Page 28 of Sawyer and the Bookworms

“Remind me again why I’m studying this shit?”

“Oh, come on. You love it.”

“Ethnography. Biological anthropology. Social and cultural anthropology.” Matthew, an alpha who looks more like a muscular beta, moans theatrically, biting his lip. “So many dirty words…”

Emilia snickers behind her hand. “Yeah, we’re here for the smut.”

She’s an omega. I gaze at her, trying to figure out what drew me to Sawyer. Is it because he’s an omega, or because he’s Sawyer? I’ve been studying with Emi for months now and never felt a single lick of attraction toward her.

And that hasn’t changed, apparently, as all I see is a funny girl who likes chewing sour candy and wants to become a museum curator someday.

A valid aspiration.

Still no attraction.

“What’s that frown for, Roman, my man?” Matthew asks. “You haven’t even opened a book yet, so you have no reason to be sad.”

“Maybe that’s the reason why,” I mutter, sitting down at the only free seat and pulling out the book we’re currently reading. “Books relax me. It’s just been a weird week.”

“Did you work late last night?”

“Yeah.”

“Your sugar daddies still not supporting you as they should?” Jessica, a pretty alpha, winks at me.

“Oh, fuck you,” I say and grin.

“No, thanks. But if you don’t want your stingy alphas anymore, I’d be willing to take them off your hands.”

“They aren’t stingy. And hands off my men.” I open the book, find the chapter we are studying, and bookmark it with my finger. There’s something about the feel of pages under my fingertips, the weight of a book, the scent of paper that relaxes the usual knot in my stomach. “Shall we?”

“Sure. Who doesn’t want to talk all day about Franz Boas, anyway? The famous pioneer of modern anthropology and fucking racist?”

“He was against racism,” I say. “No idea what you read, but he led the fight against racism. He’s my hero.”

“Plenty of racism in historical anthropology.”

“This is about learning,” I tell him, “exactly. Know an evil so you will recognize it when you encounter it again.”

William slow-claps. “Your Tibetan Guru Roman Valero, ladies and gentlemen, bringing you another motto to live by.”

I laugh along with them, then wince when the librarian shushes us. I really like these guys, but my mind is on other things today.

On other people.

I seriously need a day off, to veg out on the couch and watch documentaries. Get rid of the tension headache of the past week, snack on junk food, and have sex.

If my men have the time.

My job is fun but the shifts are tiring, and I can’t quit now. No, it’s not that my alphas are stingy. They are really not, but they also aren’t filthy rich. I can’t just resign and spend my days as a privileged student, either. My pride wouldn’t let me accept such an offer, anyway.

I got this. I’m happy. I made my choices and they were good ones. I have no regrets. My life feels… almost complete. Almost perfect.

That omega, though… Damn. So pretty. So… intriguing.

How the hell am I supposed to focus on my anthropology course with his face stuck in my mind?

“Hey, Ro.” Kyrian comes to lean against the bar, folding his muscular, inked arms on the polished top. “How is it hanging? How was the study group?”

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