22. Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-One
Lana
S o, there’s another Alpha in their pack. I wonder if he’s as insanely attractive as his mates.
Of course he is. He’s an Alpha, and these are his lovers.
There’s no way in hell he’s not drop dead gorgeous.
I’ll just have to hope he’s off-putting in other ways, because I seriously do not need another crush to add to the pile-up I’ve got going on right now.
It’s starting to feel like a bad joke.
I may as well be a single Omega in heat.
“Did Owen say he’d do the risk assessment?” Pete asks Shadow.
Shadow shrugs. “I didn’t speak to him. Ezra did. I’m guessing that’s part of why he’s coming.”
“Part of why he’s coming,” I repeat. “Is he coming for some other reason?”
Shadow’s pale skin flushes lightly. “Um … I kind of snuck out on him. I mean, we both did.”
Pete shakes his head. “It’s been a while since all four of us were together. Ezra probably reminded him of that. Owen’s not really the kind of guy who likes to travel so we don’t usually see where Ezra works when he’s not close to home.”
“Sounds hard,” I admit.
He shrugs. “We all know Easy has a calling. He’s been promising to take a break for a while, but some new emergency always comes up.”
“Easy?” I ask.
He laughs. “It’s just a nickname. I always called him by the first two letters of his name, and that sounds like Easy, so that’s what I call him sometimes.”
“It’s also because he’s easy,” Shadow adds.
I press my lips together and nod, not sure what to say to that.
I’m probably just being filthy minded.
He totally meant it in an innocent way.
I pick up my water and crack open the bottle.
A few sips later, and I’m looking at my sad little sandwich wishing I’d been more adventurous.
The smell of the fast food is enticing now that it’s here. I steal glances at the wrapped burger in front of Pete, and I can’t help thinking about the last time I had one.
It was more than a year ago, at a diner that only had non-diet options while I was on a weekend break visiting my sisters. It was kinda burnt, honestly, and the relish was plain old ketchup, but it was still one of the tastiest things I’d eaten in a while.
These burgers look way better, and here I am stuck with a plain old chicken salad sandwich.
It’s the kind of choice I make most days. Healthy option, low fat, and typically low on flavor.
I basically only need to inhale the smell of something delicious to pack on the pounds.
I need that burger like I need a hole in the head.
Taking another swig of my water, I try to ignore the tasty smells while I psych myself up to eat my boring sandwich. I don’t put the bottle down until it’s half empty.
I find Shadow holding a box out to me when I set it down.
“Do you like frickles?”
“I have no idea,” I admit.
“They’re kind of an acquired taste,” Pete warns me.
“I like non-fried pickles, so …” I shrug, and then I take one.
It’s got to be less fattening than a whole burger.
I pop it in my mouth, and holy wow.
Why does frying make everything taste so much better?
“Mmm,” I moan.
Shadow smiles. “I knew you’d like them.”
Pete grabs a couple, and Shadow frowns at him.
“Hey, I didn’t ask if you wanted any.”
Pete laughs. “You got them for me.”
“Well, yeah.” Shadow rolls his eyes. “But leave some for the rest of us, greedy.”
“Say that again louder, Mr. Second Lunch of the Day.”
Shadow snorts. He shakes the box at me.
“Take more. Don’t let Pete eat them all.”
I take a few more. “Thanks.”
I open my sandwich and put them on it.
When I close it, I look up to see Pete offering me a fry.
These men are dangerous.
Not only are they hot, they’re the kind of guys who share their food.
I’m too tempted not to grab a couple of the hot, salted French fries.
“Thanks,” I murmur.
He smiles. “If you want the burger, or the shake, or the whole cup of fries, all you’ve got to do is ask.”
“You need to eat, too,” Shadow reminds him, before he stuffs a handful of fries in his own mouth.
“I’m good,” I tell them both, though it’s nice to know all I’d have to do is ask.
I can’t help wondering if that applies to anything other than food.
The way he looks at me is a mirror of the way he looked at me when we met.
The desire in his gaze is unmistakable.
When he looks me over, he likes what he sees.
I turn away before I have thoughts that might get me into trouble.
The fast food I’ve had a taste of is as bad as I intend to get today.
I’ll worry about the extra calories they’ve added to my diet some other time.
At least that’s something that only hurts me.