SIX
NINE DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS
“Peppermint mocha for Kathleen,”I call, setting the drink on the countertop. A harried-looking woman with an arm full of bags and a toddler clinging to her belt loop swipes it off the counter, nodding her thanks.
Our seasonal menu is doing the heavy lifting today. We have the classics, like the peppermint mocha, as well as pumpkin spice and gingerbread lattes, but it’s Sylvia’s more unique concoctions that I recommend to customers. People can say what they want about eggnog, but it hits different as a frappe.
“We’re out of sugarplum scones in cold storage,” Felipe calls from the back room.
“We’ve still got a few in the case,” I reply over my shoulder.
He pushes through the swinging door, giving me a tired smile. “I’ll bake some up in the morning. Let’s hope the granny mafia doesn’t flip out when we run out.”
The older woman waiting for her crème brûlée latte huffs at him before yanking it out of my hand as soon as it’s done. I glare at him over my shoulder.
“You’re going to get us a negative review online.”
He blows some of his black hair from his eyes. “Let her complain. What is she going to do, say that I accused her of being in the mafia? No one will believe her.”
It’s an hour before closing, and the sun has long since set, but people have still been coming in regularly for coffee. The market isn’t even open that much later than us. What do they need to be caffeinated for?
“Got any plans for Christmas?” Felipe asks as he sweeps the cafe.
“Just spending it with my roommate. His family went on vacation, and mine is in Oklahoma, so it’s really only the two of us.” I grab some pastries from the case and put them in the plastic tub I have balancing on the counter. Sylvia always donates the leftovers to the small food pantry run out of the back of the local church, so I make sure I pack them up gently.
Felipe hums and leans over, using the broom to prop himself up. “Sounds intimate.”
I roll my eyes and turn my back to him so he doesn’t see me blush. “It’s not like that. We’re best friends.”
“Mhm,” he hums, resuming his sweeping. “You know who else were best friends?”
“Who?”
“Literally every couple in a holiday movie.”
I ball up a napkin and throw it at him, but it falls listlessly onto the floor before it even gets close. “We’re not a couple.”
“But do you want to be?”
“What is it with this place? You and Sylvia both are pestering me about my love life. Can’t a girl live with her best friend, and it not mean anything?”
A low, crooning Christmas song plays over the speakers, and Felipe does a little twirl, almost like he’s dancing with his broom. “I’m not trying to give you a hard time. It’s just that … People talk, Clara. It wouldn’t surprise me if there were a town betting pool on you two ending up together.”
“He doesn’t feel that way about me, I promise you.” As much as I wish he did. “We’re better off as friends.” Uncertain. “He needs an Alpha, not a Beta.” Or he could have both.
I never pictured myself in a pack, but I don’t think I’d hate it if Felix were a part of it. I’d like anyone who loved Felix and wanted to dote on and take care of him.
A not-so-quiet part of me that likes the idea of a strong, dominant Alpha taking control. I try not to think about it too much, but sometimes, in the dark of my room, it’s impossible not to let my mind wander to what things could be like if Felix reciprocated my feelings.
Kneeling side by side in front of an Alpha, mouths open as he jerks off over us. Felix inside of me while he’s trapped on an Alpha’s knot. Riding my Omega’s face while our Alpha sucks his cock.
Yeah, I don’t think sharing an Alpha would be a bad thing at all.
But that won’t happen, because Felix doesn’t feel that way about me. If he did, he would’ve told me by now. He’s never been one to mince words, and he’s one of those people who you can read everything on his face. There is no way he could keep his feelings from me, even if he wanted to.
I’ve known him for too long.
SEVEN
