“That doesn’t sound good,” I admit.
“When fate sends you a giant vat of horseshit, and the one good thing about it is that omega, so no, it’s not good,” Coach says.
Snorting, I shake my head. “If you just equated that girl to horse shit, we really need to work on your game.”
“What?” Coach flushes as he realizes what he said. “Fuck, that’s not what I meant. Dammit, I’m too old for this.”
“You sound like you’re on the way to the firing squad,” I say, enjoying this entirely too much.
Santo strolls in with the other staff members and I raise my hand and wave at him. Caelia’s eyes catch the movement, and she gazes at me for a moment before going back to talking to the man beside her. Someone else climbs into the booth with them, and I recognize our tech.
“She’s popular,” I murmur.
“More like protected,” Coach mumbles as Santo makes his way over to us.
“Hmm,” I say. “Well, if we’re going to wander over to talk to her like Larry, Curly, and Moe, then I probably shouldn’t call you Coach the entire time, huh?”
“Huh?” His eyes are on Caelia and he shakes himself as he glances back at me. “I suppose not. Call me Miles.”
“What’s going on?” Santo asks, reading the energy in the room.
“Marilyn is meddling again,” I shrug. “See the girl over there with the dark hair? We’re supposed to go say hello to her.”
Santo glances in that direction and I notice the way he swallows hard. Interesting. Is he into her?
“Go ahead,” he murmurs, shooing us over.
“Oh no, baby,” I chuckle, draping my arm around him. “You’re included in this ‘we’. Let’s go.”
“I’m pretty sure I’m gay, and she makes me question that,” he whispers in my ear.
“You’re so cute,” I confess. “There’s nothing wrong with being attracted to her. This is just a hello.”
“I’m going to get tased,” Miles complains.
“What?” I ask incredulously.
“Caelia is definitely carrying a weapon,” Miles says, looking around the bar. “Her father might also punch me.”
“Jesus, chill out,” Santo hisses beside me. I’m currently sandwiched between the two of them. No, not in a dirty way. Get a hold of yourself. “Say hello, make Marilyn happy, and move on.”
“Slice of pie,” Miles prays.
“Piece of cake,” I add, walking over with the table. “Hi, Caelia. I’m Levon. How are you?”
I smile pleasantly at her as I stand in front of her table. Roger looks up at us wide-eyed, while the other guy simply gazes nervously.
“I’m…fine, thank you. I didn’t think you’d actually come over,” she says cryptically. Her eyes seem glued to me, and I don’t think she’s noticed the alphas on either side of me.
“You’re the most beautiful woman in the bar. It would be hard not to notice you,” I say. “This is my boyfriend, Santo.”
Her eyes twitch over to him, her lips twitching upward. Do I want her to think I’m not really into women? I don’t fucking know. I want her to be comfortable, and I have a feeling she has a guard for a reason. Both Roger and the intern are watching Caelia protectively. She has her backpack before her, and it’s open as if she was planning to get some work done in the bar.
Can anyone actually do that? I’d be too unfocused.
“Hello, Caelia,” Santo says with a smile. “It’s nice to meet you. I saw you skate at the New Orleans game. You’re a natural.”
Caelia gives him a more natural smile as she shifts in the booth, hiking her boot up in front of her so she can wrap her arm around her knee. The movement sends her scent in my direction, and it feels like I just got punched in the face.
