tiles underfoot, laid out in wide, clean slabs that give the entire rooftop a polished, modern feel.
Along one side of the pool, a wooden deck stretches out, it boards a rich, dark tone, slightly weathered, giving it a more organic contrast against the stone.
It feels like a place meant for yoga, stretching, maybe sunbathing.
Near the edge, a row of rattan loungers sits angled toward the water, low and wide, with thick, light-colored cushions. Between them, small stone-topped tables leave space for drinks or books.
A little farther back, there’s a more secluded seating area, a modular outdoor sofa arranged in an L-shape, upholstered in neutral tones.
