Page 62 of The Rejected Omega

“Damnit, Lana. I bet him twenty you’d show up still smelling like Eau de Roy,” Tessa says.

“You told her?”

“You didn’t exactly swear me to secrecy. And itwashilarious.”

Roy plucks a twenty from between Tessa's fingers, and I shake my head. “You’re buying me drinks with that.”

Roy sweeps my hair off my shoulder and makes a show of fussing with the neck of my cream bandage dress.

I swat away his hand. “What?”

“You know, this level of necking is usually reserved for teenagers in the backseat of mom's Prius. I'm impressed.”

I glance at Tessa questioningly, and she bites her lip. “He was very thorough,” she says.

“Just making sure he didn’t bite you. You smell like you bathed in the boy.”

“Nothing happened.”

“Right. That’s why you’ve got giant hickeys all over your scent glands,” Roy says, beaming.

My hand goes to the sore spots on my neck, and I wince. I hadn’t even noticed.

I pass Roy my keys and phone to store in his pockets so I can go hands-free and won’t be tempted to drive. If I have to be here, I’m planning to do some drinking.

He orders us a flight of shots designed to look like slick that arrive on a long wooden serving plank. They’re syrupy and oversweet and perfect for hiding lots of alcohol.

I toss back two and grimace.

Roy and Tessa make their way to the dance floor, and I order a drink and linger on the edges of the room. I have to be way more inebriated before I start dancing in public.

Someone tall shoulders me, and I step aside, ready to apologize for being in their way when I recognize Lance.

He flashes his megawatt smile. “Fancy seeing you here. Out of the library to party for once.”

“Are you here for Roy’s birthday?”

“What?” Lance yells.

The music has shifted to a pounding dance number, and it’s impossible to be heard. I lean close to his ear and repeat myself.

Lance yanks back, a scowl on his face.

“You and Masters? Shit. You could have said something.”

It takes me a moment to realize he recognizes Connor’s scent. It’s become like second nature to me already.

“It's not?—”

“You know, it’s omegas like you that give alphas a bad name. You didn’t have to lead me on.”

“Lead you on? What are you talking about?”

Lance scoffs. “An alpha only brings an omega food for one reason, Lana. Don’t play dumb.”

My stomach sours.

“I thought we were friends.”

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