“Do you have something stronger? Vodka maybe? Wouldn’t it be fun to have a drink together?”
“You said you’re thirsty.” He flipped around and marched away. “Alcohol is dehydrating.”
As soon as he left the room, her posture crumpled to something resembling normal. She plucked the vial from her shirt, poured its contents into the iced tea, and swiveled it around. Then she put the empty container back into her purse, zipped it, and resumed her absurd position.
“Water.” Brian stomped back into the living room, hand outstretched. “I’ll be back in a few—”
“Oh, Alpha, won’t you stay with me?” She took the glass from his hand. “I’ve been so scared, and now that I’m with you, I finally feel safe. You’re so big and strong.” She inclined her head toward the iced tea. “We can have a drink together.” She pattedthe empty spot on the couch next to her. “There’s plenty of space here.”
Brian looked up and turned his head in the direction of his bedroom, which Keith assumed meant he was thinking of him. His mate was so sweet.
“Fine,” Brian said. He picked up the tea and walked toward the armchair perpendicular to the couch and closest to the entryway.
“Aren’t you going to sit next to me?” Cringey Claire simpered at him and bent forward, bringing even more attention to her chest.
Alright, as fun as this trainwreck was to watch, Keith couldn’t let his mate drink whatever it was she had put into that glass so he hustled over. “Hi!”
“Hey.” Brian immediately turned in his direction.
“Introduce me to our very friendly guest.” He snagged the glass from Brian’s hand and then plopped down on the couch right next to Claire. “I’m Keith.” He grinned at her and leaned into her personal space.
“Oh!” Purse clutched tightly, she scurried off the couch and over to Brian. “Who is he?” She wedged her breasts against Brian’s arm, placed her cheek on his shoulder, and blinked up at him, eyelashes batting like hummingbird wings. “I’m scared, Alpha. Stop him.”
Keith scoffed. “Girl, there’s humiliating and then there’s whatever this is. Please, do yourself a favor and stop. You’re embarrassing yourself with this Annie Wilkes impression.”
“Who’s Annie Wilkes?” Brian asked as he tried to extricate himself from Cringey’s grasp.
“You know, Annie Wilkes, from the bookMisery? That superfan who’s totally obsessed with the main character so she kidnaps him, and at first, she comes across as sweet buteventually she brings out the axe and…” Keith snapped his arm in a whacking motion. “Bye-bye foot.”
Brian frowned.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Keith asked. “I didn’t write it. Blame Stephen King.”
“Uh,” Brian said.
“Alpha, help me.” Claire flung herself against Brian’s chest.
Keith looked to the side, held up two fingers, and said, “We’ll be back in two and two folks. We’re talking with Cringey Claire who is trying to flirt for what’s seemingly the first time in her life.”
“Who are you talking to?” Brian asked.
“The audience at home.”
“Keith? We are at home and there is no audience.”
“We’re at home but I was doing the Chuck Woolery thing fromLove Connection.” He raised two fingers and rotated them. “Two and two. Get it?”
“Who is Chuck Woolery?”
“He was the host ofLove Connection. That game show.”
Brian stared at him blankly.
“You’ve never seenLove Connection?”
He shook his head.
“Oh. I guess it is kind of old. The ladies who worked at the Alpha house watched that game show channel when I was growing up so I was introduced to the classics. Sorry you missed out.”
