By lunchtime, my good mood had evaporated and with good reason.
As I was taking care and restocking the young adult section an unmistakably high pitched and performative laugh hit my ears.
I ducked behind a shelf, praying she wouldn't see me.
"Amara!"
Fuck.
I straightened, pasting on a smile as I greeted my cousin. "Lila. Hi."
She swept down the aisle like she owned the place, her Alpha husband trailing behind her.
Colin.
The same Colin who'd taken me to homecoming junior year. The same Colin who'd taken my virginity on Christmas Eve and then told me I was "sweet, but not really his type" two weeks later.
Right before he started dating Lila.
She was dressed head to toe in some Chanel outfit. The jacket was in the classic tweed look in a pink salmon color with large gold buttons. The cream quilted lambskin bag looked to be brand new with the interlocking CC logo dangled from her arm. Lila was definitely dressed to go some where fancy.
How the hell does she afford that?I thought.She works at her dad's dental office answering phones.
Colin must’ve been bankrolling her wardrobe but he was just a local tennis coach. Or maybe my mother was still funding Lila's "investment pieces.” They'd always been thick as thieves.
"I haven't seen you in forever," Lila said, her eyes raking over me. Taking in my worn cardigan, my simple skirt, my complete lack of designer anything.
"I've been around," I said.
"Still working here?" She glanced around the library like it was beneath her. "That's...sweet."
You answer phones for a living, heffa,the words nearly dripped from my lips but I stopped them.
"I like it," I said instead.
Lila tilted her head, her smile sharpening. "Well, actually, Aunt Amelia sent me. She wanted me to tell you about the Solas Valentine Gala next month. I was in the neighborhood anyway, so..."
Of course my mother had. That was just how Amelia did things and I had come to understand that when I was just a small child. My mother couldn't just call me herself. No, she had to send Lila, dressed like she'd stepped out of a fashion editorial, to deliver the message in person. It screamed maximum effort and maximum humiliation.
"The Solas Valentine Gala," I repeated flatly.
"Yes!" Lila's eyes lit up like this was the most exciting thing in the world. "Colin and I are going. It's going to be amazing. So many important people. Aunt Amelia really thinks you should come."
Translation: Your mother thinks you need to stop hiding and find an Alpha before you're completely hopeless.
"I don't know," I started.
"Oh, come on," Lila pressed, her voice dripping with false encouragement. "You can't hide in this library forever, Amara."
Colin shifted uncomfortably beside her but didn't say anything.
Coward.
"I'll think about it," I said, already knowing I wouldn't.
Lila's smile turned pitying. "You really should. I mean, you're not getting any younger. And there will be so many eligible Alphas there. It's the perfect opportunity."
The implication was clear as day. My cousin was saying in not so many words that I was running out of time to find a man, and I was running out of options.
