Then I understood that Kaden was asking about himself, too. He’d become my roommate after my friend Jake moved out to live with his own new family. It seemed surreal that the thing I’d been jealous of was finally happening to me. But I felt a pang of guilt for Kaden.
“I’m sorry,” I said softly.
“For what?”
I shook my head, looking at the table. “I didn’t even think about that. I was being selfish.”
Kaden snorted and took my hands. “No, Sky. I mean, you don’t even know if you’re pregnant yet, right? Any big life changes are still a ways away.”
He was being too damn understanding. I gripped his hands harder, wanting to reciprocate the feeling of friendly comfort.
“No. I shouldn’t have kept all these secrets from you. I made everything awkward at home and work. I’ll help you look for another roommate, I promise. I won’t dump the responsibility on your shoulders.”
Kaden rolled his eyes. “You’re so dramatic, Sky. It’s not like I haven’t done this before, y‘know.”
“No, it’s my fault for not thinking ahead. My brain’s been fried with babies and alphas.”
Kaden sighed, giving up. “Fine. It is your fault.” He grinned. “Happy?”
“A little.”
The awkward tension between us was now a distant memory as we lapsed back into being close friends. As we finished up closing, we talked about the cats and the silly antics they were always up to at home. We both thought it was hilarious that Trouble was still wary of Rafael even after all this time, yet my cat Demon plopped herself into his lap like the attention slut she was.
“Like owner, like cat,” Kaden teased.
But when we exited the building into the chilly night air, our good humor disappeared. Someone was leaning against the wall of a store that we needed to pass to get home. Someone who shouldn’t have been there.
I bristled and instantly my mother-hen mode activated. I stepped in front of Kaden, shielding him from Shane.
“What are you doing here?” I demanded. “You’re not allowed to be on Omega Angel Café property.”
Shane glanced down at the ground, tapping his boot. “I’m notoncafé property, sweetheart.”
The word sickened me. But Shane was right. Technically, he was just outside the boundary of the café’s ownership.
“Is this the Shane guy?” Kaden mumbled behind me. “Should I call the cops?”
“For what? I’m just standing here,” Shane said, and Kaden winced as he realized he hadn’t spoken quietly enough. “
“What do you want?” I asked loudly. To my surprise, I wasn’t afraid. I wasn’t struck down with terror like I’d been the first time. I was done being bossed around by alphas.
Shane casually rolled his neck. His glance fell to my midsection and he took a curiously hard look there. My skin prickled in disgust.
“What?” I demanded.
“Sky, let’s just go,” Kaden mumbled, trying to grasp my arm to move us around Shane on the sidewalk.
“No,” I said, planting myself firmly. “I want to know what this guy’s problem is, because if he keeps coming back, I’m going to get a restraining order.”
That got Shane’s attention. His eyes widened and his hands flew up. “Whoa, relax, omega. I have no intention of hurting you.”
“You kept coming on to me when I made it clear I had no interest in you, and yougrabbedme last time I saw you,” I spat. “So excuse me for thinking otherwise.”
“Listen, no hard feelings, okay?” he said. “I admit I got a little out of hand last time. It won’t be like that anymore.”
Beside me Kaden had whipped out his phone and already had two numbers punched in. He glared daggers at Shane, threatening him to do anything that would make him punch in the third.
“It’s Axel,” Shane finally said.
