I frown, glancing at her before remembering?—
"Eyes on the road, Nash," she reminds me with a pointed look.
I groan and pay attention to the highway stretching ahead.
"I'm listening. Explain these roles."
"Everyone has like a role in books," she explains, her enthusiasm building with each word. "Archetypes! Character types! You have the good guy in the pack—the one who's so sweet and perfect and makes you feel safe and cherished. The golden retriever Alpha who everyone loves. But behind closed doors..." She trails off meaningfully, letting the implication hang.
I can't help but look over at her, eyebrow arched.
"Behind closed doors what?"
"He's a menace," she elaborates, blushing slightly. "In the bedroom, I mean. He's sweet and gentle everywhere else, but when it comes to sex, he's dominant and commanding and knows exactly what he wants."
I ponder that for a moment, trying to picture Grayson in that role.
"So who fits that description in our pack?"
"Grayson," she says immediately, with absolute certainty. "He's giving total Superman in the sheets when he's Clark Kent everywhere else."
I blink.
"Huh? What does Superman have to do with?—"
She groans dramatically.
"Alphas. You won't understand the reference! It's a comic book thing. Mild-mannered reporter by day, superhero by night. Same energy. Sweet rancher who reads and writes romance novels by day, dominant Alpha who knows exactly what to do in the bedroom by night. Get it?"
"I... guess that makes sense?" I'm not entirely sure it does, but she seems convinced.
"Trust me," she says confidently. "I've read enough romance novels to know the archetypes. Grayson is definitely that one. Next!"
She doesn’t allow me to comment before she’s already moving on in the unfolding plot running in her head.
"Then there's the grumpy one," she continues without missing a beat, completely in her element now. "The grouchy Alpha who looks annoyed by everything and everyone. Scowls at people. Probably doesn't smile much. But has this incredible soft spot for only his girl. Nobody else matters. Just her."
She's gesturing enthusiastically, painting the picture with her hands.
"Think of the typical 'I'll burn the world for you' trope! Or 'touch her and you die' energy! Protective to the point of violence. Would commit murder without hesitation if someone hurt his Omega. That type."
I don't even need to think about who fits that description.
The answer is obvious.
"Theo," I conclude.
Reverie squeals and bounces in her seat with genuine excitement.
"Bingo! Yes! Exactly! See? You're getting it now! You understand character archetypes!"
"It's not hard when you describe Theo perfectly," I point out. "The man literally burned those mystery flowers without reading the card. Didn't even hesitate. Just straight to the firepit."
"Exactly!" She's grinning now. "That's peak grumpy Alpha energy right there."
"And where exactly do I fall in this... romance novel pack dynamic?" I ask, genuinely curious now about how she sees me. What archetype she's assigned to the guy currently driving her to go shopping.
She hums thoughtfully, tapping her finger against her chin like she's seriously considering the question.
