Stella: This is why I love you. Now shut up because I’m crying, and I can only hide in here for so long before someone comes looking. I’ll call you later. Love you.
Plum: Love you more.
I stuff my phone in my purse and huff. I really don’t want to climb all the stairs up to my apartment, but I have to. I’m hungry, and all I want to do is curl up on my couch with a glass of eggnog and watchElf.
I’m on autopilot as I make my way up the stairs.
A familiar scent hits me like a baseball bat to the nose. I jerk to a stop in the hallway leading to my apartment and blink. I blink again. No. Fucking. Way.
The door across the hall from mine is wide open, and some guy is pushing a couch inside.
“Oh, god. No…” I whisper as I take a cautious step forward. “Please be wrong.” This can’t be happening, but the closer I get,the stronger his scent is, and the more I want to run for the fucking hills.
“You motherfucker,” I growl as I step into the doorway, spotting none other than Kai-fucking-Berrywill standing in the center of the apartment. His head snaps up when he hears my voice, and he grins like he can’t see or feel my furious glare.
If I could have just one superpower, at this moment I know exactly what I’d want it to be.Laser eye beams.I would also settle for starting fires with my mind so I could set all of his shit on fire.
“Plumshine! Are you here to throw me a welcome party in my new apartment?” Kai asks with a smile so bright I wonder if I’ll go blind just looking at it.
At no point since this man made his reappearance known have I thought that our encounters were a coincidence. This isn’t an exception. He’s planned all of it.
I just don’t understandwhy.Why now? What’s changed in the last five years?
“I’ll be honest, I’d rather burn the building down than throw you a party,” I inform him in the most neutral tone I can manage. I’m rubbish at hiding the anger and violence simmering below the surface, but there’s no way I’m letting him see just how fired up I am right now if I can help it.
He might’ve fooled someone else with his last lame excuse back at the shop. Kai can claim he was there for Sable or that he just happened to attend the most popular Halloween party in town last night. However, right now, there’s no explanation other than that he moved here, right across the hall—right across from me—on purpose. He may want to act like he just happened to move into the neighboring apartment that’s been vacant for the last two years, but we both know this isn’t a coincidence.
Sable recently called me diabolical and devious. Clearly she knows nothing, because this?This is truly fucking diabolical.
“Not my first choice, but if it gets me your attention, I’ll take it,” he replies with a grin before lifting his phone to his ear, murmuring too low for me to hear what he’s saying.
Oh, so he’s not even bothering with the pretense this time?
“Fuck you,” I growl over my shoulder while stomping across the hall to my door. The second I’m safely inside, I slam it shut, clicking all three locks like that can undo the fact that Kai is my new neighbor.
This has to be Hell. At some point I died, and this isThe Bad Place. I’m being punished for all eternity for something I did during my short twenty-three years.
I love my apartment. I pay for it with the money I make selling my glass creations. It’s the first thing I’ve ever had that I could say, ‘This is mine.’ I earned it, and considering how fucking hard it can be for a single omega to get her own place, I’m even more proud. In one fucking night, Kai has ruined it.
Just the sight of him—no, the scent of him—was enough to make me want to move out. I contemplate the idea for a few seconds before brushing it off. I think if I do try moving, he’ll just follow me. Bee said he’s got money now. That he bought her a house…
“He’s doin’ good. Be better if he were still with you, but when do men ever listen to their mothers, hmm? Once it’s too late, that's when,” Bee grumbles, huffing an exasperated sigh. “He’ll be back soon, if you didn’t know,” she adds, glancing at me, sending me a worried look I don’t miss despite how hard I’m trying not to let her words get to me.
“I heard. He’s the best man for Stella's wedding. He and her fiancé hit it off, I guess,” I say in as bland a tone as I can. If Sable even thinks I’m in pain, she’ll rush to comfort me, and Ican’t take that right now. I knew Kai was going to be the best man. It’s something I’ve had plenty of time to think about.
“Yep. How you feelin’ about that?” Bee asks, and I shrug.
“It’s not my wedding. I’m just a bridesmaid. I’m sure he’ll head back to the big city he loves so much once it's over.” My voice is a little higher-pitched than normal, even though I’m aiming for nonchalant. Of course, I don’t care. Of course I’m over him. I mean, it’s been five damn years already.
“Mm,” Bee grunts, giving a noncommittal shrug. “He bought me a new house. Damn thing’s a new build. None of that small-town charm I raised him to appreciate. Thinks I need fancy stuff.” She chuckles, looking over to Sable now. “Betas,” she scoffs, and we all smirk.
“Imagine having Bee for a mother-in-law.” Sable snorts, and I jerk my head her way, shooting her a glare.
“I did, once,” I snark with a sassy look, and she sucks her lips between her teeth, eyes bulging as she tries not to laugh too hard. I shake my head, judging her.
“Ope,” she winces, wrinkling her nose at me and making a face that says, ‘Uh-oh, I’m in trouble.’
“Bitch,” I grumble with a smile, looking away from her so I don’t crack and start laughing too.
