Page 130 of Knot What She Seems
“I think they’re just jealous, babe,” I say, playing along. I shift our positions slightly so I’m able to wrap an arm around her waist. “You look beautiful, by the way.”
She does. That’s probably the first honest thing I’ve said since I arrived.
Her brown hair has been artfully styled in a chignon at the base of her neck, a few loose curls escaping to frame her face. Her makeup is artfully done and looks striking against the deep red of her dress, which cascades around her legs like a river of blood.
“And you look…” Harper turns slightly to look me over, and I see her bite her lip—no doubt to hide her laugh. This is the first time she’s seen me in my Teddie disguise, and I can tell she’s trying her damnedest not to lose it. “Sexy.”
“Sexy?”
“Totally sexy.” She winks playfully before turning toward the other omegas. “Now, shoo. I’m barely able to see my man as it is.” She purses her lips in a dramatic pout and turns toward me. “Baby boo, you never make time for me. I know people always say you can’t tame a stallion, but…”
“Mustangs like me must roam free,” I deadpan, and behind me, Colter chokes on a laugh.
Harper expertly guides me away from the hovering omegas and toward the buffet table, where a collection of finger foods sit.
Colter sidles up beside me, grabs a tiny plate, and begins to fill it with every food imaginable—tiny sandwiches, meatballs, cheese and crackers, and what appears to be pepperoni but is probably some fancy meat I don’t know the name of.
He hands it to me with a grunt, a smile playing at the edges of his lips.
“Thank you,” I whisper, cheeks burning, keenly aware that I have numerous eyes on me and that I’m disguised as Teddie currently, not Brylee. It definitely would not be a good idea to lean over and kiss him.
“Ahhh.” Harper glances between the two of us with a conspiratorial smirk, understanding alighting in her eyes. “So he’s one of them, isn’t he?”
My blush deepens, especially when her smile turns devious. She turns completely toward Colter and gives him an assessing once-over. After a moment, she faces me once more and nods. “I approve.”
“Shut up,” I murmur, ducking my head.
“Errr… What are you guys talking about?” Sam pipes in. I almost forgot the beta was with us.
“Nothing,” Harper and I reply simultaneously. Sam already knows the secret of my identity. I’m not ready to share the truth about my scent matches. I like Sam—even trust him, to some extent—but I’ve barely wrapped my head around all of this myself. I don’t need yet another person offering their opinions on my ill-defined love life.
“So…” Harper rocks on her heels. “Are you excited to be honored? Are you going to get a medal? A trophy?”
Colter chuckles as I stare at my friend incredulously. “A trophy?”
“What?” Harper blinks. “Isn’t that something they hand out to people?”
“I’m pretty sure there’s no such thing as war trophies,” I say, then turn toward Colter, one brow quirked. “Right?”
He smirks and shrugs, not responding.
Dick.
“Well, either way, I’ll be in the front row, cheering your name,” Harper says seriously.
“There are no rows,” Sam points out.
Harper gives Sam a curious inspection. “I don’t think we’ve met before. I’m Harper, Brylee’s roommate.” She extends a hand.
Sam blushes all the way to the tips of his ears and awkwardly takes her hand in his, holding it the way you would a wet, disgusting fish. “Ohhh. Brylee’s roommate.” He glances over at me with raised brows, silently asking if Harper knows what he knows. At my nod, he continues, “Hi! Um…I’m Sam. Brylee’s other…umm…roommate. Or Teddie’s, technically. Oh wow. Your eyes are really…colorful. They’re, like, a bright color.”
Oh god.
I have to stop myself from facepalming.
“Thank you.” Harper’s smile broadens. “I like having colorful eyes.”
Sam seems relieved, his shoulders physically sagging. He still doesn’t release her hand.
