Felix works for Copper Hill Construction, also known as CHC. They’re the premier builder in the area, and that’s not just because they’re the only ones around. The team frequently travels for those home makeover TV programs. That’s how good they are. Why they settled here, I’ll never know, but hey, they employ a lot of people who would otherwise have to commute into the city.
He works in accounting on a small team of four. I also have it on good authority that he has a major crush on his boss, Gabriel, the CFO. He’s the only Alpha Gabriel has ever brought up to me.
“Yeah. I was wondering if you’d want to come with me?”
I’m not sure why he looks so nervous. This wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been his date to something. I attended his fraternity’s formal every year while we were in college. We always have fun together.
It’s one of the reasons I love him so much. I have never once felt uncomfortable around Felix. From the moment we met, he’s been the one person I know I can be myself around. I don’t feel the need to pretend to be someone I’m not.
“Absolutely! It’ll be the perfect opportunity for me to see if Gabriel is as hot as you say he is. Plus, I’ll need to make sure he’s good enough for my best friend.”
Felix blushes bright red and turns back to the stove, stirring the soup he’s been working on. “You don’t need to do that. It’s not like anything could ever happen there.” He sighs, and there’s a sadness there that I hate. I know he’s got to be wanting an Alpha at this point in his life. It’s instinctual for Omegas. “He’s good-looking, for sure. He’s been weird lately, though. Katy jokes that he’s constantly on the edge of a rut.”
“Oh, well, then maybe you need to stay away. You’re the hottest Omega in town. I doubt he could resist himself.” I lift myself onto the counter beside the stove, grabbing a spoon and stealing a taste of the soup. “Holy shit, this is so good. Your best batch yet.”
He looks at me out of the corner of his eye, the tips of his ears pink at my praise. “Yeah?”
“Absolutely. I’d eat this and only this for the entire month if I didn’t think I’d get scurvy.”
“Pumpkins have plenty of vitamin C. Scurvy is like, one of the few things you wouldn’t have to worry about eating only this for an entire month straight.” He grabs a clean spoon and tastes the soup. Apparently, he finds it lacking because he adds some maple syrup and grinds fresh pepper into it.
I move to dip my spoon back into the pot, and he pops the back of my hand with his wooden stirring spoon.
“No double dipping! That’s gross.”
“You don’t mind sharing my germs,” I tease.
A thoughtful foreign expression flashes across his face, but it’s gone before I can make sense of it.
“No, I suppose I don’t.”
THREE
TEN DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS
I love her,I love her, I love her.
I love the way her smile is higher on the left side than the right.
I love the way she snorts a little when something isn’t amusing enough for a belly laugh.
I love it when she puts on little shorts and a big shirt, and big pants and a little shirt.
I thought I loved her before, but in the six months since we’ve been living together, I’ve realized that I’m utterly obsessed with every part of Clara Jones, and she has no idea.
And she never will.
I know she doesn’t see me that way. She’s always encouraging me to go after Gabriel. I suppose dealing with an unbonded Omega isn’t easy for her, and I have expressed interest in Gabriel before, but it still makes my stomach ache when she pushes.
Of course, I feel the pull to find an Alpha. It’s in my nature to crave one. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want her, too.
I know she means well when she encourages me to findone, but it doesn’t stop me from feeling like I’m dying inside every time she brings it up.
Gabriel is the only Alpha who has caught my eye in the past few years, but that will never happen. He’s my boss. That crosses so many professional lines.
The pull that I feel toward him differs from the one that draws me to Clara. Everything with Clara is deeper because of our history together, and I know it’s pure, true love. Gabriel feels like potential. A part of me aches to discover what would be between us if given the chance to get to know one another.
The only two people I want to be with, and I can’t have either of them.
