Despite everything, I'm smiling. Actually smiling. "You're the worst."
"You like it."
"I—" I stop. Shake my head. "You know what? I'm not dignifying that with a response."
"That's a yes."
I throw a fry at him.
He catches it. Eats it. Grins at me like he just won something.
"Stop trying to be perfect, Bea. Just be honest."
I steal one of his fries in retaliation. "You're very annoying."
"You like it."
"I really don't."
"Still lying." He grins. "You're bad at this."
Despite everything—despite Seth's hurt face and River's confusion and my own spiral of guilt—I feel myself smile.
"Shut up and eat your burger."
"Yes ma'am."
My phone stays silent. Seth hasn't texted. River hasn't texted again. I should reach out to someone, but I can't make myself do it.
Because if I text anyone, they'll ask where I am. Who I'm with.
And I don't have good answers.
"Want a ride home?"
I look up. Grayson's watching me with those dark eyes.
"What?"
"It's cold. I've got my truck outside." He stands, throws cash on the table. "I'll drive you."
The smart thing would be to say no. Call Ben. Walk. Literally anything other than getting into a vehicle with another alpha when I'm already drowning in guilt and confusion and the realization that I might want all three of them.
But I'm tired. Overwhelmed. And Grayson's the only person tonight who hasn't looked at me like I'm breaking their heart.
Maybe because he already knows I'm a mess. Saw it in that alley when I pressed against him and begged him not to stop.
"Okay," I hear myself say. "Yeah."
We pay—he doesn't let me contribute—and head outside. His truck is parked down the street, a beat-up black Ford that somehow fits him perfectly. Dark. Solid. A little dangerous.
The drive back to my house is quiet. Not uncomfortable, just... loaded. Like we're both processing everything that just happened.
Every so often I catch him looking at me. His hands are steady on the wheel—the same hands that gripped my hips three days ago. The same hands that could probably?—
Stop. Don't think about that.
But I can't help it. Can't help noticing the way his jaw tightens. How his scent fills the small space of the truck cab. How easy it would be to reach over and?—
