Page 156 of Alphas Like Us

“There won’t be a next time. Your membership hasbeen—”

“Kinney,” I say forcefully. “You want to be mad at someone, I’m righthere.”

She shifts her glare tome.

“No,” Farrow says, leaning back casually. “If she wants to kick me out, let her kick meout.”

Hurt flashes in her eyes and then she shakes it off by staring up at the ceiling. Like she’s annoyed. She’s not. She just wants this day to go better than ithas.

And I really want this Holly girl’s number so I can fixthis.

“But Kinney,” Farrow says. “If you dokick me out, I’ll still show up with myboyfriend.”

She slides into the booth next to him, her lips pressed in a line. As though she gives no fucks, but she’s almost smiling. “Fine,” she deadpans. “Membershipreinstated.”

My shoulders loosen a bit, and I push the basket of chips towards Kinney. Just as she goes to grab a handful, her phonerings.

“Is that Holly?” Iask.

She checks her phone. “No.” But she’s not frowning in disappointment. Kinney hoists the phone, preparing for FaceTime. “Hey,” shegreets.

“Is she there?” Audrey Cobalt asks, her whimsical voice on theline.

Kinney shakes her head. “MIA. I can’t text her for a fourth time. It’d bedesperate.”

“I disagree,” Audrey replies. “Desperation is just another word formadlydevoted. You should try again. Fifth and sixth times are the charm, theysay.”

Kinney smiles and then flashes the screen to Farrow andme.

Red hair, pale freckled skin, and a smile that could charm just about anyone stares back at me. Her lavish pink room looks like it was made for aprincess.

You know Audrey Virginia Cobalt as the thirteen-year-old hopeless romantic. In her spare time, she reads adult romance novels and narrates all the “blush-worthy” parts on her Instagram. You think she talks like she’s been factory-made from a Jane Austen novel, and you salivate for any photo she takes with her big sister Jane. You wonder what it would be like to grow up as the youngest with five Cobalt brothers, but she rarely tellsyou.

I know her as my little cousin, the baby in the entire Hale, Meadows, Cobalt brood. The girl who bakes cookies for her crushes that are far out of her league. Who falls madly in love with the idea of love more than the actual reality. She’s fiercely loyal to her friends and just as fierce to herfamily.

Fair Warning: you fuck with the baby of the family and everyone will come afteryou.

Over FaceTime, she waves. “Hi, Moffy. Hi,Farrow.”

“Hey, Audrey,” I say, watching her eyes slowly widen at the sight of Oscar several bowling lanesdown.

“OhmyOhmy, KinneyKinney. Don’t let him see my face.” She buries herself in a pillow, and Kinney rotates the camera back toherself.

Audrey still hasn’t overcome the mortification of sending apology cookies toOscar.

Jack, who returned to our booth, asks my cousin, “Audrey, do you still have a crush onOscar?”

We all just hear a mumbled noise from thepillows.

Kinney keeps eyeing the bowling alley entrance. I can’t just sit here and hope for the best. There has to be something more I cando.

And I tell my sister, “Let me call thisgirl.”

She looks back at me, brows pinched. “What are you going tosay?”

“I’m going to ask if she needs a ride here, ask what’s holding her up and tell her that I can help. That’sit.”

Kinney takes a giant breath, and she speaks into her phone. “I’ll talk to you later, Audrey. I need to text Moffy her number…” she trails off, and all of our heads swerve as the dooropens.