“Trust me, it’s not pity,” Noah said, his tone a little more serious now. “I’ve known Holden a long time, and if he didn’t care about you, he wouldn’t have stuck around last night. He wouldn’t have taken the time to make sure you’re okay.”
I closed my eyes, trying to get my brain to believe what he was saying, but all I could think about was the way Holden had looked at me last night—I could swear it was a mix of frustration and something else I couldn’t quite place. But definitely not jumping for joy.
“I don’t know,” I said quietly. “I just... I don’t want to make things weird between us. He’s my boss. And he’s... Holden. He’s so out of my league it’s not even funny.”
“Out of your league?” Noah scoffed, shaking his head. “Kid, you’re selling yourself way short. You’re smart, you’re talented, and you’ve got this great big, amazing heart. Anyone would be lucky to have you. Even Holden...especiallyHolden.”
I managed to give Noah a half-hearted smile, but I was definitely not convinced. “Thanks, Noah. But still. I think I’ll avoid him for the next decade or so.”
Holden should be with someone who knew you didn’t guzzle bourbon at a tasting.
Noah laughed again and stood up, ruffling my hair. “Good luck with that. You know he’s going to check in on you later, right?”
I groaned, pulling the blankets over my head. “Just kill me now.”
“Nah,” Noah said, his voice filled with amusement. “You’re tougher than you think—or give yourself credit for, Mylo. I know you’ll figure it out.”
With that, he left the room, the door clicking shut behind him, and I was finally left alone with my thoughts. My embarrassing, humiliating thoughts.
Way to go, Mylo!
I sighed and dragged myself out of bed, downing the rest of the orange juice before stumbling into the bathroom. One look in the mirror told me everything I needed to know—I looked like death warmed over. My hair was a mess, my eyes were bloodshot, and there were dark circles under my eyes that made me look like I could give a panda a run for its money.
“Good job, Mylo,” I muttered to my reflection. “Really great first impression.”
Okay, so it wasn’t afirstimpression, technically—but it was a shit show all the same.
I splashed some cold water on my face, trying to wake myself up, but no amount of water was going to wash away the humiliation. I’d practically...literallythrown myself at Holden, and now I had to face him, knowing he’d seen me at my absolute worst.
I might as well have gotten on all fours with my ass in the air, begging him to breed me.
Ugh!“You’re not supposed to get hard or wet thinking about that,” I growled at my reflection.
Then again, Noah had a point. Holden hadn’t run screaming. He hadn’t laughed in my face. He’d gotten me in bed, taken my shoes off, and covered me with a blanket. He’d been kind.
Maybe... maybe there was hope after all.
I shook my head, trying to clear it.Or maybe he’s just a decent guy.I couldn’t let myself think like that. I couldn’t let myself hope for something that probably...definitelywasn’t real. Holden was just being nice because he was a good guy, and he didn’t want me embarrassing his guest by being a drunken idiot.
That does not mean he wants anything more.
I sighed, heading back into the bedroom and flopping down on the bed. The hangover was still raging, but at least the aspirin was starting to kick in. I closed my eyes, trying to relax, but all I could think about was Holden. The way he’d looked at me... okay, that part might have been wishful thinking. But those strong arms holding me up when I could barely stand on my own...
“You’re being ridiculous. Remember why you’re here, how you got here.No alphas,” I told myself. “Just let it go.”
But I knew that was easier said than done.
CHAPTER TWELVE
HOLDEN
I staredat the spreadsheets on my laptop, but I could honestly say I had no idea what I was looking at. For the last few days, I hadn’t been able to focus to save my life. My brain was stuck on one thing: Mylo.
It was like, from the moment I’d carried him back to his room, his scent—that soft mix of sugar and citrus—had taken up permanent residence on my clothes...
Nice try. You’re not wearing any of the same things.
But I couldn’t shake his scent, no matter how hard I tried, or how he’d felt in my arms.
