My lips parted, and I was at a loss for what to say. This town was so much stranger than anything I’d imagined. Summer seemed to read my thoughts in my expression because she just smiled and patted my hand. “You’ll get used to it.”
“Get used to what?” A tall, blonde woman approached our table with glasses of water, and I realized she was an alpha. I’d only met a few female alphas. My parents’ best friends had been a lobstering family consisting of a male and female alpha—Gunnar and Anna—and their omega, Sarah.
“She’ll get used to Stanley and this crazy town,” Summer said.
“Not sure that’s possible.” Char turned her gaze on me, her expression kind but assessing. “You’re our new lighthouse keeper?”
I nodded.
“Good. We need more omegas in this town.” She arched her eyebrow at my sweater. “Those boys work fast.” She turned on her heel and headed back to her counter, leaving me with burning cheeks.
The door opened, and Lucy and Ivy entered. Lucy was wearing another pretty floral dress with an embroidered headband, and I anxiously fiddled with my too-long sleeves. Maybe I should have worn something cuter, but my omega had been very upset with the idea of taking off Easton’s sweater.
“Oli!” Lucy exclaimed, once again using the nickname she’d bestowed upon me. She pulled me into a hug before she sat down beside me. “I would ask you how things are going, but I feel like that sweater says it all.” I shifted in my seat, embarrassed, but Lucy’s smile was teasing, not cruel.
“It’s nice to see you,” Ivy said. Her short hair was sticking up a bit on the side, but it looked really cute. “Do you prefer Olive or Oli?”
“Lucy’s decided I’m an Oli,” I said, secretly pleased. Nicknames were a thingfriendsgave to each other. “Either is good with me.”
“I was so excited when I heard the new lighthouse keeper was an omega. I’ve never heard of an omega doing a job like that,” Ivy said.
I smiled and took a sip of water, doing my best to ignore the uncomfortable feeling curling in my stomach as my thoughts flitted to the lie I’d put on my job application. Everything would be fine. I had a plan to manage everything.
Char came by to take our orders. I hardly ever ate out because of my finances, but I’d made sure I could squeeze this into my budget and was looking forward to it.
I was handing Char my menu when Lucy gasped, making all of us jump in our seats.
“It’s Ella and Lincoln!” She excitedly pointed out the window.
“Shit, Luce, give us a warning next time,” Summer said.
Two teenagers were crossing the street, and I realized the girl—Ella—was the barista I met in Beans ‘n Bliss with Lucy the other day. The guy next to her was broad, dark-haired, and absolutelyfixatedon Ella. He couldn’t keep his eyes off her as she chatted brightly away.
“When will they realize they’re in love?” Lucy asked with a sigh as the couple turned the corner and slipped out of sight. “They’re so cute together.”
“I don’t know, but this should cheer you up,” Summer said. “Some eye candy is walking in right now.”
The bell above the door rang as a dark-haired, brown-skinned, handsome alpha entered and headed to the counter to order.
“Okay, he is a cutie,” Lucy said, fanning herself.
Ivy pursed her lips, but when she caught me looking at her, she blinked and transformed her expression into a smile.
We all looked on as Char got the alpha two coffees and two donuts to go. He was very attractive, but I could hear my omega gomeh, he’s not as good as our alphas. As he turned to leave, he caught Ivy’s eye, and his face lit up. For a second, it looked like he was going to come over, but then he saw all of us sitting there, staring, and changed his mind. He gave her a sort of awkward half-wave with his full hands. Ivy’s cheeks turned bright red and she waved back, letting out a little sigh when he left.
“Excuuuuuuse me. Who was that?” Summer asked, eyes wide.
Ivy took a slow sip of hot chocolate before primly putting down the mug. “He’s a new teacher. He moved here with his partner at the start of the school year.”
“An omega partner?” Summer asked.
Ivy picked at her napkin, cheeks flaming red. “Not that I know of.”
“We can work with that,” Summer said, grinning.
Ivy shifted in her seat, looking uncomfortable at having the attention on her.
“You’re a teacher,” I blurted out. Now the eyes turned on me, and I sat back in my chair.Yes, excellent. Why ask an intelligent question when I could instead loudly declare Ivy’s profession?
