Page 60 of Alphas Like Us
I toss my head from side-to-side. “Better than my boyfriend.” I take another bite. “How about you?” The Omega lead has been attached to his phone for hours. Handling the crash and the aftermath which involves lawyers and police reports. We both haven’t slept since theaccident.
“It’s been a day.” Akara watches Oscar take out a six-pack from the fridge. He doles out Coronas to everyone, but Ipass.
Akara’s phonebuzzes.
“Sulli?” Donnellyasks.
Akara checks Caller ID, then pockets his phone. “No, some guys have been calling me about franchising the gym.” He uncaps the beer bottle on the counter’s edge, acting like that offer meansnothing.
Ever since SFO has gained some fame, Studio 9 Boxing & MMA gym has too. Especially since Akara ownsit.
“You can be excited in front of me.” I lick cream cheese off mythumb.
Oscar pats Akara’s shoulder. “Congratulations,bro.”
Akara nods and swigs his beer. “I wish I could be excited, but franchising sounds like a headache. I’m already swimming in work.” He checks an incoming message on his phone. “And there itis.”
“Sulli,” we all say, ribbing himtogether.
His brows crinkle. “NotSulli.”
Oscar smirks. “It was a ninety-nine percent chance,Kitsuwon.”
Akara shakes his head. “Look, all the subtle Sulli shots at me can’t happen anymore. I know you’re fucking around, but at the FanCon, you threw out hints that I liked her asmorethan a friend in front of Maximoff, in front of hercousins.Sooner or later, they’re gonna stop thinking that’s a joke. So you all need to cut that shit. Just a friendlywarning.”
I don’t mind backing off, but if I slip on accident, I won’t mind thateither.
“Aye aye, captain,” I say with a bagel between my teeth while I grab the other half from thetoaster.
“Sure thing, boss.” Donnelly raises hisbeer.
Oscar shakes the pretzel bag, his curly hair falling in his eyes. “How sure are we that you don’t like her as more than afriend?”
“Oscar.” Akaraglares.
He puts a hand to his heart. “You know I wouldn’t give you shit, if you weren’t abuddyguard. It’s not a good look. AskDonnelly.”
Donnelly swishes his beer. “Beckett and I look dopetogether.”
“Exactly. That’s weird,” Oscar tellseveryone.
Akara looks about ready to strangle Oliveira. My lips want to rise, partially-somewhat entertained. The Omega lead points at Oscar with his beer. “I’ve been on her detail since she wassixteen.Her dad will have my dick under a knife if he hears you. Donotpushit.”
I let out a low whistle at Oscar. “Keep forgetting that lube before you get fuckedhard.”
“Taking one for the team, Redford. You’ve been fucked hard enoughtoday.”
I nod a few times. That was a good one, and Oscar holds my gaze for a quiet beat and nods back, moreserious.
“Who was it?” Donnelly asks Akara. “If it wasn’t Sulli textingyou.”
“The rest of the Tri-Force.” Akara names the powers-that-be in the security team that consist of the current Alpha, Omega, and Epsilon lead: Price Kepler, Akara Kitsuwon, and Banks Moretti. “Let’s go in the living room. There’s bignews.”
* * *
I leanmy ass on the iron café table, but the granny-decorated living room has more seating than usual. Mismatched lawn chairs litter the floorboards, accompanying the ugly pink Victorian loveseat and the old rockingchair.
While Donnelly slumps on a lawn chair, Oscar stays in the kitchen archway, and Akara stands front-and-center blocking the brickfireplace.
