Page 27 of Take All of Me

“I’m saying I’d be honored but there’s no rush. When you’re ready.”

There’s a quiet promise in his voice and yet, it stings like I’ve just been rejected. My brows furrow as I try to untangle my reaction. Why does ‘when you’re ready’ feel like ‘not now’? I turn away, ready to bolt, when I bump into Brogan, his broad frame blocking my escape.

He grins down at me, eyes sparkling with mischief, then glances at Holt. “Holt,” he teases, “ask her out on a date or something. You’re telling her you’re going slow, but her instincts are hearing no.”My mouth drops open, heat rushing to my face. “That’s not what—” I start, but Holt cuts me off, his grin widening.

“Would you go on a date with me?” he asks, a simple direct question that makes my heart soar, traitor that it is, even as I grumble, hating how much I want this.

“Yeah,” I mutter, “after the game. Sunday?”

“Yeah, I’ll think of something.”

I turn to Brogan, narrowing my eyes. “Are you some goddamn Beta whisperer or something?”

“Nope, just a little addicted to my new obsession, love.” That grin is still playing on his lips as he gestures to the locker rooms “The guys wanna know—are we going out for sloppy joes tonight?”

I manage a shrug, trying to stay nonchalant. “Couldn’t hurt. Time to truly meet the guys and all of that, right?” The idea of being sandwiched between all of their chaos doesn’t sound half as bad as I thought it would. The me a year ago would be appalled but it feels like I’m truly starting to belong to something that is mine, something that I’ve wanted for far longer than anything else and I’m not letting it slip through my fingers this time.

Brogan

I’m watching Maya from across the diner table, my sloppy joe half-eaten, because I can’t peel my eyes off her. She’s laughing with Dakota, a real, genuine laugh, her curls bouncing as she tips her head back. It’s different from yesterday when fear clung to her like a second skin and seeing her here, alive in a way she wasn’t, twists something deep in my chest.

Memories of last night flood me—her wrapped around me, soft gasps spilling from her lips, vanilla blending with my rain, her trust, a gift I’m still reeling from. I’ve got a billion ideas spinning in my head with ways to provide for her, to give her the world, a life free from Nox’s shadow but I’ve gotta tread carefully with Holt in the picture. I love the guy, respect him, but we’ll never be pack. I’m pretty sure Maya’s it for me, my north star, and I’m hers, whether she’s ready to name it or not.

She relaxes a fraction when Dakota leans in, pushing a curl behind her ear, his lavender scent soft but unmistakable. Her blush reddens that rosy brown skin of hers, a hint of dimple hiding along her left cheek. My attention shifts to Roman beside them, the guy a little more restless than he was in practice. He’s glaring at Ethan across the table for reasons I can’t pin down and I’ve been trying to puzzle it out for the last hour. Ethan and Roman aren’t friends by any means but they definitely aren’t enemies, not that you’d know by the sharp tinge to Roman’s scent.

I glance at Holt for answers but his eyes are locked on Maya, like she’s the only thing in the room. He’s oblivious to the undercurrent here or maybe he doesn’t recognize the problem because he doesn’t spend as much time around Ethan. I’m not sure Holt knows how close Roman was to shoving Ethan into the glass and flattening him out. Had Maya not stepped in, it would have gone south really quickly. My problem is that I don’t knowwhy.

When Ethan mutters something about the bathroom, Roman following, I know that if I don’t stop whatever is about to happen, I’ll regret it. Holt frowns toward me as I push to my feet but I put a hand out, mouthing, ‘I got it’. The last thing we need is two mates piling on Ethan—Holt’s protective streak and Roman’s whatever-the-hell-this-is would be a disaster. Ethan’s a shit sometimes, yeah, but he doesn’t deserve that.

I slide out, weaving through tables and rethink that stance when I round the corner to the hallway and hear Ethan’s voice. “I don’t understand why you’re so fucking angry. You all took a crack at her. Hell, Brogan’s sleeping with her. She might be the assistant coach, but that’s really just to give us something to stare at, yeah?”

I take it back. Ethan’s more than just a little shit. Before I can move, Roman’s fist collides with Ethan’s face, a sickening crackechoing off the tiles. Ethan stumbles back, cupping the side of his face as he glares at the Beta.Not good.I rush forward, catching Roman’s fist mid-swing, my grip tight as I stop him from landing a second hit on Ethan

“I’m gonna get you kicked off the fucking team for this bullshit,” Ethan spits, his words muffled by the side of his hand.

Roman snarls at Ethan, a fight still waiting to erupt if I step out of the way. Knowing that I might very well be inserting myself into the problem, I press my hand flat against his chest, pushing him a few steps away from Ethan. “Pipe the fuck down, Roman, before you get us kicked out.” He tenses, but doesn’t push, his gaze flicking to mine, a flicker of trust cutting through the haze. I turn to Ethan, knowing that he’s going to blow this shit out of proportion. “If you knew Roman had the hots for our coach, demeaning her position with the team probably wasn’t the way to go.”

Ethan scoffs, rubbing his cheek lightly. “Rich words coming from you, since she was in your bed last night.”

I sometimes forget how fast gossip travels at this university. “And? She can choose to be with whoever she wants. You expecting something from her is disgusting. You never talked about Holt that way when he got with Dakota and Roman. What’s the difference? Because she’s a woman?” I’m close enough to see Ethan’s eyes flicker, guilt or shame or something he won’t admit as I hold his stare, daring him to push further.

He spits out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “Save your words. I’m taking this up with the dean and you can explain your shit there. Roman’s been off all day and if Maya knew he hit me, she’d be all over his ass.”

“Do what you need to, Ethan, but I’d suggest going back to the table. Roman and I need to talk.”

Ethan opens his mouth, ready to jab again, and I brace, because I’m done with his crap. “So, you can kiss Roman better?” he says, smirking. “You fucking him too?”

Roman roars, lunging, but I slam him back against the wall, my forearm across his chest, pinning him there…just barely. “Enough,” I growl, then turn back to Ethan again. “For the record, no, I’m not. That comment was uncalled for. I’m gonna see if I can knock some sense into Roman. Excuse us.”

Roman grumbles, following me without much fuss as we exit the diner. I lead us far away enough from the entrance, out of the direct line of sight of our table to give us a little more privacy. Gathering my emotions, I spin, folding my arms across my chest to confront the one Beta I didn’t think I’d ever be having a problem with. “Okay, explain this shit like I’m five, Roman, and don’t cut corners. The last thing Maya needs is more bullshit in her life and you’ve been avoiding her all day.”

He shoves his hands in his pockets, staring at the asphalt, kicking at a few spare rocks like whatever he has to say is worse than just some anger issues. I expect a fight, a deflection, that cocky grin he usually throws up, but when he speaks, his voice is soft, almost nonexistent. “I’m sorry.”

Confused, I try pushing the conversation to see if he’ll give me the answers I’m looking for. “I can’t help you if you’re hulking out at another player, Roman. What is going on?”

Roman sputters a laugh, running a hand through his hair before lightly pulling at the strands. “Hulking out’s one way to describe it,” he mutters, then exhales. “You realized Dakota presented as an Omega but, like… I went the other way.”

“What the fuck? I’ve never heard of that.”

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