Page 13 of Knot All that Glitters: Part 1

“Hi,” I sigh as I settle into her front seat, and she takes off. We never linger too long right after she picks me up, just in case someone followed me somehow. The last thing I want is for Florence to get in trouble because of me.

Ren side-eyes me without returning my greeting. I frown. “What?”

She shakes her head as she flicks on a turn signal. “Nothing, it’s just… you look exceptionally pretty tonight, Haves. Like really pretty. Is there a particular reason for that?”

I scowl at her and then slide my hands over my pajama pants, smoothing out the wrinkles. “No reason,” I lie.

She hums, then reaches into the back seat to grab a wad of fabric and a pair of heels. “And there’s no reason for you to have requested my littlest, blackest dress, either?”

“Nope.” I pop the ‘p’ on the word and wiggle out of my top. I frown when I hold up the fabric. “This isn’t your dress.”

“Nope. I made it just for you.” Warmth glows in my chest. Florence is an amazing designer. If she didn’t have her heart seton being a dancer, she could totally take the fashion world by storm. She made all of her costumes for her recitals at AOA and she’s only gotten better since then.

“You didn’t have to do that,” I say as I pull the dress on over my head, smoothing it out as best as I can. It’s not black, but dark teal and there’s a diamond shaped cut out over my stomach and my lower back. I can’t tell how short it is since I’m sitting down and still wearing pajama pants, but at first glance it's… short.

“I know I didn’t have to, but I wanted to.” I can feel her glancing at me. Maybe she’s checking the fit of the dress, but I know better.

“Haven.”

“Florence.”

“Haven.” Another hum from my best friend. “Does you looking so pretty have anything to do with the Calloway pack? The one that’s been following you around all week, popping up at every event your father drags you to?”

“Not even a little bit.” I slip my pajama bottoms off and bunch them together into the back seat. I squeal when the car slams to a stop, just barely catching myself on the dashboard with my palm. “What the fuck, Ren?”

Ren turns in her seat to glare at me safely now that the car is stopped. “Bitch, why are you lying to me?”

I sigh and slump into my seat, folding my arms over my chest.

She points at me, brows drawn low. “Don’t do that petulant shit with me, Haven Bell. I know you better than I know myself, which is why I’m one hundred percent sure you are keeping something from me. Now spill or I will turn this car around and drive home right now.”

“No!” I protest, because I know she’ll do just as she threatened. Florence doesn’t fuck around. “Okay, fine. Yes. Imay have… made tentative plans to meet the Calloway pack tonight.” Ren eyes me. I eye her right back.

My best friend is pretty, really pretty like a cartoon princess. She has honey blond hair and porcelain skin, though there is a faint dusting of freckles over her nose and cheeks. She’s willowy for an omega, but I suspect that has more to do with her grueling schedule as a ballerina rather than genetics. If she ever stops dancing, I’m sure she’ll be just as voluptuous as the typical omega.

But the really striking thing about Florence is her eyes. The best way I can describe them is kaleidoscope. Green and gold and brown. Bits of black and gray. Hazel is what it says on her driver’s license, but they are so much more. And to top it off, she has partial heterochromia in her left eye, a slice of blue cutting through her iris. Gorgeous and somewhat off-putting when she stares at you without blinking, like she’s doing to me now.

“Haven,” she starts slowly. “Why did you feel you needed to hide this from me?”

I shrug and tug down the hem of her dress. “I just didn’t want you to think I’m only out with you because of them.”

“So you thought it’d be better if they ‘ran’ into us at the bar, and you could pretend like it was a complete coincidence?”

I wince, but nod. “Yes, exact-Ow!Did you just hit me?” I rub the spot on my shoulder.

“I did! And I’d do it again in a heartbeat! I can’t believe you were going to keep a date from me, Haven. Honestly, are we even friends?”

“Yes!” I rush to reassure her. “Yes, of course we are. You’re my best friend!”

She balls up her fist and knocks on my forehead. “Is there anyone home in there?” I scowl and bat her hand away from me.

Her lower lip juts out as she leans back against the door. “If we’re friends, then why the hell would I be angry about youpursuing things with the first pack that has caught your interest since the academy?”

That’s not strictly true. There have been other packs I’ve been interested in. She just doesn’t know about them. Why would she when there was never any chance of my ending up with them, away from my father as their omega?

I honestly don’t know why this feels different, why I want to talk about them. Only that… well, they were so blatant in their want of me. So obvious about it. No one does that. Any male that approaches me is careful, soft, gentle. Too full of social niceties. It’s part of being a senator’s daughter and an omega, I think.

I shrug again. “We don’t get to see each other that much, and I didn’t want you to think our time together isn’t important. Because I adore you, Ren.”

---