“It’s not his job,” I say quietly, voice hoarse. “It’s not his job to… to calm me down. Alphas don’t get to just pluck omegas off the street at their will.”
Gia’s tone softens. “You’re not plucking him off the street. He likes you, too.”
“Well, he shouldn’t.”
“If you can stand to be in the same room as him for morethan ten seconds, he’s not an idiot.”
“Even if what you’re saying is true—and I’mnotconceding that—then… what thefuckdo I do?” The fog and this bed and the roar of the plane are swallowing me.
“I don’t know.”
“Some psychiatrist you are.”
“I’m a psychiatrist, not a relationship counselor.” Gia lets out a wry chuckle. “You know my love life is just as abysmal as yours.”
“Fuck.” I let out a deep sigh.
“You really do like him, don’t you?”
My silence is the closest thing to an answer that Gia’s going to get.
“Thanks for the chat,” I say, and I end the call before Gia can say anything else.
Chapter 28
JAMIE
The next few stops on the tour all run together. I see precious little of Morgan—on the jet she’s in the back taking calls, at the hotel she splits her time between the gym and the conference room takingmorecalls, and the only time I really see her is while we do our fireside chats.
During those, she’s engaged and bright as always, and gives me no indication that I’ve done anything wrong. But I think she’s putting distance between us. Because of Tobias.
I’m seeing more of the cities we visit now that I’m spending time with Eileen, and that’s nice. We continue to get along really well, so I can’t complain. Ishouldn’tcomplain. It’s only when I’m on the jet, alone in the main room, staring out over the shifting landscape, wondering what that river’s called or which mountain range that is that I really pine for Morgan.
About two weeks into the trip, four-ish days after the Tobias incident, Eileen and I sit at another Starbucks in another city, and she types away at her phone while she sips a venti Frappuccino. “Long night last night,” she said by way of explanation when she ordered the massive drink.
We’ve been quiet a while as I sip my latte, and I hope it sounds casual as I say, “You know Morgan pretty well, right?”
“I like to think so.”
“I can’t tell if… she’s avoiding me. I’m pretty sure it’s all in my head, but I just can’t… quite shake the feeling. She’s busy, right?”
“I wouldn’t read too much into it.” Eileen looks up, expression softening. “Morgan never stops moving. She’s still letting you on her jet, and that’s ahugecompliment.”
Do I dare tell Eileen about the ‘cost-saving measures’? The golfing and the massage and…
But Eileen said it before. Morgan doesn’t have time for a love life. Maybe I’m not completely crazy, and she was flirting with me, but… it probably didn’t mean anything.
Especially not if she spent the night with that other alpha. She had ample opportunity to do anything she wanted with me.
“Y’know…” Eileen says, swirling her Frappuccino. “Morgan wouldkillme for telling you this, but… she’s not always as calculated as she thinks she is. As she wants other people to believe. She’s a human too, underneath all the barking and power-lifting.”
I force a smile. “Thanks… it’s funny, she actually gothangrythe other night.”
Eileen’s eyes twinkle. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry you had to see that. She can be such a mega-bitch.”
“The suite was unavailable due to a plumbing emergency or something? I thought Morgan was going to bite the poor woman’s head off when she told her.”
“The suite wasn’t available?” Eileen asks with surprise. “She didn’t tell me about that. Usually she’s bitingmyhead off too.”
