To my knowledge, Faye doesn’t really follow the news.
“Damon’s been called in to do an emergency security shift. I wanted to let you know straight away.” Her words come out in a breathy rush. “Are you at Stella House?”
“No, I’m at the office. Why?”
“You need to get yourself back to OV stat. Apparently, reporters are flooding onto campus because they want you to confirm the story.”
“Thanks for letting me know.” The lingering taste of coffee in my mouth sours. “I’ll talk to you soon.”
“That’s why I ran out on my very hot date—which you owe me for, by the way,” Devon says after I relay what Faye toldme. “I thought something like this might happen. I can’t believe you didn’t catch it sooner.” He looks curiously between me and Calder, his gaze lingering appreciatively on Calder’s muscular biceps. “Obviously, you were distracted.”
“Calder almost died eating peanuts,” I state bluntly.
“I’m fine now,” Calder mutters while the office phones continue ringing off the hook.
“If reporters are already crawling over campus, it won’t be long until they stop here.” I bite my lip. “But they shouldn’t get past OV security.”
“I can drive you home?” Calder offers. “My car has tinted windows.”
“No.” I shake my head. “I’ll be fine.”
“Actually…” Devon peers out the window then grimaces. “I can already see a few reporters with cameras. It looks like security guards are blocking them from coming onto Main Street, but you’ve got to move fast. Maybe your independent, sassy ass can accept a ride this one time?”
“I owe you, remember?” Calder winks. “We can call it even?”
“Not even close to even,” I sigh. “But fine.” I hold out my open hand. “Your keys.”
“What—”
“I’m driving,” I inform him. “After the shock you’ve had, there’s no way you’re well enough to be behind the wheel.”
“Fine.” He rolls his eyes, reluctantly handing me his keys. “Let’s go.”
I click my tongue, hating how I’m having to rely on Calder jerk-face Soren to get me out of here. “If you must.”
“I’ll hold down the fort here.” Devon plops down at his desk.
“You should send an SOS to all TVV reporters in the group chat,” I suggest. “You shouldn’t be managing this alone.”
Devon salutes. “On it!”
“Shouldn’t I be the one giving orders?” Calder’s eyebrows lower. “I’m the new editor, remember?”
“And you’ve only been here a whole two minutes,” I remind him. “Or is your ego so fragile that you can’t handle taking orders from an omega?”
Devon snickers. “If you haven’t gathered, Kady’s pretty good at giving orders.”
“Yeah.” Calder slings on his coat. “I’ve figured that out already.”
“Chop, chop.” I clap my hands then lead us downstairs. “We can slip through Noodles and Chill to be discreet. I’m assuming you parked in the editor’s parking spot in the back?
Calder grins sheepishly. “Yeah, I did.”
“Figures.” I grumble as we slip into Noodles and Chill. Mei looks up mid spring roll toss. “Can we leave through the kitchen, Mei? I want to leave discreetly, if I can.”
“Of course.” Mei beckons us through. “Did you enjoy your wontons?”
In all the fuss, I realize I didn’t even get a chance to taste them. Before I have a chance to comment, she’s already placing a fresh box of food into my hands.
