“That’s right,” Stark said, sitting up with his shoulders back. “I’m the captain of the royal guard.”
Chase’s brows raised. “Wow, that’s pretty cool. What kind of a job is that? Like, what’s your daily routine?”
“Basically I’m in charge of issuing schedules for the rest of the guard, and commands in case of an emergency. But mostly I have to make sure everyone else is doing their job.” He chuckled. “Honestly, being captain isn’t really as cool as it sounds.”
Kyle stared at him. He could barely understand what he was hearing. Stark was far more than he was telling Chase. He was severely underestimating himself if that was what he really thought. What about the huge scandal with Silvercreek last year where Stark had led an operation to save the Whitewood omegas? What about how Stark had been taken hostage by the Silvercreek alpha and fought back to escape from him?
Kyle opened his mouth to elaborate on some of Stark’s greatest feats but the alpha was already speaking again.
“What about you, Chase? Tell me a little bit about yourself,” he said.
Kyle shut his mouth and stewed in irritation.
“Not much to say, really,” Chase said with a shrug. “I used to work at the same grocery store as Scout, but I found a better paying job at a nearby nursery.”
Stark’s eyes lit up. “Oh? The shifter nursery down in the middle ring?”
“Yup, that’s the one.”
“No way, that’s awesome!” Stark said, leaning forward and clasping his hands on the table. “So you must love working with kids.”
For the first time since they had been at the restaurant, Chase genuinely smiled. “I do. I don’t know if it’s an omega thing or what, but I love looking after the little ones.”
Kyle gritted his teeth. Great. An omega who worked with children. Chase might as well have been a juicy steak dangling in front of a hungry wolf. He wanted to get up and excuse himself and cry in frustration in the bathroom, but he didn’t want to seem any more pathetic than he already did. He stayed put.
Kyle tuned back into the conversation.
“I mean, yeah, that’s great to hear,” Stark was saying. “I do, um… hope to eventually start a family, so…”
The world seemed to flip upside down. Kyle couldn’t believe this. Stark was bringing up kids on the first date!?
He felt nauseous. He was going to lose Stark at this rate, and the worst part was, it was his own fault this was happening.
He couldn’t stay here and listen to the rest of this thrilling dinner conversation.
Then, as if god himself had intervened, Kyle’s phone rang.
“Sorry,” he said, fishing the cell out of his pocket. “I should take this outside.”
“Alright,” Stark said, his brow slightly furrowed in concern. Kyle left before Stark could ask who it was.
Bursting out of the restaurant into the cool night air, Kyle brought the phone to his ear. “I am so glad you called. You just saved me.”
Scout chuckled. “Why? Having a bad time?”
“You don’t know the half of it,” Kyle muttered.
“What’s wrong?” Scout asked, his voice taking on a more serious tone. “You sound pretty down.”
Kyle let out a heavy sigh. “It’s long and complicated.”
“I’m not busy. Killian’s watching Kendra, so I have the night to myself.”
Despite himself, Kyle felt another pang of jealousy, which he hated feeling towards one of his best friends. Scout had everything he wanted - a mate, a child - but he was too kind and generous of a person for Kyle to truly ever be upset with him.
“Well…” Kyle sighed. “Stark is on a date right now.”
“Oh!” Scout sounded excited. “With you?”
