Page 6 of Knot Mine

Evans drops his head back onto the table with a groan that has the group on the next table looking over at us, alarmed. “This isn’t happening. We need to go out this weekend and I need to get laid by someone who isn’t Sadie.”

“That’s your solution?” I mean, it was his relationship he was playing with, but what kind of friend would I be if I didn't at least try to get him to think about what he was about to do?

“Why? What would you do?”

“Talk to her. It’s not that complicated.”Hypocrite,I think as I ignore another vibration in my pocket. I would reply. Later. Eventually.

“No, no way. What if she cries? I swear omega tears are my kryptonite.” Evans sits up, as if he’s been struck by an idea, and I know before he even opens his mouth that it’s going to be a stupid one.

“There’s a party on the edge of town.” He begins, his eyes lighting up. “It’s being hosted by that guy on the baseball team. What’s his name? Chase or something? Anyway, there will be Omegas ripe for the picking and no Sadie. That’s what I need.”

Slapping both hands on the table, he pushes to his feet with a smug grin. “Problem solved—we’re going to a party on Saturday.”

“I don’t think—” Blake tries, but it’s no use. Evans has latched on to this little scheme of his, and there’ll be no stopping him now. It looks like we’re just being dragged along for the ride.

Chapter Three

Shiloh

They say that the definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results…

After the last disastrous party, I don’t know what alchemy Bell used to drag me to this hellhole but I was not insane. Not in the slightest. So, as the shots are passed around and a fresh keg is rolled out onto the patio, I nurse my bottle of water a little tighter.

Bell on the other hand is happily dancing beside me cheering on Colton, the Alpha whose party this is, as he sets up beer pong across the way. Blonde curls bounce as Bell moves from foot to foot, swishing their floaty long-sleeved blouse.

“Should we play?” They ask, excitedly, looking up at me with wide, slightly hazy grey eyes. Their lips are glossy, where they’ve been licking them between taking sips from their red cup.

I’d met Campbell Parker at orientation, when they had accidently bumped into me, knocking my bag to the floor. It wasn’t hard to like them, they were easy to be around - for the most part - and always seemed to have this brightness around them. For some reason, I liked that. I was always seen as being this sarcastic, negative person, but when I was with Bell, I felt lighter somehow.

“You know I’m awful at beer pong, and you’re even worse!” I chuckle, rolling up the sleeves of my shirt. Bell had insisted on picking our outfits tonight, and while the white flowy shirt thing looked good on them, I looked like a skinny Halloween version of Frodo. A clumsy Frodo, since I’d covered up my fading mark with a square band-aid. Bell had paired their blouse with a pair of vintage flared jeans and platform sneakers, giving the impression they were taller than their normal five foot four.

Slapping my chest with a wide grin, Bell starts nodding. “I think I can do it. I have a good feeling.”

A small part of me wished I had Bell’s confidence. They wore whatever they wanted and didn’t care what the others thought. While I didn’t care about the others–I still rarely strayed away from my trusty jumpers and worn, faded jeans. Tonight, Bell had practically wrangled me into a pair of black drain pipe jeans, with a studded belt and a pair of black chucks, the entire ensemble gives off 2010 emo vibes. But it wasn’t just the clothes, Bell was confident about pretty much everything. They threw themselves wholeheartedly into college, relationships, parties, life in general. I wonder what that felt like.

“That’s the vodka talking,” I snort, leaning back against a pillar. The house we were at tonight was super fancy, but I was enjoying the backyard patio. House parties usually made me feel a little claustrophobic, the combination of people, lack of space and alcohol was always a bad idea.

Colton King didn’t have that issue, since his parents were high ranking government officials and this whole patio was practically the same size as the apartment I shared with Bell. There were even sofas out here, space for people to dance to the music blasting from some garden speakers, an area for grilling, a fire pit down towards the end of the garden and of course, a pool and a hot tub which people were already making the most of. Iwould lament about how the other half live, but in reality, my parents had a very similar setup at their beach house.

Running a hand into their hair, Bell narrows their eyes at the baseball player stripping off his shirt as he loses another cup in his game of beer pong. “Colton looks hot today, doesn’t he?”

“Still the vodka.” With a half-smile, I push my water bottle towards Bell, unscrewing the cap and bringing it to their lips. “Here, have some of this.”

“Eurgh, seriously?” Bell grumbles but they gulp down half my water like a little goldfish. Just like Millie, Bell seems to have that omega charm that makes everything they do appear effortless. Even being tipsy, swaying slightly out of sync to the background music, they look graceful.

Once I’ve screwed the lid back on, I give them a light flick on the forehead. “You aren’t a wicked witch— a little water won’t kill you.”

Bell starts shaking me, ignoring the strange looks we’re getting from the people around us. “Shillllly, why do you have to be so serious? Have a drink, let your hair down…have a little fun!”

We can’t all be social butterflies, like Bell, and that’s fine. But I don’t have to let my guard down either, I'd learnt that lesson the hard way.

“Like last time you mean?” I give them a hard look, crossing my arms across my chest as they try to tug on my hand. “And stop calling me that.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry, Shilly Billy.”

“No. Nope.” Suppressing a shiver, I shake them off. Bell may be my best friend but that didn’t mean I was going to let them call me stupid names. “Say it again and I’ll go back to the apartment.”

Rolling their eyes, Bell finally stops pouting and tries to give me a serious face. I say try, because their glassy eyes don’t quitefocus on mine. “But you shouldn’t let one horrible experience ruin everything.”

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