Page 5 of Coco and the Misfits (The Candyverse #4)

COCO

“W e need to go out and get wasted,” I say.

Silence greets my words.

I glance around at the girls. We’re seated at our usual table in the Book Cafe and everyone looks morose.

I sigh. “Ruby, support me here.”

“She’s right,” Ruby unexpectedly says. “Let’s go get wasted.”

June and Bee exchange glances. Gigi and Sophie laugh. Brinlee, the latest addition to the girl club, the cute delta in Sawyer’s pack, sips at her coffee and smiles.

“I’m not hearing any negations, so I’ll take that as a yes,” I say. “Feel free to invite your boys if you want to, but I’m talking about a girls’ night out. Dancing, drinking, exorcising demons. You know what I’m talking about. We haven’t had such a night in a while.”

And I know just the place. A place with a delicious bartender, even though he is in an established pack. I’m still sussing him out, but he’s just gorgeous, and I think he’s an alpha, too.

“I... can’t,” Bee says slowly, a blush spreading over her face.

“Huh?” I blink at her. “Why, what’s up?”

“She’s knocked up,” June giggles, then stops when Bee’s blush grows darker. “No. Really?”

Bee nods.

“Oh my God! I’ll become an aunt?” I squeal.

“You’re not related to her,” Gigi reminds me.

“Oh, shush. My friends are family. Right, Bee?”

Bee laughs softly and places a hand on her belly. “In about six months. I haven’t told anyone outside of my pack yet.”

“Congrats, girl!” June leans sideways and wraps her up in a hug. “That’s wonderful!”

“Bee! That’s amazing news!” I get up to glomp her. What can I say, I’m a glomping fan. “Give us a hug. Wait until I see your pack. I’ll pinch their lean, sexy cheeks.”

Bee is laughing. “Which cheeks are we talking about?”

“The ones on their faces,” I say firmly. “I’d never touch any other part of your guys, woman. I may require a ladder to reach the alphas’ faces, though.”

“So true,” she snickers.

I pull back to give the other girls a chance to smother Bee. Babies make me wanna squeal and dance. I’ve looked after quite a few older people and they are also sweet, but babies... I sometimes wish I’d studied to become a kindergarten teacher, but I’m not sure I’d be a good one.

I just want... babies.

Oh no. Is baby fever kicking in already? Just more proof I’m an omega, since betas rarely get it.

The thought has me smiling again. I wait until everyone has congratulated Bee and daydream about my pack in a little cottage full of giggling toddlers.

“So, about tonight,” Ruby says, breaking the spell. “Are we still doing it?”

There is a hardness in her eyes today. I think she’s past the shock and well into the anger stage of mourning. She needs this night out more than I do.

“Of course we’re going out,” I say. “Except for Bee and her little bean.”

Bee giggles.

“Where?” Ruby asks.

“Alpha Bet, the hottest bar in town. I can get us discounts. I know the owner.” I waggle my brows. “Aren’t you impressed?”

“You know everyone,” Bee says.

“Go, Coco.” June wolf-whistles. “The owner? When did that happen?”

“Last time we got to talking and he offered. So dress sexy, ladies, and shave your legs. You never know who will get to see your unmentionables tonight.”

Gigi, who has been sipping at her coffee, splutters. “ Unmentionables .”

“Wear all the black lace,” I instruct them, “and your sky-high heels, because tonight we conquer and slay.”

“Conquer and slay what?”

“The night, of course. It’s ours, as is our desire, and we’ll sate ourselves on dicks and balls. Or pussies, whatever rocks your boat.” I wink at the snickering girls around me. “The main thing is to have fun without guilt.”

And maybe find our potential mates but I won’t even say it out loud, not to jinx us. One never knows when fate might knock on your proverbial door, and tonight could be the night.

* * *

“Coco! You ready?” June calls out from outside my apartment door. “We’re gonna be late!”

“One sec!” I dab some more red on my lips and smack them together.

Leaning back, I give my image a critical once-over and a wink.

I look good, if I say so myself. My midi dress is very twenties, deep red with tassels on the hem and fabric roses on the shoulder straps.

My long necklace is made of fake pearls and more flowers, and my pink hair is perfect for the style. “Coming!”

Grabbing my little black bag, every girl’s faithful companion, I toddle across the apartment on my heels and throw the door open. I strike a pose. “Ta-da!”

“Gorgeous!” June grins and strikes a mirroring pose. “Look at us!”

She looks absolutely stunning in her long, flowery dress and the low chignon she’s pulled her fair hair into. A miniature goddess of nature, her style matching mine and yet entirely her own.

“Let’s go get them, tiger.” I step outside, closing the door behind me, and link my arm with hers. “My feet will be weeping before we reach the bar in these heels.”

“Take them off?”

“Are you kidding? These babies aren’t coming off my feet, not even during sex. Trademark heels. Men know me by these heels.”

She giggles. “Suffer, baby.”

Suffer indeed. Suffer for beauty, suffer for attraction and lust. Suffer to reach your goal and get the good stuff. It’s all about work and play, effort and negotiation, and the girl who winked at me in the mirror is ready to give it her all.

Look at us go. Tonight will be epic. I just know it.

Wait, didn’t these just sound like some damn prophetic words?

* * *

“Evening, girls,” the huge alpha bouncer folds his arms over his chest and grins down at us. “Haven’t seen you in a while.”

“Been busy.” I grin back at him. He always sorta flirts with me but never goes further than that. His name is Erik and true to his name, he has great Viking vibes going for him. Blond hair and beard and clear blue eyes. “Will you let us in?”

“Depends.” He winks.

“Oh. On what?” I’m mildly but not wildly interested, if you get my drift.

“On going out with me.” He seems to read my face right because he grimaces. “Just a drink someday. If you like.”

“That I can do.”

“Then please step inside, fair ladies.” He gives a funny little bow and sweeps a muscular arm to the side. “Have fun!”

I do like him. As a friend. I think he’s cool. But despite the punch-you-in-the-face alpha maleness of his... I don’t feel attracted to him.

Huh. Interesting. Not all alphas do it for me, then. Filing this info away for further examination, I drag June into the bar.

“I can’t see anyone we know,” June yells in my ear. “Where are the girls?”

“At the bar getting shitfaced, probably,” I mutter. “That was the stipulation for tonight.”

“True.” June giggles as I drag her further in, sliding through the usual throng of customers who are drinking, talking and swaying to the music. “We’ll have to catch up.”

“We can do it!”

Both of us giggling now—imagine, we haven’t had a drop of liquor yet—we make our wobbly way to the bar. The place is packed, jumping, throbbing to a strong beat. It’s the best place in town to spot singles, and they also have the best cocktails.

What’s not to like, right?

I spot Gigi and Ruby further down the bar with cocktails in their hands. They seem to be deep in conversation. I miss Bee, who is a hoot, charmingly naive and sweet, but all my girls are amazing.

“Ladies!” I wave a hand in the air. “Here we are!”

They don’t hear us over the din of the music and voices until we’re almost on top of them. They are talking about relationships and packs; no surprise there after what Ruby told me the other day.

They jump two feet into the air when June and I sneak up on them and put our arms around them.

“Hi, ladies,” I say, making my voice low and growly. “Who’s up for some fun?”

“Coco!” Gigi laughs and turns to hug me back. “Stop scaring people, you little gremlin.”

“I’ll make you scream my name,” I continue in my faux-alpha voice. “I’ll show you heaven!”

Ruby is laughing so hard she’s crying tears. The girl is totally smashed. “More, more,” she chants.

“I’ll push you up against the wall and see how slick you are for me,” I go on. “I’ll eat you up until you?—”

“I see you ladies know how to have fun,” a growly, deep voice, a real male deep voice, says from behind me and I almost have a heart attack. “Do go on.”

June is laughing so hard she’s in hysterics. “Coco...”

Ruby hiccups. “Oh. And who are you?”

“Yeah,” Gigi says, “who are you?”

I turn around and come face to face with a dark-haired, tall man. He has a face like an angel and a gaze like a devil, and his muscular body screams alpha. Tattoos scroll up his neck all the way to his chin. His arms are covered in full sleeves. A silver hoop glints on his full lower lip.

Good God...

Trouble personified, I think randomly as his gaze moves over me in a long, lazy stroll. The god of mischief and sex in person.

I hadn’t expected him. Whoever he is. I came out here to find a sexy alpha but this one has not only my thighs clenching but also all the strings in my mind twanging, and I’m not sure what it means.

“I’m Ryder,” he says. “Who are you ?”

He’s still looking at me. No doubt about who his question is directed at. His gaze is so intense I can feel it on my skin like a touch.

“Coco,” I say, then I have to clear my throat. “I’m Coco.”

“I’m June,” June pipes up. “And these two are Gigi and Ruby.”

He doesn’t even seem to hear. He stalks closer until he’s towering over me. “Pink candy,” he whispers. “You smell like it, too.”

I take a step back. He’s pulsing with heat and strength, though his scent feels slightly sweet and bitter, but I love it. Too much. It’s too much. “Um...”

“So Coco .” He reaches out and puts a finger under my chin. “Wanna dance?”

My heart is pounding. Someone is talking behind me but I can’t make out the words. My body is trembling—with need, with fear, with arousal, with emotion. I don’t know what is happening to me. I draw in more of his scent and I’m both drawn to him and struck still.

Then his touch disappears and another scent invades my senses: deep musk and whiskey laced with wood smoke.

“She doesn’t want you touching her,” the new arrival growls, the sound so deep the hairs on my arms lift. “So get your hands off her.”

Atticus, the owner of the Alpha Bet bar. Even more bulky and hulking than this Ryder guy, he looms over me, his brows drawn together in a scowl, his gaze forbidding.

“Or what?” Ryder snarls. “You’ll challenge me to a duel? See who’s the fastest pistol in town?”

“I’ll just have you kicked out of the bar. How about that?”

Ryder looks confused. It’s obvious he doesn’t know who Atticus is. “You and what army?”

“I don’t need an army,” Atticus says. “I’ll kick you out myself.”

A savage grin spreads over Ryder’s face, and oh boy, is that a handsome face, all clean, sharp lines and a sensual mouth. “Fight me, then. I’m not going.”

Atticus fists his hand in Ryder’s dark top and hauls him closer until they are nose to nose. “You want a fight?”

“Atticus.” I insert myself between the two alphas, belatedly questioning my sanity. “There’s no need.”

After a long moment, he releases Ryder’s top and looks down at me. “He was crowding you. You smelled afraid.”

He could smell that in the middle of the bar? Then again, I can smell them both easily. “I’m not afraid. You were mistaken.”

“I’m never mistaken, beautiful. Not when it comes to fear.”

“You two have your fun,” Ryder mutters, frowning. “I didn’t realize you were an item.”

I open my mouth. “We’re n?—”

But he’s already turning around and stalking away through the crowd.

“Good riddance. That guy is trouble.” Atticus casts a huge shadow over me. “Fear or not, he made you tense.”

Tense. True. But it wasn’t unpleasant. In fact...

“Will you be okay?” he asks.

“Yeah. I’m fine. Here with my friends,” I rush to say.

“Then I’ll get back to my office.” He nods at me solemnly and I swallow hard because Atticus is hot. A hot older daddy alpha, a silver fox with a trim beard and green eyes, dressed in an expensive power suit. He’s dreamy; sexy as hell.

And what did he mean by never being mistaken about fear?

“Whoa, what was all that about?” Gigi mutters, her eyes round. “Did they almost come to blows over you?”

“Over me? Nah.” I snort, though I feel a bit shaken as I watch Atticus’ broad back disappear in the other direction. “That was just dick measuring.”

“Well, that would be a tie, probably,” Ruby says thoughtfully, slurping the last dregs of her cocktail. “They both have big dicks.”

“Ruby!” June laughs, delighted. “You have started looking at the right place!”

“Between guys’ legs, you mean?” Ruby gives a discreet burp. “They are so tall, their crotches were almost in my face.”

“There’s that, too,” June reluctantly concedes and snickers. “Well, well. How about the mission, Coco? Time to sample the booze and talk about what just happened, right?”

Probably. But I’m distracted.

Another alpha has entered the chat.

Tonight is the night of the alphas, I think dazedly as a certain familiar blond, muscular guy appears in front of me. His grin is like the sun, his scent like summer.

Zach is here.