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He drums his thumb on his board. “And for the record, Heat Seekers gives omegas a chance to select a partner before they’re in heat. Sounds safer to me. He’s on suppressants, and I’m not taking advantage of him.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“We’re just getting to know each other. But if we hit it off, I want to help him through his heat.”

“Oh,” I say again, because what the hell am I supposed to say when someone tells me about the potential fuck fest they’re planning?

“At our place,” he adds.

“What?”

“He shares a room with another omega, and he told me he had a bad experience the last time he was in heat, so I invited him to stay at our place.”

“Alden.” I drag the back of my forearm over my forehead to wipe the saltwater off my brow.

“I know. I’m sorry, but I want him to feel safe and pampered.”

“And going over to some strange alpha’s house is safe?”

“I’m not strange.”

“That’s debatable,” I mutter.

“Haha.” He splashes me.

Wait. “Is the roommate the one who made his last heat bad?” Now, Alden has me worrying about the omega barging in to take him from me.

“I don’t think so.”

“Does he know about me?” I ask.

“Duh. He’d scent you from a mile away.”

Good. A promising wave peaks with enough room for me to take it, the perfect excuse to collect my thoughts before I say something I’ll regret. “Be right back.” I paddle toward the swell, arms slicing through the water to propel my board forward before I miss it.

Endorphins flood me as I plant my hands and stand, dropping into a decent pipe. Breathing fast, relishing the stretch in my abs and legs, I shred the wave, feeling ten times better by the time I finish.

Alden catches the next wave, and we paddle out together without comment. Once we’re back to idling on our boards, he picks up where he left off.

“I know it’s less than ideal, but I really⁠—”

“Like him. Yes, you said.”

He exhales another tight sigh. “I need this to go well, what with Niall and⁠—”

“Fuck Niall,” I snap. A few surfers look our way. I lower my volume. “Good riddance to that prick.”

Niall crushed Alden’s confidence and nearly destroyed our friendship. Alden still won’t talk about it. He’s dated a few omegas since then, but they never last long and he hasn’t been forthcoming about why. He seems so lonely, and I’ve been spending so much time at the lab.

I should be more supportive. I mean, I do want him to be happy.

I cross my arms over my chest. “Well, tell me about your omega, then.”

Alden’s blue-gray eyes brighten with his smile. “He’s not mine yet. He might not even find me attractive in person.”

“That’s highly unlikely.”

He pauses, brow wrinkled.