Page 49 of Believe it or Knot

He leaves us at the base of the stairs to the front doors, striding in with all the confidence of a man who is used to getting what he wants. I can only hope that he’ll be polite about it. They might be here for just a short amount of time, but I live here and the folks of Lake Kilrose remember.

If he goes in demanding a table, anyone who witnesses it will bring it up for the next three years if I get even a little demanding about… well, anything. Not that I do that often. I’m definitely more of the just smile to avoid confrontation type of girl.

I shift uncomfortably on my feet, unsure of the methods Gray will use to get us a table faster. Gage chuckles, correctly guessing at the source of my sudden disquietude. “Relax, biscuit. I’m sure the Cordova prime knows how to be polite enough for Gretchen.”

I squint up at him with one eye, ignoring the way my heart lurches in my chest. It’s been doing that for years every time I look at him. “She’s so sensitive,” I murmur. “Maybe one of us should go-”

I cut off as the door pushes open and Grayson pokes his head out, motioning us forward. The hostess, Gretchen Montrose, beams when she lays eyes on me and Gage… well, Gage more so than me. Her long lashes flutter, and she bites her lower lip. Not that I blame her. Gretchen and Gage went out briefly in high school. Very briefly, like all of his relationships back then. Still more than mine, though, which were all but nonexistent.

“Gage Wagner, as I live and breathe.” She puts on a fake Southern Belle accent and presses the back of her hand to her forehead.

Liam arches a brow at me, and I roll my eyes and shake my head. I’m used to this reaction to Gage. For all his scowly, growly looks, he’s still the golden boy of Lake Kilrose. Everybody loves him. He can literally do no wrong.

“Gretchen,” Gage says somewhat stiffly.

“I can’t believe you didn’t let me know you were back in town.” Gretchen flicks her green eyes at me, wrapped up in Liam’s arms and apparently decides it’s as good a sign as any that Gage is free to date her. “I get off in two hours. We should hang out. Go for a drink. Catch up.”

Gage is already shaking his head. “Nah, thanks for the invite, Gretch. But I’m spending the evening with Sorrel.” He reaches out, takes my hand and tugs me away from Liam, who lets me go willingly, even pushing against my lower back to urge me closer to the alpha. Her eyes narrow and her lips part, but he cuts her off. “In fact, I’ll be spending every evening with her. I’m completely booked.” His straight white teeth flash in a semblance of a smile. “Sorry.” His tone makes it clear he’s not.

Gretchen looks at me, then at the Cordova pack, and then back to Gage, her lips curling into a rueful smile. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised,” she murmurs, picking up five menus from the stack on her stand. “You only ever talked about her while we were dating. Wreaked havoc on my ego, if I’m honest.” She looks at me and all I see is jealousy in her eyes, though she’s doing her best to hide it behind a polite smile. “Congratulations. You nabbed the golden boy of Lake Kilrose and the Cordova pack.” She turns on her heel before I can respond and starts weaving her way through the tables, but I swear I hear her mutter something about me having a golden vagina.

I shrug it off. Gretchen and I never really hit it off. She resented my friendship with Gage, and when I tried to back off and give them space to be a couple, he put his foot down and all but forced us to hang out together, because he wanted his best friend and his girlfriend to get along. Nevermind that both Gretchen and I wanted nothing to do with the other. I hated seeing them together, being all cuddly and cute. It hurt. A lot.

Why was he dating Gretchen, who was also expected to be a beta, rather than me, his best friend?

Though I suppose that’s answer enough, isn’t it?

Best friend. The two words that have always defined who we are together. Always and forever, I will be Gage’s best friend.

The table she leads us to is near the back, tucked away, and I wonder if Gray asked for a private table or if it was just the only one they had available. There’s a small part of me that worries they don’t want to be seen with me, but I smother that part under a pillow crafted by memories of the entire day we just spent together.

They were trying to remain incognito, but they weren’t hiding me or Gage, weren’t trying to keep their distance to make it look like we weren’t together. I mean, Liam and I… we did things. In public!

In hindsight, that could have gone so terribly wrong. All it would take is one picture of Liam with his cock out and my mouth on him for a scandal to ensue. He wouldn’t look so much like America’s sweetheart omega if the world knew he participated in public sex acts. Around children, no less!

Though in that case, I’d likely be painted as the temptress who lured him to the dark side. Nevermind that it was one hundred percent the other way around, with his sneaky little hand running up my thigh and making me lose my mind.

“Conejita?” I blink away from my thoughts to find Rafe standing behind a chair, obviously waiting for me to sit so he can push it in for me.

“Oh, sorry. I think I got too much sun today. It’s making me loopy.”

I move and drop into the chair as he pushes it in, bending over to brush a kiss against my shoulder as he murmurs, “Mmm, yes. It’s definitely the sun and not the very public orgasm you had.”

Asshole.

I twist to glare up at him, but he’s already moving away, taking the seat between Gage and Liam, who are on my right. Gray is already sitting in the chair on my left, looking wonderfully flushed from the sun, his dark hair rumpled.

I wonder how often he gets to do this. Just relax. Every other time I’ve seen him, he’s been in a suit or a stripped-down version of one, tie off, shirtsleeves rolled up. While that’s sexy as hell, I think I like this version more.

He must sense my gaze because he looks over at me with a small smile on his lips.

“Can I get any drinks started for you?” Gretchen asks when we’re all seated. “The house wine pairs wonderfully with tonight’s special.”

I normally love a red—any wine, really—but after a day spent in the sun, I’m looking for something a little lighter, and bubbly. And maybe with more alcohol. Tequila. “Can I get a paloma?”

Gretchen’s eyes flick to me as Liam nudges me with his shoulder. “You can get whatever you want, lovely. We’re paying.”

I open my mouth to argue that I can pair for my dinner, but Gray’s foot nudges the side of mine and I snap it closed. Amazing that he can get his way without even saying a word. I wonder what that would be like?

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