“Well, yes, but it would also be believable.”
He nods in agreement. “I always knew there was something different about me, but I didn’t fully know until middle school. I had this friend whose parents were very open and honest, and he taught me about sexuality and identity and how we’re allowed to have our own thoughts surrounding them. I was looking at boys just as much as I was looking at girls, and it felt normal to me. I thought it was that way for everyone, but my guy friends only talked about girls, and my girl friends only talked about guys. I found out I was the outlier, besides my friend, who knew who he was because his family encouraged it.”
My lips curve into a smile. “That’s really cool, though, that you didn’t see anything unusual with the way you felt.”
“I’m sure I would have felt different if I didn’t have Ellis in my life.”
“And where is he now?” I ask.
“He and his family moved to Canada when we were in high school. We didn’t really keep in touch. But that’s okay, I’m sure he’s doing as great as I am.” He smiles, reminiscing in that carefree way of his.
“Did your parents support you?”
He nods. “They’re very supportive, but they’re also insanely busy. I was left to my own devices a lot as a kid.”
I think back to when I first moved in, how sad Kit sounded when he said this house was empty more times than not. “Is that why being alone here was a big deal? Because it reminded you of your childhood?”
Kit laughs. “I don’t remember telling you how alone I felt.”
“You didn’t have to,” I whisper.
The amusement subsides slightly, and he gives me a rare serious face. “I dealt with a lot of that this past year when I realized how busy my pack was. But things are getting better now. Thatcher and I aren’t avoiding each other anymore, and Sam is actively trying to be home more often. And… I have you.”
My stomach flips and my cheeks flush. This omega knows exactly how to turn me inside out.
“So, you’re not lonely anymore?” I ask in a teasing tone.
“Not one bit, Pebble.”
The nickname tickles something inside me. “Why do you call me that?”
His own face flashes red at the question. “Because ever since you got here, Opal, you’ve been my rock.” His toe slides across my foot, caressing me softly. “You’re my best friend.”
There’s a glimmer in his eye as he says it, and I’m thrust back to our time together a week ago. It’s been replaying in my mind constantly, and I can’t help but remember how his skin felt on mine. How totallynotplatonic it was when we tangled together and pulled pleasure from each other like it was kismet.
My body yearns to be closer to him, like it knows we’re made for each other.
Swords clink together in the movie, but it’s all background noise as he continues to caress my skin and observe me with glimmering eyes.
“So, there’s an anime con next weekend,” Kit says, letting the suggestion linger in the air.
“Oh?” I beam.
“We’re all going, so you should come, too.”
I bite my lip. “Sam will be there?”
“Yes, he got the tickets for us months ago,” he confirms. “Is everything okay with you two?”
“Everything is fine!” I rush to say. “We had a moment a few weeks ago, and things have been a bit different ever since. A lot of unspoken words, I guess.”
“Trust me, Opal, he wouldn’t bat an eye at you being there. In fact, I know he would even enjoy having you there. Why don’t you two talk stuff over so we can go as a pack?”
His casual use of the wordpackmakes me slightly nauseous. Excitedly nauseous, yes, but sick nonetheless. “Hm, I don’t know. He has enough on his plate as it is.”
“You guys are two peas in a pod,” Kit says to himself and sighs. “Sam keeps himself busy so he doesn’t have to deal with life too much. He doesn’t want more than he has, even when he deserves it.”
That surprises me. “What do you mean?”
