Page 42 of Talk About… Trouble

The walls had random pieces of art and photographs, animals one of the main themes, though there were pictures of the mountains and the town.

“Are you a photographer?” I asked, realizing that they all had the same style and angles, like they were taken by the same person.

“I dabble a little,” he said, keeping it vague, but his friend wasn’t letting him get away with that.

“Liar. He’s got a whole dark room in the basement,” he snorted.

Shepherd shrugged, taking it in stride. “My dads were dicks and photography gave me something to focus on until I was out of there.”

“They’re beautiful,” I told him, offering a smile.

“Thanks,” he said, his look a bit too intense for the moment. “Come sit. My alpha is riding me hard to make sure you’re fed. You need some sugar in you after that, too.”

I was promptly sat at the big dining room table, a cold Coke in front of me. He even put a straw in it. I sipped as I watched him and Braxton moving about the kitchen.

They were comfortable together, as if they were pack. Though, I don’t think either one of them realized it.

There was a fine line between good friendship and being a pack. It was the way that they were leaning in and whispering. How one grabbed my cup, the other the straw, two people working together without a word like this was second nature.

It had me missing my omega.

Shit. I never got around to messaging him that I’d be late.

“I need to grab my phone,” I said, starting to stand but Braxton narrowed his eyes and pointed to the seat.

“You stay put. I’ll grab it,” he said firmly, already halfway out the door.

“Do you have a pack you need to check in with?” Shepherd asked carefully. It was guarded, and he wouldn’t look at me.

“Not a set pack, no. But my roommate is also my omega. He and our alpha might be worried if I don’t check in,” I admitted.

Disappointment flashed in his eyes and he nodded once before turning away.

Was he interested?

I was chewing on my lip as I thought it over until Braxton was back and pushing it into my hand.

“Sorry, it fell under the desk so it took a second to find. Someone was blowing up your phone as I was walking back.”

He had the same question in his eyes.

“Thanks,” I said as I checked the screen, eyes widening as I took in the time. I wasn't just a little late, but over two hours at this point and counting.

“Shit, Dev is going to kill me,” I muttered.

“Her omega and alpha are probably worried,” Shepherd said pointedly, voice a bit harder than it normally was.

I frowned but focused on one issue at a time, which meant letting my omega know I’d be late.

Braxton

Even though I tried not to show it, I was shaken after that panic attack Wren had. She had been this confident, excited omega when I first got here. Then the next moment, we found her sobbing on the floor in her office.

As she stepped away to make her phone call, I turned to my best friend to gauge his reaction. I couldn’t be the only one freaking out here.

“I don’t know what happened to her, but I want to kill whoever caused that kind of reaction. What the hell changed?” he said, taking off his hat and running his hand over his short hair.

“Her phone was on the floor. I’m guessing something to do with that,” I admitted. Though, I barely knew her. I couldn’t begin to fill in any blanks.

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