Page 90 of Pack Choice
“What? Is it a cat?” Ava asks.
“No,” I say, staring at the message. “An alpha.”
Ava takes the phone from my hand and also squeaks. “River Caspian!”
“I didn’t give him my number.”
“I bet a man like River Caspian could get his hands on just about anything he wanted, including your number,” Ava says with a swoon.
“Probably,” I mutter. “He offered to fly me out to watch him race in Monaco next weekend.”
Ava squeals again, only this time a million decibels louder, twisting to kneel up on the bed and bouncing on the mattress.
“He what?!” I shrug. “You do know he’s never had a girl in his box watching him race. You know it’s like a big deal the gossip mags are always making a fuss over. All the other drivers have their girlfriends or their wives or their partners there watching. River usually only has his sponsor.”
“He didn’t say I’d be in his box.”
“Oh,” Ava’s shoulder sag a little before she regains her enthusiasm. “I bet that’s what he meant though. You should ask him. What does his message say?”
I roll my eyes and read it out for Ava, “You haven’t called yet …”
Ava elbows me. “You were meant to call him!”
“He gave me his number like yesterday. Give me a chance.”
“So you were going to call him …”
“I don’t know.”
“Call him now,” Ava says, bouncing up and down on the bed again.
“Won’t it look a bit keen?”
“He’s hunted down your number. I think he’s the one coming across as keen.”
“Fine,” I say, knowing Ava won’t let this one lie. I shuffle off the end of the bed and head towards the window, peering down into the garden where most of Ava’s little sisters are playing in the sprinkler, running in and out of jets of glistening water.
I lift the phone, find the right button and call River Caspian, which seems totally surreal and probably on the wish list of most of the population of Rockview City.
He answers after only two rings.
“Little one,” he says, “I was beginning to worry.”
“About what?”
“That you wouldn’t call.”
“How did you find my number?” I ask him.
“Colt gave it to me.”
My jaw drops open so fast I’m surprised it doesn’t hit the floor. “Colten? Colten Turner?”
“The very one.”
“Wh-wh-why?” I turn to look at Ava who’s wearing a puzzled expression.
“I asked him for it.”
