Chapter 18
EIGHTEEN
THREE DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS
Mitchell reclines on my couch, gulping down some of his beer as we argue.
“It’s not a Christmas movie,” I snap. “It happens at Christmas. That doesn’t make it a Christmas movie.”
He scoffs, the bottle thudding as he places it on the table. “The whole goal is to be with his family for Christmas!”
We have this argument every year. It’s good-natured, of course, but he’ll never convince me, and I’ll never convince him.
“Am I still good to take Rooster?” he asks, smartly changing the topic away from the divisive movie. “The girls really want to see him.”
The idea of being alone on Christmas, without even my dog as a buffer, isn’t pleasant, but Rooster loves Mitchell’s nieces, and I agreed to it a few weeks ago.
Besides, I’m going to remain positive, hoping that I’ll be able to convince Clara to spend the holiday with me. And if a certain curly-haired Omega is a part of that, I will not protest.
“Yeah, of course. He’ll have fun.”
My big husky comes trotting into the living room with his leash in his mouth, somehow knowing we were talking about him leaving with Mitchell.
As Mitchell wrestles the leash from Rooster’s mouth, his phone rings. He wedges it between his ear and his shoulder as he scruffs his hands over Rooster’s ears.
“Yeah?” he says. There’s a pause, and then he whips his head to the side, almost dropping his phone in his haste to stare me down. “Are you serious?” I have no idea who called, or what they’re talking about, but I have a feeling I won’t like whatever it is.
“We’ll be right there.” He hangs up and springs to his feet, crowding me in the recliner I’m sitting on. “Were you planning on telling me you met your scent match?”
I wince. “Who told you?”
“Hazel. She’s friends with Clara and has asked me to bring you to her place. I think she worried that if she called you directly, you wouldn’t have gone.”
She’s not wrong, actually. It’s not that I dislike Hazel, because I don’t, but she can be a little bullheaded. I don’t think now is the time to push Clara, but I’m willing to bet she does.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Mitchell asks, sounding hurt.
“It’s complicated.” It’s a cliche, of course, but it fits.
“Pretend I’m the CEO of a multi-million dollar company and can handle complex,” he deadpans.
I lean forward and grab his beer, draining it. “She’s in love with Felix.”
“Wait, is she the Beta that he brought with him to the holiday party?” Mitchell’s eyes widen. “Holy shit, why aren’t you celebrating? Your scent match is gorgeous and with the man you want as an Omega. This feels like cause to pop open a bottle of champagne.”
“They’re not together. That’s the problem.”
“So, she’s in love with him, but they’re not together. Okay. Why does that stop you from pursuing her?”
“Because, according to her, he has feelings for me, and she’s being stubborn and self-sacrificing and says she won’t take away the Alpha he wants.” My stomach twists, a mixture of excitement and upset that is hard to make heads or tails of. How can I feel so many emotions at once?
“Get up.” He grabs me by the arm. “She’s at Hazel’s, and Hazel says you need to be there. So let’s go. Maybe she’s changed her mind.”
“I doubt it,” I insist, digging in my feet. “She was very clear she didn’t want me.”
“Oh my God. Hazel said you guys were idiots, but I didn’t think it was this bad. Grab Rooster, and let’s go.”
When Mitchell latches onto something, he doesn’t let go, so I know it’s pointless to fight him over this. Rooster perks up, mouth falling open in a gaping doggy grin.
“Fine,” I hiss, pulling my arm out of his grasp and grabbing Rooster’s go-bag from the hook by the door, hastily packing it for his three-day sleepover with Mitchell. “Let’s get this over with. You’ll see what I mean when we get there.”
Walking through Hazel’s door feels like I’m walking into a holiday movie.
I have never seen a house as decorated for the season as hers. There are signs, garlands, pillows, and even kitchen mats that are themed with trees and lights. Christmas music is playing at a low volume, and I’m pretty sure I smell hot chocolate and cookies.
It’s a winter wonderland, which feels like a strange backdrop to whatever conversation we’re about to have.
Mitchell doesn’t bother knocking, so we wander through her foyer until we get to the kitchen, where she leans against the counter, sipping from a festive mug.
“Oh!” she says, startling a little when she sees us. “You could’ve knocked, asshole,” she says affectionately, crossing the room and pulling Mitchell in for a hug.
I made the mistake of asking if there was something between the two of them exactly one time. Their chorus of ‘Ew’s’ and Hazel insisting he’s like a brother was suspect, but if there are any feelings, the two of them have buried them under a million layers.
Besides, Hazel has no interest in Alphas. She’s made that abundantly clear.
“Well, Gabriel, I’m glad you’re here. Clara is in the bathroom. You two need to talk.”
I unclip Rooster from his harness and slide onto a stool tucked below Hazel’s bar. “I know, I know. But she’s stubborn, and I can’t force her to get to know me.”
Rooster yips and darts off, and I hear a feminine “Oof!”A few seconds later, Clara comes into view, my dog hot on her heels, twisting between her feet and begging for attention.
“Whoever’s dog this is just ran me over,” she says, but there isn’t any venom in her tone. She sounds amused.
“Shit,” I say, jumping up and grabbing him by the collar and giving her room to breathe. “He usually behaves better than that.”
“Except around Felix,” Mitchell supplies unhelpfully. “Strange how your dog seems drawn to the two people you are, huh?”
“Just hopping right into it, then?” I say, leveling him with a frustrated look. He shrugs and accepts the mug Hazel is offering him. I shake my head and turn back to my Beta. “Hi, Clara.”
“Hi,” she repeats.
It’s awkward. I want to hug her, but I don’t think that would be appropriate. I want to kiss her, but I know that would not be well received.
I resign myself to an awkward half wave.
It’s uncomfortable in here. I’m lucky to be holding onto Rooster, because otherwise I wouldn’t know what to do with my hands. He seems determined to get back to Clara.
“Here’s what’s going to happen,” Hazel says, setting her mug down and resting her hands on her hips. “Clara, you and Gabriel are going to get to know one another. Consider this a date.”
“But-” Clara starts, except Hazel swiftly cuts her off.
“But what about Felix, you want to say? Well, Gabriel is also going to ask Felix out on a date tomorrow. It’s your decision on whether you want to pursue something with Felix, which you’re stupid for not doing, but that’s neither here nor there.
What you will not do is push away your goddamn scent match on a what if. ”
Hazel turns to look at me, her red painted lips pursed. “Do you agree to these terms?”
“Of course, but I don’t want Clara to be uncomfortable.”
“She won’t be,” Hazel says firmly. “We’ve discussed this. Clara is going to try, aren’t you, Clara?”
I don’t love the idea that Clara is being forced into going on a date with me, but what else am I to do? A scent match isn’t something I’m just going to walk away from.
“Yes,” Clara says between gritted teeth. “We can try.”
“Good!” Hazel claps her hands, startling Rooster into a small bark. “Because I have your first date ready. Mitch and I are going to take Rooster for a walk around the market.” She grabs an oven mitt and pulls a tray of sugar cookies out of the oven before setting it on the stovetop.
“You’re going to decorate cookies!” she says enthusiastically. “But they need to cool before you can frost them. So you have plenty of time to get to know one another.” She struts out of the kitchen, and Mitchell snags Rooster’s leash and clips him in.
He claps me on the back. “Good luck.”
“Recipe for the icing is on the fridge!” Hazel calls before the door slams behind her.
I turn to face Clara, the silence between us punctuated by the rich crooning of Bing Crosby. Eventually, I can’t sit in the silence any longer.
“We don’t have to do this,” I whisper. “If you’d rather I go, I can.”
She exhales, her shoulders drooping as she does. It’s not an encouraging stance. “No, no. Hazel is right. We both deserve the opportunity to get to know one another. This could be the only time either of us meets a scent match.”
“Right. Then what do you say we learn to make some icing?”