Jason hurried down the hall with a handful of magazines in one hand.
Backing away from the door, I silently chastised myself. Lyla wasn’t someone my family would approve of. A career woman with a fashion sense that was far from traditional, and most definitely not Greek. Yet she might be good for Jason. If her strength of will was as powerful as her love for colors, then she could be the right mate for him.
“You got the snacks.” Jason nodded approvingly. “Once the other girls heard what I was asking for from Julie, everyone hunted down some mags for me.”
The staff here in the hospital was like a family. Everyone knew everybody and we all had each other’s backs. Nothing at all like it had been in Chicago. There were people who turned their noses up at small towns, but they didn’t know what they were missing.
Jason walked around me and knocked quietly on the door. He didn’t even wait to be invited in, but went in as Lyla twisted around in her chair.
Her eyes went wide as she saw us. She leapt out of her seat and placed it between us and her. There was a wildness about her, like a rabbit sensing a predator, but not knowing where to run and hide.
I stayed just inside the door, not wanting to frighten her. She was an unclaimed Omega in a room with two Alphas, and while there were several people in earshot, she probably wasn’t used to being by herself with Alphas.
Jason, on the other hand, strode right up to her and smiled. At least he had the sense to keep his voice down. “Hey. How are you holding up?”
Lyla hesitated to answer as if debating what to do. Finally she spoke in a tone just above a whisper. “I’m all right. Miss Eloise still hasn’t woken up, but she’s stable and there’s been no bleeding they can detect.”
“Good to hear.” Jason held out the magazines. “I brought you something to read while you’re here. And Ozzi has some food for you. It’s nothing big, but if you’re really hungry, we can go out and get you anything you want.”
She gave him a shy smile as she took the fashion mags from him and nodded my way as I put the food on the tray positioned near the door. “Thank you. That was very thoughtful. I’m good for food at the moment. My best friend and her boyfriend fed me earlier.”
Even though she seemed nervous, Lyla looked to no longer be in shock. Good on her friend for taking care of her. No doubt the nurses were on top of it as well, making sure she had water, a quiet place, and stayed warm.
“Do you want anything else?” Jason offered. “If you need a bath or shower or just a little time away from the hospital, we live five minutes away. We could bring you to our place and have you back fast. Or if you want to go back to your house, we can do that too.”
I clenched my jaw as Lyla gripped the back of her chair. Offering her to come to our place for a bath? That was too forward and kind of creepy for a lone Omega. Yes, Lyla, come to the house of two Alphas you just met and get naked. But Jason wasn’t thinking with any sort of logic at the moment.
But what if she did go with us? Her in our shower, hot water spraying over her slender, feminine body. Steam in the air as she washed herself, soaping up her tits and then sliding her hand down between her legs…
And where was my logic? Dammit.
“You don’t even have to leave the hospital if you’re comfortable enough to shower here. The nurses have their own private bathroom I’m sure they’ll let you use.” I laid out another option for her, and her fingers loosened their hold on the chair.“They won’t have anything as fancy as Jason’s haircare products, but it’ll allow you to refresh yourself.”
A smile flitted across her lips, and I felt as if I’d won a gold medal at the Olympics.
“Hey, my hair requires pampering.” Jason undid his man bun and ran his fingers through his dark blond locks. He jerked his chin in my direction with a smirk. “It’s nothing like your hundred dollar skin care routine.”
“Eucalyptus does wonders for me being in a mask and wearing latex all day.” I didn’t add that he sometimes used my face scrub too, because Lyla was smiling even more.
“I have a friend that makes her own lotions and scrubs.” Lyla piped up, looking far more animated than I’d seen her yet. “Eucalyptus is good with its fresh scent and antibacterial properties, but for moisturizing in the winter, you’d want something with cocoa butter or coconut oil. Danielle puts in peppermint and orange scents for the holidays. They smell so good and make you feel like creamy silk.”
“Danielle Shaw?” Jason cocked his head.
“Yeah, that’s her.” Lyla nodded.
“The Shaws were one of my neighbors growing up. Dani’s my age and was quite the tomboy. In high school, she discovered essential oils and used to pretend she was a mad scientist as she mixed them.” He chuckled and got a giggle from Lyla. “She’s engaged to Randy Tanner now.”
“Yes!” Lyla bounced, and that light which beamed out of her photos now shone from her. Fuck, she was so beautiful. “They’re getting married in May. Next month, I’m going to start working with Danielle on designing her bride’s maids’ dresses. She wants a pink gradient color scheme and it’s going to look spectacular!”
“Last I heard from Randy was that he wanted a camouflage color scheme.” Jason snickered. I didn’t know the people, but I winced as Lyla’s eyes widened with horror.
“God, no. Danielle would never allow that.”
They chatted for another few minutes, and something inside of me grated unpleasantly. Like I’d been forgotten. And while I reminded myself that I was helping my best friend make an impression on an Omega, I wanted her to notice me too. Dammit. Why the hell did I suddenly feel like a thirteen year old with his first crush?
I’d known Jason for eight years, but I’d lived in Chicago for half that time. Fond du Lac wasn’t my hometown, and since I didn’t go out much, most people I knew were from the hospital. I had no idea how long Lyla lived here, but she seemed to know lots of folks. It was good for both of them to know the same people.
I repeated to myself: I was here to be nice, and to help Jason.
