Page 94 of In Deep

“Soph, you have a designer apartment.”

“But I don’t have four men.”

“I’m sure you could get some if you tried.”

“To be honest, it sounds amazing, but in reality, I don’t think I’d have the energy.” She rolls over onto her back. “Besides, Harrison is keeping me busy enough.”

“Uh huh,” I mutter. I’ve already had the details. Harrison and Sophia are now a thing. For the time being, anyway. Until their brothers find out and probably put an end to it. In fact, I think the sneaking around is half the appeal for Sophia.

“Have you told your folks yet?”

I sigh and drop the textbook I’m holding into my lap. “No, I haven’t told them.”

Soph slides off the bed and drops beside me. “I thought you were going to do it last night?”

“I was,” I bury my face in my hands dramatically, “but I wimped out.”

“Urgh, Rosie. You’re going to have to tell them sooner or later.”

“I don’t want to,” I squeak from behind my hands.

Soph peels away my fingers. “Why? From what I’ve heard of your mum, she’ll be dancing on the rooftops. Not one, but four eligible alphas.”

“Exactly, four!” I shake my head miserably. “She’s not going to approve.”

“How about your dad?”

I lean against the bed and tip back my head. My dad? I’m not sure about my dad. It is always my mum lecturing us girls about the way things should be, always my mum I’m fighting against to be something different. My dad just lets us get on with things, never really declaring a side.

“Surely, if your mum is an omega, she can’t disown you without your dad’s permission.”

“Thanks, Soph. That’s really reassuring.”

“I’m just saying, maybe talk to him first if you think he’s less likely to freak out.” She lifts a book from the ground, turns it over in her hands, examining the spine, then drops it into the writing box. “Why don’t you invite him to the race?”

“Maybe,” I say noncommittally, because I’m not sure.

And so I put it off. The alphas come and move my belongings up to their house, and I say goodbye to my old room once and for all. June arrives, and I spend more and more time up by the river, lying out on the bank, revising and working through my assignments. Sometimes, Sophia comes to join me. Pinching me every few minutes and reminding me how lucky I am as she gazes out at the boys working on the river. Other times, I fall asleep in the shade and only wake when one of the alphas comes to find me and snuggle up with me in the grass.

It’s blissful. Dreamlike. And I don’t want to break this perfect bubble of existence by telling my parents. Maybe Soph is right, and they’ll be OK with it. But maybe they won’t, and then what?

But the bubble is broken anyway, despite my best efforts and from an entirely different direction.

I’m home alone in the house, the boys out at training, when the doorbell rings. I’m up in my room and have to call that I’m coming as I race down the steps. I’m breathless by the time I swing back the door and find myself face to face with a woman I don’t know.

For a moment, I wonder if it’s another member of the OmegaSoc come to check up on me – or nose about – but the look on the woman’s face tells me she’s just as surprised to see me.

“Hello,” she says slowly, examining my face critically. Her floral scent engulfs me, too much for my sensitive nose, and I’m forced to breathe through my mouth, the taste of her too sweet on my tongue. “And who are you?”

Me? Who is she?

“I’m Rosie,” I answer, my fingers gripping the door handle as if I’m scared she’ll wrestle it from me. “Can I help you?”

“Are any of the boys in?” She attempts to peer over my shoulder, flipping her designer sunglasses off her head, and letting her jet-black hair fall across her face as she does. Her eyes are very blue, almost violet. She is the ideal version of an omega, all petite and perfectly curved.

“They’re not.”

“Will they be back soon?”