“Dude, why do you put up with those airheads?”
Nash looks over at me, biting on his lower lip as he laughs. “Pussy, man. I have a cock that desperately needs one. And last I checked we haven’t found our omega.’’ He shifts his gaze back to the road just in time for the light to change and him to hit the brakes, causing the tires to squeal as the smell of burning rubber hits me.
I brace my hands on the dashboard, “Fucking dickhead. You did that shit on purpose.”
“Me? Never,” he mocks. “Why were you so late?”
“Henry stopped me, wanting to trade partners for our English assignment since he got stuck with a beta who is older and has a pack already,” I tell him as I take out my phone and scroll through my messages.
“Who did you get?” he asks as he taps his fingers on the steering wheel in beat to the rock song playing on the radio.
“Don’t know. I haven’t checked my email.”
“Maybe it’ll be an omega.” Nash’s voice bubbles with excitement, and I can’t help but shake my head.
“First, I doubt they’d pair an omega with me. Last time I checked, I don’t think we even had that many enrolled at the college.”
“They’d pair one with you before an alpha. Especially if she’s unbonded. Man, she could be our scent match.”
“Nash, keep living in that world of delusion.” I let out a sigh, as he presses down on the gas and takes off again. “Run through the drive thru at Zaxby’s. I’m starving.”“Me too. They have the best cheese curds.” Nash reaches down and turns up the radio, continuing to bob his head to the song while I flip over to TikTok and scroll aimlessly.
***
River Ashbourne.
Nice name.
I click over to the messaging forum the school uses and send her a message while we kill time before the fight tonight. Roman is busy carbing up in the kitchen, then he’ll hit the gym in the basement for about an hour.
To River: Hi, I’m H0lden, your English partner. I figured I’d go ahead and introduce myself so we can get to know each other before we start working on the assignment. In my email we didn’t have the details yet. Not sure if yours had any additional information on it.
To River: So. I’m a junior, 2o and an on site student. Obviously, since you’re the online student. I have two brothers and live off campus with them in a house. Umm, I like to eat. LOL Not sure what else to say.
My fingers rap rhythmically on the desk as I wait for a response, but when five minutes passes and nothing appears, I figure I’m not getting one. I log out and go ahead and work on my math assignment. I loathe math, but it’s a core requirement. So it was doing it now or never. It helps that Nash is a fucking math prodigy. Dude can literally do any mathematical problem in his head.
I don’t know how long I’ve been working when there's a knock on the door. Turning, I see Roman standing there dressed fully in black from head to toe: boots, jeans and shirt. His dark hair is pulled back from his face, and his beard is closely trimmed.
“Ready to go?”
“Yep.” I close my book and stand from my chair, grabbing my hoodie off the bed, pulling it over my head. “So, who's your opponent tonight?” I ask as we step into the hallway and head down the stairs.
“Some dude named Hancock. Not much on him other than he has a big fucking mouth that he likes to spout off.” Roman’s voice is full of the distaste he has for this man already.
“Running his mouth?” I ask as I step off the final step of the staircase.
“Yeah, the fucker actually thinks he can knock Roman out in less than five minutes.” Nash bursts out laughing before taking a bite of the apple in his hand.
“Oh, the asshole’s fucked up if he thinks that.” I cackle. Roman is currently undefeated. Only a fool would boast something as ridiculous as that. “Make sure to toy with him.”
“Oh, I plan to. He’s going to be begging to end the fight.” Roman growls as we all exit the house. I stop long enough to lock the door, before following behind them and getting in the backseat of the truck behind Nash.
On the way I pull out my phone and check the messenger app for the school to see if River’s responded. I don’t know why I’m so eager for a return message. You’d think I was waiting for a message from a girl, but I don’t even know River’s gender.
Nothing.
I can’t help but huff in frustration.
“What’s the matter with you?” Roman asks, as he looks at me from the rearview mirror.
