“Don’t worry your sweet little heart,” she says.
Oh, good. Both of us are dancing around the tension with debutante smiles and saccharine tones.
“I was thinking about what you mentioned,” I begin.
“Of course you were.”
My eyebrows raise.Okay, Carrie, conceited much?“Right, well, I picked out some ideal traits for a pack.”
“Let me grab a pen.” Things tumble and shuffle around in the background, and she clears her throat. “I’m ready.”
“Well, for an alpha, I’d like someone who knows his way around cars.”
“Mmm. An alpha with an impressive car collection won’t be too hard to find.”
“Actually, I meant one that can fix them up. Change our oil. Repair flat tires, broken belts, you know, a full-service kind of alpha.”
“Uh-huh. Well, Olivia, I don’t have to tell you that the packs in our dating pool are far above that kind of manual labor.”
I make a tiny sound of surprise. “But, Carrie! You’re the best matchmaker in Chicago! If anyone can find me a pack, it’s you, right?”
“Obviously.” Her voice is tight. Guess I’ve struck a nerve.
“I knew my mother picked you for a reason. Now, as far as what the rest of the pack does...” I continue to describe thepack I’m already falling for, knowing that Carrie is near fainting by the time I’m done.
“I’m so excited to see what you find!” I tell Carrie and hang up before she can say anything else.
At least with my list, Carrie will have her work cut out for her, and delaying her and my mother’s agendas as long as possible is the best I can hope for until I find a place to live. Right now, with my research going so well, I can’t afford to take any days off to deal with the fallout of informing Mother that I am, in fact, dating a pack and I think I’m falling in love.
Liam is waiting for me outside the bowling alley, wearing a grin, as I park beside his car. My heart races at the sight of him, and when he tugs me into his arms, I melt into his embrace. His lips are soft and warm.
He breaks away with a hum. “Hello, gorgeous.”
“Hey,” I murmur, smiling up at him, but there’s still a pinch between my eyebrows.
“What’s wrong?”
“My mom.” I shake my head. “She’s set me up with a matchmaker and is determined to make my life miserable.” I suck in a breath and rush to continue. “I’m not dating anyone else, and I never would. My mother is only?—”
“If I was worried about you doing what your mother told you to do, I wouldn’t know you as well as I say I do.” He shrugs. “We know what you’re dealing with, and we’re not upset.”
“I wish I could move out,” I complain. “But that would mean a huge fight, and I’d have to take days off of work, and right when our research is going so well. I don’t have time to look for alternative living arrangements.”
He searches my face, begins to say something, but then his phone rings. “Sorry,” he mutters. “That’s Cici’s ringtone.”
“Please, take it.”
Exhaling, he nods and tugs his phone from his pocket.
Fall air licks at my cheeks, chilly and vaguely threatening an extreme winter. I shiver, even though I’m wearing a sweater, and Liam pulls me against his side as he answers, grinning down at me.
“Hey, C, what’s up?” The smile immediately drops, and he stiffens, a scowl forming. “He did what?”
My heart skips. There’s really only onehein Cici’s life right now. George. The asshole alpha.
“Are you okay?” He nods at whatever she says. “Okay. Go to your room. I’m coming to get you. No, Cici, I’m coming to get you, okay, pretty girl?” His features crumple at whatever she says. “Of course they love you. I’m coming to get you, all right? Okay. Stay in your room. Okay. Yeah, I’ll hurry. Bye.”
“What is it?”
