Page 28 of Power Shift

“I don’t need a babysitter.”

“You sure? Because from where I’m standing, you’re about an hour away from having the cops called on you.”

“I’d be gone by then.”

“What are you even doing? Are you here to see your mom?”

He tucks his hands into the pockets of his jeans and strolls toward me. The teal Rayton Riptides hoodie he’s wearing has a giant bleach stain on the pocket, and his light-wash jeans are ripped at the thighs and knees in very Dash fashion. He’s always brightly coloured, while I make sure all of my clothes are dark or neutral.

I clear my throat and release the handlebars, stretching my fingers to work out the stiffness in them. Maybe it would beeasier to start the bike and drive off past him. By the time he got into the car to follow me, I’d be long gone.

My feet stay planted on the road. “I was just leaving.”

“Liar,” he says, calling me out.

“I wanted to take a ride. Get some fresh air.”

“And you had to do that alone? I’d have joined you after practice.”

“Wanted to take the bike.”

“Right.”

“You can go. I’ll be home soon.”

He jostles a shoulder. “Nah. I’ll chill with you for a bit. It’s a nice night.”

“Dash,” I grumble.

“Yes, Ronan? Are you sure there isn’t another reason why you’re here in this alley instead of at home with your pack? I know for a fact that Coach picked on you more than usual today. Is that why you needed space?”

He was harder on me because I was sloppy. I have been for days, nearly costing us our last game because I couldn’t focus on anything other than the memory of the omega.

Fuck, that game was a disaster.

Trapping a groan inside, I stare past Dash at the apartment building, pleading with I don’t even know what for her to appear out of thin air.

“I already told you there wasn’t a reason I was here,” I mutter.

He turns to the apartment, his head tipping one way, then the other. “Who’s inside, Ro?”

“How am I supposed to know that?”

“You’re here every weekend visiting your family. Don’t tell me you haven’t been paying attention to everyone who lives there. You’re the most protective alpha I’ve ever met.”

Something tells me that he’s looked in my room and found the list of tenants I keep in my desk. He calls it protectiveness; I call it doing my due diligence. What if a criminal was living in the same building as my mother and sister? That wouldn’t be acceptable.

“I don’t know everyone,” I say, not having to lie this time.

If I did, I’d have a name or apartment number for my omega. It seems the list of tenants I have is outdated. I’ve scanned it a thousand times since I saw the omega here, and not one of the names on it spoke to me the way I know hers would have.

Instead, I only have the lingering image of her walking away and the memory of her smell that’s had me spending more time in the shower than anyone should. Wrinkled skin and aching balls are my new normal.

Dash hums, leaning against my thigh. He kicks a leg out and crosses his ankles, staring down at me with a sly smile.

“Are you waiting for someone by chance? Is that why you’re being so shady? Now that I think about it, I haven’t seen you in the gym the past few nights.”

The sound of tires crunching over the rock-sprinkled road distracts him before I’m forced to answer. With a lifted brow, he eyes the gleaming blue car that pulls up in front of the apartment building.

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