Page 37 of Heat & Deceit
Her face gives nothing away, but her shoulders drop ever so slightly. “That sounds great.”
“I don’t really like going out to restaurants...too many people,” I explain. The date was an exception I won’t be making again for a while.
“It’s cool. I’m good with whatever makes you comfortable.”
“You’re not embarrassed by my strangeness?”
“No,” she says firmly. “I do want to explore, but I can do that after. I’m not going to force you to go out to eat if you’d rather stay in.”
“Are you sure you’re an omega?” I ask with a strangled laugh. “You’re always so nice.”
“You know, sometimes I wish that bitch wasn’t rotting in jail, because then I’d be able to kill her myself.”
She doesn’t have to say her name for me to know who she’s talking about. The twisted part of me delights in imagining Kiki giving Shelly what she deserves.
“Maybe I could get the guys to torture her first.” Kiki’s wicked grin is infectious.
“She’d probably deserve it,” I mutter.
Curtis and Shelly were deplorable. Curtis is dead, thank fuck. Shelly’s serving a life sentence for her crimes, and if you ask me, even though it cost him his life, Curtis got off easy.
“Enough about that.” Kiki unzips her backpack. “I have a surprise for you.” She pulls out a long box with bold letters running up the side of it.
Knot Master 3000.
Perhaps the universe doesn’t hate me after all.
“What’s this?” I ask.
“I pitched a new story centered around vibrators of all types. This was by far my favorite, and I thought you might like it.”
“Um. Is that sanitary?”
She bursts out laughing. “I’m giving you a new one.” Handing it to me, she pulls a face. “Can you imagine using a vibrator some other omega slicked all over?” She shudders. “Even if I cleaned it, there’s no way I’d be able to use it.”
“I’m not sure how to feel about this gift,” I admit. “But I think I might like it.”
She nods. “You will, trust me. I think the guys were a little put out when I told them about it, but nothing compares to a real knot.” Her happiness dims a little. “But for someone without options, this comes damn close.”
“Don’t pity me.”
“I don’t.” She’s so adamant, I instantly believe her. She’s hard as nails, but she’s kind to me. If I didn’t have so many issues with omegas, and if I weren’t living my life on the down-low, I think Kiki and I could be best friends.
“Chinese?” I ask with a little smile.
“Hell yeah.” She leans into the cushions. “Should I find a movie?”
“Definitely.”
I grab my phone and order the food. Kiki settles into the couch like it’s her house, and I find myself studying her while she browses through the movies. She’s so relaxed, and she talks to me like I’m...a friend?
My chest tightens a little at the thought.
It’s been a long time since I’ve had a friend.
* * *
“I should probably head out.” Kiki sits forward and gathers the paper boxes, chopsticks, and napkins while the ending credits roll.
