I have a shirt with your name on it.
Well, he’s not helpful.
“Still no hints about where Cole’s taking you?” Kady asks.
“Nope.” I sigh in frustration. “He’s giving nothing away.”
“Cole’s loaded, right?” Delilah quips. “Maybe he’ll hire a limo and take you to a restaurant in Forestville. Some have reservation lists that are weeks long.”
“I don’t think I have anything to wear to a place like that.” My small wardrobe consists of thrift store finds and floral dresses that I’ve upcycled from scraps of fabric.
“You can borrow something, if you want to dress up?” Kady offers. “I have to go to my father’s business functions all the time. Let me see what I’ve got.” She jumps off the bed and hurries away.
“Are you excited?” Delilah’s eyes light up. “A first date is a big deal.”
“I am.” I bite my lip. “But honestly, I’m a little nervous.”
Even though we’re scent matches and we’ve seen each other naked, I still can’t shake the anxious butterflies fluttering around in my stomach.
“Cole’s a real gentleman,” Sabs says before huffing in exasperation at her phone. “There’s no one good on here! I must have looked at over fifty alphas tonight.” Nose scrunched, she turns her phone around to show us a guy’s bio. “See what I’mdealing with? This app is supposed to be for casual hook ups, not alphas looking for an omega to bond. What happened to knots without strings?”
Delilah rolls her eyes. “I don’t know why you put yourself on those apps in the first place.”
“Because, my apple crumble baking fairy, a girl has needs that a vibrator just ain’t scratching!” Sabs giggles. “I’m gonna need an alpha to help me through a heat soon. I can tell I’m getting antsy on suppressants and need a break, but I want to hook up with them casually first.”
“What about Drax?” Delilah suggests. Searching my brain, I recall the hot security guard from Club Knotty. “He’s obsessed with you.”
“Drax?” Sabs taps her chin. “Oh, we hooked up once years ago, but we both agreed never again. He’s just a friend. Besides, Drax is a beta, and he’s always working. I want someone available.”
“But not too available, right?” Delilah shakes her head despairingly, making her short curly bob seem like it has a life of its own. “You’re too hard to please. Do you even want a pack one day?”
“I don’t know. Not everyone is lucky enough to find a scent match.” Sabs says then quickly adds, “Not that I’m not happy for you, Faye. I’m just being realistic.”
Kady returns to the room, arms laden with gorgeous dresses. “I brought options!”
The girls buzz around, ordering me to try on one after the other. They all blur into one until they mutually agree that a slinky, baby-blue silk dress with spaghetti straps is the one. It’s not like anything I’d usually wear. It’s far too elegant, and although it’s undeniably stunning, I don’t feel verymein it.
“Are you sure it’s not too much?” I express my concern out loud, smoothing down the sides. “I’ve never worn anything like this before.”
“You look amazing.” Kady rubs her hands together. “Cole will treat you like a princess, and you look like one too. Do you have any jewelry to match?”
I select my blue lace agate pendant—a calming crystal—before Delilah braids a section of my hair then pins it back while leaving the rest down. I never went to a high school prom, but I imagine this is what it’d be like. All I’m missing is a corsage.
My heart skips a beat when the doorbell rings. Delilah scampers over to the window to poke her head out.
“Frank’s here,” she confirms. “Time to go!”
I grab my purse then look around the room. There’s nothing else I need, right? “I guess this is it.”
“Just have fun, and be yourself.” Delilah pulls me in for a tight hug. “I can’t wait to hear all about it.”
Sabs winks. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“I’d struggle to do that,” I scoff.
Kady adjusts the strap of my dress. “Cole’s a lucky guy. Enjoy yourself. After the last few weeks, you’ve earned it.”
Beaming as I depart Stella House, I look back at the girls madly waving from the window like proud parents sending their child off on the first day of school.
