Evans
Tugging at my tie I try to loosen the knot. My mouth is dry and it feels like I’m too big for my skin. Like it’s an awkward fitting suit as I stand on the sidewalk and stare up at the uptown restaurant bar where we’re supposed to meet.
I already know my dad is going to chew my ear off, maybe shake his head and toss in a few disappointed sighs for good measure. Then he might threaten to take away access to our private jet or cut me off.
My jaw clenches and I grind my teeth, knowing I’ll never be able to meet the standards he sets, especially when he finds out about Hunter.
Part of me is still coming to terms with the shift in our relationship, the other part just accepted it for what it was, happy to be swept along with the tide. We were more than partners in crime or best friends now. And definitely more than roommates.
While I’d always been curious about male omegas, I’d never even considered another alpha. Let alone Hunter, the guy who was always stoned and getting into trouble with me, the artist covered in paint who had a list of ex-lovers longer than my arm.
Wincing slightly, I try not to think about that. I’d seen his artist friends, and there was no denying their names were on that list.
My alpha hated it. I was territorial and looking back on it, I was realising that I had been for a while.
Tonight he’d gone out for dinner with the art department, and I was willing to bet all my football trophies that he was sandwiched between that touchy omega Soren, and the easy going Callie.
There was no point lingering on it now, not when I had to deal with my father. I needed to survive this dinner with my sanity intact, and then I could tear Hunter a new one for having sex with other people before me.
Taking a deep breath, and straightening my shoulders I remind myself to shut it down. Pack all those emotions away in a box, keep them safe, and pull on my armor. It was only dinner. A few hours of my life and then I’d get to go home, to where Hunter is.
The need to be in the same vicinity, constantly touching had eased but there was still and uncomfortable tugging in my chest. An urge to return to wherever he is. I know it’s in my head, or maybe it’s some sort of weird lingering chemical imprint. But it felt real, like something tangible.
The ma?tre d', an older gentleman with a wispy moustache named Louis, nods in greeting, my face familiar here since it was one of the buildings owned and run by Pembroke Holdings.
Honestly, it was one of my favourite bars in Oakley and I often came here with the guys to have drinks or dinner. It was usually before some of our high society events, rather than a college houseparty but the steak was to die for.
That was the only thing I was looking forward to this evening, juicy medium rare steak with a creamy peppercorn sauce. For a moment I briefly wonder if I should grab takeout for Hunter to eat during his late night munchies.
As we ascend to the second floor and head down a wide corridor to where the exclusive private dining rooms are located, I admire the art on the walls. It’s all very visceral, bold shades with strong, stubborn lines.
“Admiring the art, sir?” Louis is curious, glancing my way with a warm smile as I slow to lean in. Ever the professional host, Louis shows me the label to the right of each piece. The one closest to me is titled, ‘Sentimental’.
“Hmmmm.” I chuckle, shoving my hands into my pockets. “You know, I’ve been here so many times but I’ve never once stopped to look at it.”
“The artist is a well-known local, D.Ashbourne. I’ve heard her son is also attending Oakley, and is an artist. There’s quite a demand for Ashbourne art.”
I freeze, only for a moment before I straighten. “Curious.”
Even here there is no escaping Hunter, or apparently, his mother.
Diane has been messaging every day, trying to get me to commit to a lunch date soon but I’m still so embarrassed about how I’d spoken to them, and then stormed off to have sex with their son for four days straight.
That was going to take a while to get over.
Louis’ eyes twinkle with pride. “Your father chose them himself, sir.”
“Even curioser.”
As we reach the room I’ll be dining in, Louis reaches for the handle, cracking the door open slowly.
“Is my father already inside?”
His brows crinkle together, his forehead becoming a series of carved lines. “Your father, sir?”
The door swings fully open and a sickly sweet scent hits me like a punch to the gut.
No.
No. No. No.
“EVANS!” A familiar voice screeches out as a small figure launches themselves into my arms. “Babe, where have you been?”
“Sadie?” Peeling her off me, I look at her flushed face and glassy eyes. “What’s going on here?”
It’s no use trying to put space between us, tonight it’s like she’s made of velcro as she suctions herself back to me instantly. Her pheromones are all over the place, she’s leaking them out without any care. Another pungent spike makes my stomach clench.
Louis clears his throat, maintaining a professional expression. “Your fiance has over imbibed.”
No shit, she smelled like paint stripper with the way the vodka fumes were rolling off her skin. Glancing past her, I see an open bottle of something and a lone glass on the table.
“She’s not my fiance.” I try gently removing her fingers from my suit lapels as she clings on tightly. “I’m supposed to be meeting my father—”
“Noooo you’re not!” She says in a sing-song voice as she starts to sway on her feet. I’ve never seen her like this before.
“We were told you would be coming to collect her.”
She starts giggling and trying to poke the tip of my nose. “Babe, he set it up. So we can work everything out. S’we can get back on track.”
I dodge, trying to keep her steady while also avoiding having my eye poked out by her piss poor aim.
“So, my father’s not here?”
Louis shakes his head apologetically.
Of course he would do this. Interfering like this when it’s not wanted because he thinks he knows better. Fuck him. Fuck him for not listening to me.
“I will arrange a cab, sir.”
I look around the room, but Louis is five steps ahead of me, scooping up her coat and bag. After I convince him to head downstairs ahead of us, I wrap an arm around Sadie’s waist, trying to guide her down the corridor.
“Why did you get so drunk?”
“I’m pressed. Depressed.” Her head flops towards me, her eyes barely focusing on me. “You left me.”
A shard of guilt pierces through my stomach. It had been pretty shitty of me to leave the way that I did, but at that moment I couldn’t think. I couldn’t breathe. All I knew was that if I hesitated for one more moment, I would be locked into a life I didn’t want. And I deserve more than that.
“I know,” I say softly. “I’m sorry.”
She makes a soft whimpering noise, her pheromones pumping out until it feels like there’s treacle on my tongue, heavy and sickly sweet. She’s crying.
“The cab is waiting.”
“No.” She shakes her head, but it’s like all of the tension from her body has vanished as her head falls forward. Why is this like trying to wrestle a slippery octopus?
“Come on, Sade, you can’t stay here,” I grunt, trying to get her to put one foot in front of the other. It’s like her knees give out as her body collapses and I barely manage to catch her.
We’ve gone from propping her up to practically carrying her as we limp down the corridor that now feels endless. Is this my own personl hell? Punishment for everything bad I’ve ever done in this life?
“No,” she pouts like a toddler, with her bottom lip poking out and tear tracks down her cheeks. “I want to go with you.”
“Where is Sage or Liliana?” Sadie wasn’t the type of person who was ever alone for long. One of her posse was usually somewhere close behind.
“Crest Haven.” She sniffles more tears flowing down her cheeks. “M’all alone. Even you left me.”
If there was no one home to keep an eye on her, I didn’t feel comfortable leaving her alone. What if she choked on her own vomit or did something stupid?
“Come on, we’re almost there just a little further,” I promise as we make it half way down the stairs.
“No one wants me.” Fresh tears start flowing, “Not even you.”
I really don’t want to touch that with a barge pole in case she manipulates me into saying that I do.
There’s a flash of sympathy flaring in my chest. Sadie was there for me at times when I felt like I was completely alone.
I may not have loved her but I valued the friendship she offered, even if it was conditional.
It wasn’t easy to be happy in our world.
“Here we go,” I say when we get to the first floor and I finally manoeuvre her into the back of the cab, climbing in behind her. I hope she doesn’t vomit as I give the driver my address.
When we finally pull up to my house, she seems a little more aware and it’s a lot easier to get her onto the porch and through the front door. As we enter, Blake’s coming out of the kitchen. He does a double take, pausing in the doorway with his water bottle halfway to his mouth.
“I’m not even gonna ask,” he grumbles with a small shake of his head before he carries on into the living room.
Sadie doesn’t help matters by giggling and trying to drape herself over me. Walking/swaying down the corridor, Shiloh is the next person we run into and he gives me a startled look.
“Oh,” he says softly, chewing on his bottom lip. Glancing away, he lowered his voice, “Hunter is not going to be happy about this.”
Tell me about it.
Hunter was going to hate this.
There was no universe or galaxy in which Hunter would be happy about me bringing Sadie back home. Especially not when I was about to put her in my bed for the night.
Once we make it to my room, I hand her a T-shirt and turn around. She scoffs, trying to tease me by saying I’d seen it all before as she shimmies out of her dress, pulling it over her head.
Crawling between my sheets, she pulls them tighter around her, bringing them up to her nose and inhaling deeply.
Her nose crinkles and her brows pull together. “Why doesn’t this smell right?”