“Hot Yoga Guy is just fine, thank you very much. We’re having dinner this weekend.”
“Mm. I wonder what he looks like out of spandex.”
Parker huffs. “Stop changing the subject.”
“Technically, it’s very relevant to the subject. I don’t think Gran would suddenly believe you’re into women. I mean, she did catch you making out with Trey at prom.”
He looks offended that I would bring it up. “I still can’t believe you let her chaperone.”
“I didn’t exactly have a lot of say in the matter.”
“Ugh.” He rubs at his temples. “This is making my brain hurt. You know this ends badly, right? There’s no way this ends pretty.”
I lick away the caramel from my teeth as I study the bare cookie that’s left, considering. He’s probably right, honestly. I have no idea how we’re going to pull off this charade in the long run, but it also feels like Noah has a lot more to lose than I do, so maybe that’s why I’m feeling so calm about the entire thing.
“I’m thinking of it like kismet.”
Parker slinks down in his office chair, running his hands over his face. “Have you even thought about how difficult this is going to be? I mean, he’s not your average shifter. He’s an alpha, Mackenzie. Have you not heard the stories? Plus, you’re an omega! What if he tries to lay some wolfy claim on you?”
“Oh jeez,” I snort. “Hardly. I’ve worked with him for a year, and he hasn’t fallen in weird, cosmic love with me yet. We’re fine.”
“But he’s been on suppressants, right? I know I’m just a regular ole human, but I would think that would make a difference. Plus, it’s not like you’ve been hanging out with the guy on a regular basis. I don’t think passing each other in the hall counts as interaction. Does he even know what you are?”
“Huh,” I say bemusedly. “You know, I didn’t even mention it. I completely forgot. I don’t think it matters. I think the whole alpha/omega thing is just some old wives’ tale. It’s not like there’s many of us around to be making accurate assumptions of how we affect each other. It’s fine.”
“So, are you going to tell him?”
I tilt my head back and forth, considering. While I’m pretty sure that the chances of Noah suddenly wanting to sink his teeth into my mating gland if I tell him what I am are slim—I suppose there is always a possibility. Still. I can always just cut ties if that happens. Getting an actual mate is not something on my to-do list. Maybe not ever, really.
I wave Parker off. “And risk him going all Jacob Black on me?”
“What?”
“When you see her, suddenly it’s not the earth holding you here anymore. She does.”
“Is this a Twilight reference?”
“Eclipse, actually, and don’t look so judgy. I’m not going to justify my obsession with the series to you again.”
“Jesus.” He rubs his eyes. “And if you . . . you know.”
I arch an eyebrow. “Know what?”
“You know,” he stresses, looking uncomfortable. “What if you go into—Well, you know.”
I might laugh at him if I weren’t one hundred percent sure it would make him more annoyed. “Are you asking me about my heat cycle?”
“Have you even considered it?”
“Of course I have.” Sort of. Briefly. For like a second. “I’m not due for another one for months. So no worries there. Relax, Parker. No one is carrying me back to their den anytime soon.”
“I just know that’s how your mom and dad ended up—”
I cut him a look. “Don’t.”
“Sorry.” He winces. “I know you don’t like talking about them. But that is what happened.”
“I’m not them,” I mumble. “I’m not falling in love with Noah at first sight and begging him to actually mate me the first time my hormones go out of whack.”
“Fine,” Parker concedes with a sigh. “So this is really about your gran’s little black book of horrors?”
“Model trains, Parker,” I stress. “Do you know who owned the first model train set?”
Parker lifts one eyebrow. “No?”
“Well, that makes one of us. One of Napoleon’s great-nephews, apparently.”
“Do you think it was because he was short too?”
I snap my fingers. “That’s what I said! It went over well with my date.”