“If you’re helping me because you feel bad, then don’t,” I growled. “I can do it myself. I always do. I don’t need some alpha’s help.”
“I’m not doing it because I feel bad,” Ryu said. “I’m doing it because you’re my friend.”
I paused. Ryu considered me hisfriend? I thought of him as an acquaintance at best. That’s what I’d been doing for a long time now. It was easier that way—safer. Safer to keep people at an arm’s length, and safer to assume someone didn’t think highly enough of me towantto be my friend.
Was Ryu lying? But if he was, what did he have to gain from it?
While I was spaced out in thought, Ryu swept the remaining shells away. “Finished!”
The floor was clean, and it took less time than I expected because of Ryu’s help. He was handsome, kindanduseful. Any omega’s dream.
Yeah, right. Any omega except me.
“Um… Thanks,” I said.
He flashed a smile that made my chest tighten. “No worries.”
Suddenly feeling strange, I looked away.
“Well, my friends are still waiting for me outside, so I should probably get going,” he said. “It was great seeing you again.”
I continued to avoid his gaze. “Yeah, you too.”
“We should hang out sometime,” he said.
A shock ran through me. Ryuwantedto spend time with me? He must have been drunker than I thought. Give him eight hours of sleep and some water and he’d come to regret saying that.
“Yeah, right,” I muttered. When I tried to turn away, Ryu reached out and touched my shoulder. Chills rippled down my skin.
“Wait, I’m serious!” Ryu said.
I opened my mouth, ready to shoot him down, but then paused. What did I have to lose by agreeing to his drunken, ridiculous plan? Worst case, he could claim intoxication and take it back. In the best case, maybe he would just forget.
“Okay,” I said tentatively. “When and where?”
“How about here, tomorrow night?” he suggested.
I briefly thought about it. “Sure.”
Ryu’s face lit up. “Great! I’ll see you then. Good night, Scar!”
“Night,” I replied awkwardly as Ryu waved and darted out the door. I watched it close slowly until finally it shut, leaving me alone in the middle of the empty bar.
As I stood there, all I could think was:what the hell just happened?
