“It’s feeling a lot better. I promise.” A brilliant idea struck me, and a real smile spread across my face. “Actually, wait. I have a solution that will keep me off my ankle.”
His eyebrow cocked. “Oh?”
“You’ll have to wait and see. Just stay here and I’ll be back.”
He nodded and I took off jogging for the second time today, because apparently I would break my no-running rule for Leo.
24
Leo
Lucy took off running downMain Street and I barely resisted the urge to smash my head against town hall’s brick exterior. I’d been rude and defensive about my cane when she was just being sweet.
I stared after her like a lovesick puppy. I had no idea what she was planning, but I was sure it was a ploy to keep me from having to walk. Which I should appreciate, butIwanted to be the one taking care of her. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a choice tonight. I’d tweaked my knee earlier while unloading a flower order, and it screamed in agony as I half collapsed onto the town hall steps.
It was probably a good thing Lucy wasn’t here to witness that. Omegas needed strong partners. At least, that’s what I’d always been told.
Designations had never been a big deal growing up. Everyone in my family was a beta except for Parisa, a rare omega born to beta parents, but things changed once my classmates started revealing as alphas in high school. It only got worse in college. I’d roomed with three alphas—guys I’d been friends with for years—until they’d decided to form a pack without me. They left me to live alone my sophomore year in a tiny single room. I eventually dropped out to work with Ocean Rescue full-time.
I’d been told more than once that omegas didn’t want or need betas. Even though I’d rolled my eyes at the obvious alpha-centric propaganda, I’d apparently internalized the messaging more than I’d thought.
A golf cart came careening down the road, pulling me from mymorose reminiscing. I gritted my teeth as the driver let out a whoop and started doing doughnuts in the middle of the empty street. Where was Stanley when you needed him? Starlight Grove’s human mayor was over the top with his ordinance enforcement, but this person was going to hurt themselves if they didn’t slow down.
After another doughnut, the golf cart sped toward me. I squinted as I tried to make out the shadowy figure driving. My jaw dropped for the second time this evening when the streetlight glinted off of Lucy’s gold hair.
A burst of laughter escaped my chest when she pulled up in front of me, eyes bright and cheeks pink.
“Woo! That was so fun! Jump in, Leo.”
“I didn’t know you had a golf cart.”
“I don’t. This is Stanley’s.”
“He let you borrow it?”
“Nope. Now enough stalling.” She patted the spot beside her.
She was right—I was stalling. I was pretty sure I had about a fifty-fifty chance of dying if I got in, but apparently I didn’t care because I was already halfway into the passenger seat.
“You can hold this.” She plopped a white box on my lap that I guessed contained whatever remained of the cake after her erratic driving. “You ready?”
I tightened my hold on the box. “Umm, we don’t need to—”
My words were cut off as Lucy accelerated the golf cart. I swore and threw an arm across her so she didn’t fall out. She just laughed and patted my arm.
“How is this thing so fast?” I shouted.
“My brother hot-wired it and installed an extra-powerful battery.”
She took a sharp turn around the corner and I hung on for dear life.
“Stanley wanted a turbo golf cart?”
She just grinned, and I shook my head, amusement lighting up my chest. “And you look so innocent.”
“Looks can be deceiving.” She winked.
We passed the fire station and kept going. There wasn’t much out this direction besides the ocean.
