Page 22 of Scheme
“It’s just an observation, I don’t mean anything by it.” I carefully pulled the tinfoil wrapping down a little further, wiping the garlic sauce off my fingers on a napkin. “Based on tonight and last night’s party, I’m guessing you’ve had unmated omegas foisted on you for years. I can see why you’re wary.”
“Aren’t you wary around unmated alphas?” he shot back defensively.
I shrugged. “Jimmy is annoying, sure, but I won’t tar all alphas with his brush.”
“Not just him,” Kit said with a dismissive wave. “The others. Don’t you get annoyed having unmated alphas trying to woo you all the time, just because you’re an omega and you’re available?”
I looked at Kit for a long moment, trying to decide if he was being serious or not. I suppose, with Jimmy hanging around, it may have given off the impression that I had suitors? Or he was joking about alphas wooing me all the time, though if it was a joke, it was kind of a mean-spirited one. Was Kit mean? His friends were, but he’d been protective earlier.
Or had his protectiveness just been instinct?
Trying to figure out alpha intentions was exhausting.
“Or maybe you enjoy it?” Kit suggested, apparently expecting an answer. “The attention. Some people like that.”
I shot him a wry smile. “I think you’re overestimating the number of alphas banging down my door. In times gone by, I would have been firmly categorised as a spinster by now.”
Kit looked like he didn’t know how to respond to that, so I took pity on him and changed the subject. “So you’ve known those alphas since your school days?”
“I have.” Kit was quiet for a moment, focused on his meal. “I don’t remember them being like that.”
“You haven’t been home for a long time,” I pointed out. “People change. Or maybe they didn’t. Maybe it was you.”
Kit gave me a long look, while I stared out the window, feeling oddly self-conscious under his penetrating watch. People didn’t usuallylookat me so much.
“And what if I have?” he asked eventually. “Changed, I mean.”
“Then life changes along with you. Or it doesn’t. Only you can decide that.”
Chapter 6
Violet:Ihavebeenrespectfully waiting for you to message me and tell me why Kit wanted to bring you coffee yesterday morning, but I am being respectful no longer. You are coming over for lunch and telling me everything.
I snorted, snuggling further down in the soft linen sheets of my nest, holding my phone up to my nose. I hadn’t told Violet about last night—or the scheme we’d concocted—but I wasn’t trying to keep it from her either. I didn’t think she’d react poorly or anything, but if I was being really honest with myself, I was being hyper-conscious ofnotmaking a big deal out of this. It was just a temporary arrangement of convenience. There was no need to go aroundtellingpeople. Telling people made it sound like there was something to tell.
I had very realistic ideas about this whole scenario, and I needed everyone else to be on my same realistic level.
Me: I can catch you up on all the gossip tomorrow, at yoga.
Violet: That’s a whole day away! Stop delaying the inevitable.
Violet: We’re having salmon because it’s your favourite and I’m not above bribery.
Damn it. Ilovedsalmon, especially when Violet cooked it. I hadn’t even got out of bed yet after arriving home sometime after two, and I needed at least half an hour to scrub off the panda eyes.
Kit: Please don’t leave me here alone. Violet is like a dog with a bone and you know I’m scared of omegas.
Me: You’re scared of *single* omegas.
Kit: I’m considering expanding my parameters.
I caught a glimpse of my reflection in my phone screen, finding myself grinning like a lunatic, and immediately arranged my face into something less… excited.
I wasn’t excited.
There was nothing to be excited about.
Me: Fine, fine, for the sake of all omegas everywhere, I’ll come over and save you from the big, bad Violet.
