Page 10 of Knotty Escape
There’s no return address on the envelope, only my name and Wendy’s address.
“This is suspicious, right?” I squint at it, but she just shrugs.
“You changed your address with the post office already, so not really. I’m surprised you haven’t gotten more spam, honestly.”
She’s got a point.
I tear it open as we head upstairs to her apartment. It’s a one-bedroom with a single bathroom, but it’s cozy. She’s one of the rare omegas who has her own place, because her parents are loaded and considered progressive. Which just means they believe their daughter should be able to live her life however the fuck she wants, regardless of her designation. Without them signing the lease, it would be very hard for a lone omega to get her own place. Which is why I’m seriously fucked.
“Huh,” I mumble as I drop my tote by my suitcase that’s taking up half her living room. Wendy is the kind of ride or die that everyone deserves in their life.
The embossed card inside the envelope has an arcade-style font, printed with bold black and pink colors. “Join us for free this Saturday, the twentieth, at the hottest new escape room around.”
“Oh, you’re going!” Wendy snatches the card out of my hand and grins at me. She flips the card, her grin growing as she reads it. “I’ve heard of this place. It’s supposed to be super fun.” Her dark blue eyes sparkle in a way that makes me a little nervous. She is the chaos to my calm. “You did say you wanted to experience life, not just watch it pass you by. Didn’t you sign up for a bunch of other stuff as well?”
Flashes of the night after my birthday fill my head as I think back to my drunken web search. Wendy and I stayed in and celebrated my break-up with a bottle of vodka. This, of course, led to me telling her every single detail of the night before, including the delicious alpha cuddles.
It wasn’t a very scandalous story, seeing as I passed out on Harrison’s chest and slept like a fucking rock until the early hours of the morning. I slipped out of his room unnoticed, but didn’t make it out of the apartment so lucky.
“Usually when a woman slips out of a man's room while he sleeps, it’s because she doesn’t want to face the feral things he did to her body the night before,” a deep, sleep-laced voice says from somewhere ahead of me.
I pause, considering making a run for the door, but fuck that, I have no reason to be ashamed.
“Actually–”
“But seeing as you and Harrison didn’t make so much as a peep last night, I don’t think that's the case here,” he says, cutting me off as I step forward, and a man comes into view on the couch. He’s lit up by the early morning sunlight.
“I’m sneaking out as he sleeps because Harrison is one of the most incredible alphas I’ve ever met and doesn’t deserve to bedragged into the disaster that is my life, if you must know,” I huff, flipping my messy hair over my shoulder.
“Shouldn’t that be his call? Assuming you like him, that is.”
“He’s not the only person to consider.” I shrug, not sure why I’m still standing here, defending my choices to this stranger. He’s naked except for black briefs and, oddly enough, white socks. Who sleeps in socks? Ew.
“Do you mean yourself, or his pack? Or are you already someone’s omega?”
“I was. I’m not anymore.” I shake my head. “I have to go.”
“See you soon, omega.”
“Possibly.” I wince, though I’m not sure if I’m wincing at my decision-making or the memory of the third pack member whose name I remember Harrison mentioning but can’t recall.
My email is currently filled with dating app notifications, cooking courses, and a bungee jumping sign-up. The last of which I will be canceling. I want to have more fun, not break my damn neck. Thank you very fucking much.
“Wonderful.” Wendy’s grin is half-feral, making me laugh.
“Fuck it.” I shrug. “What’s the worst that can happen?” My phone rings at that exact moment, and when I glance at the screen, it almost feels like the universe is taking my words as a dare.
“Larry?” Wendy grumbles, and I nod. “I can answer,” she offers in a way that sounds slightly threatening.
“No,” I sigh, heading for her small balcony. “I need to eventually speak to him.” Once outside, I answer, hoping I don’t sound as upset as I feel. “Hello?”
“Lila, finally,” he huffs, sounding irritated. “Cut this shit out and come home already. Your tantrum has gone on long enough. I’m not packing anything up, and unless you’re coming over to stay, I’m not letting you grab anything else from my place.” I guess we’re cutting straight to the point, then.
“I already told you, I’m not going to do that. I just want my stuff, Larry. I don’t need you to pack it, just let me come pick it up.”
“No, no. Stop.” He lets out this scoffing laugh that rubs me the wrong way. Like he can’t believe I would have the audacity to deny him. “Look, I’ve put up with your little tough girl act long enough. You need to come home now. Rent is due next week,” he snaps.
Ah, so that's why he’s fighting so hard to get me back. He doesn’t have money for rent.
