Page 18 of Coco and the Misfits (The Candyverse #4)

COCO

“A nd then he just… walked out? No explanation?”

“None at all!” I grumble.

Ruby blinks. “That’s so weird.”

“You don’t have to tell me, girl.”

Ruby has become my unexpected, new confidante. I mean, June remains my bestie, but she’s been suspiciously absent in the past few days, and I needed to talk to someone about what happened with Zach. When Ruby called, I invited her right over.

I don’t know if June is still upset and jealous, or if I should start getting worried and nosy. She may have gotten herself a boyfriend.

Or she may have gotten herself into trouble.

I’ll give her a call once Ruby leaves.

“More tea?” I lift the teapot and Ruby nods, rubbing absently at the long scratches on her forearms, which I assume were put there by dogs, not rabid lovers, though you never know. She seems quiet and withdrawn, but sometimes those girls are wildcats in bed.

Or so I’m told. I’m not quiet, not usually, and I’d say I’m the same in and out of bed. Kinda crazy. Demanding. Did I mention crazy?

Though it’s been a while and my trusty vibrator is getting dusty, too. Truth is… I’ve been feeling off since before the incident at the bar, and?—

“Coco?”

“Oops. Sorry.” I give Ruby a sheepish grin. “You were saying?”

She takes a bite of cake and waves her cup at me, so I pour her some more tea. “Did you two argue? Did he seem upset?”

“We were kissing! And he was damn hard, too.”

She chokes on the cake. “Okay. That means… Not upset, then. Too horny? Wanted more but you didn’t?”

“Who says I didn’t?”

She almost chokes again. “I see.”

“Are you okay? I’m open about my sexuality, which basically means I’m open about being horny for certain men, but if that bothers you…”

“No, it’s fine. It’s nice. Most girls I know don’t talk about such matters.” She frowns. “Not that I have many friends. Or siblings. Sometimes I feel like I’ve nobody I can talk to.”

“You have me.” I grin at her. “You should come over more often, then we could go out and…” I freeze. The thought of going back to the Alpha Bet, or any bar, sends chills down my spine. “And I’ll let you know when we do that again,” I finish lamely. “One of these days. Real soon.”

She nods, her attention on her teacup. Good, then she won’t realize it’s a lie. I don’t know when I’ll be able to face going out again.

It occurs to me we’ve been talking about me since she arrived, but she must have called for a reason.

“And you? What’s up?” I watch her face as it flushes. “Everything all right?”

“Yeah, I…” She swallows. “Yeah.”

“You can tell me. That’s why you’re here, right? Unless it’s for the cake. It’s a damn good cake, if I say so myself.”

She cracks a smile. “It is. I’ve… met another guy.”

“Another guy?” I whistle. “You go, girl.”

“Yeah. It’s not that simple.”

“What is ever simple?” I frown. “What did this one do? Tell Auntie Coco everything. Whose ass do I have to kick?”

“No, please, don’t. No ass kicking. It’s not his fault.”

“Isn’t it? That’s what they always say. What did this one do?” I brush crumbs off my lap. “Is he in a pack, too, while flirting with you?”

“No, he’s… he’s an omega.”

I sit up straighter. “Okay, that’s a different problem.”

Not a problem per se , but omegas look for packs, Ruby thinks she may be a beta after all, and betas… well, they mostly are monogamous. Gigi is an exception, and admittedly, there are many such cases, but the majority of betas seem to prefer a relationship with one person only.

Usually another beta.

“I know,” she says miserably. “Why do I always choose the path less traveled and not the path everyone expects from me? It would make my life so much easier.”

“Ah, girl. You and I both. We’re two peas in a pod.”

“Two peas in an ill-fitting pod,” she grouses.

“It’s the world that’s wrong. Not us.”

“So… you don’t disapprove?” she whispers.

“Of your hunky omega? I don’t know, depends. Got a pic to show me?” I wink.

She shows me her phone and okay, he’s damn cute.

“He’s pretty,” I say. “And whether I approve of it or not, it shouldn’t matter to you, Rubes. Are you happy? Is he happy? That’s all that matters.”

“Easy to say.”

“I know. Do you get along well? Do you do stuff together?”

“Stuff? Like sex?” Her face is red like a tomato, and I start laughing. I can’t help it. “Yeah.”

“Apart from that,” I say. “What about common interests and activities?”

“Do you and Zach do that?”

Good point. I’ve known him for a while, but from afar mostly, and the only thing we’ve ever done together—apart from this kissing session—was the training he gave me right before.

Do we have anything in common? I never thought about it because I never thought he was interested and I’d buried my own desire to avoid getting hurt.

“We should do what makes us happy,” I say and feel the truth of it in my bones. “You and I, Rubes, we should do what gives us pleasure. Life is short. Let’s go get the guys we want, and fuck the pea pod.”

She giggles and we high-five. “Why not? It’s not like we have a choice. We are who we are, and fuck the pod indeed.”

“It’s not like we have a choice.”

Her words stay with me long after she leaves, because she’s right. One can choose to act in a certain way, to become better or worse, to adapt to the ways of the world.

But can one choose who one is?

* * *

“Atticus,” I say, my phone wedged between my neck and my shoulder. “It’s me, Coco. I accept the job. I said so already, right? So when do I start? Oh, and I hope you’re doing okay! Um, yeah. Bye-bye now. Call me!”

I’m leaving him a voice message, since he didn’t pick up when I called, and I realize I haven’t even asked him how much he’ll be paying me. Also, wait, this will probably be a trial week, right? For him to see if I can really get the job done?

I hang up and chew on my lower lip. Oh god, that was terrible. So lame.

“Bye-bye now?” Really? I’ll probably never hear back from him again. Ugh! Why am I like that? I’m naturally babbly, but around Atticus, I blurt out the stupidest things. Nervous, me? He’s only a silver fox with top alpha vibes and a fortune.

Strange that he doesn’t have a pack, come to think of it.

Very strange.

Maybe he is a serial killer?

I giggle evilly to myself as I sip my hot chocolate.

And then I almost choke on it when my phone starts ringing with his number. Dammit, is he reading my mind? A mind-reading killer.

“Hello?” I squeak. “Hi.”

“Coco?” His warm, deep voice sends a pleasurable shudder through me. “Sorry I didn’t pick up earlier, I was in a business meeting.”

“Oh, don’t worry about it,” I say, my voice breathier than the breathiest voice ever. “No problem.”

“So you still want the job?”

“Yes. Definitely. Thank you.”

Stop. Blabbing. Now.

“Excellent.” He does sound pleased, which makes me relax a little. “You have the address. I’ll let the concierge know you’re going. She’ll give you a key so you can be independent.”

He’ll give me a key to his house? And wait, he has a concierge?

“Coco? Are you still there?”

“Yes! Present!” I bite my tongue. “Starting tomorrow morning, then?”

“Whenever you like. My home is your home.”

I freeze like a deer in headlights. “What?”

He’s quiet for long heartbeats. Then he says gruffly, “One thing you should know about me is that I always mean what I say.”

“But—”

“I have another meeting to get to. Let me know if you need anything. Oh, about your wages. Is the basic-plus-plus okay? And tips, of course.”

“Tips?” And… basic-plus-plus is the top end of the basic wages offered in the state. I’ve never been paid so much per hour in my life. It’s what accountants and university lecturers expect when starting out. “I…”

“Is that okay for you?”

“Oh. Yes. Yes, of course. I’m…”

“Be safe,” he says, and I can’t find the words to reply until he hangs up.

How… how dare he say such sweet things to me? It’s as if he really cares, and if it turns out he talks that way to everyone, my heart will shatter.

A bad sign all around. A sign I’m letting myself fall for him…