Page 4 of Shopping for His Omega (Omegas of Oliver Creek #15)

Maverick

“What exactly are you laughing at?” I asked, putting my fist on my hip. My lunch bag slipped down my shoulder, and I had to catch it. Great. Right when I was trying to look cool in front of the most gorgeous alpha I’d ever seen.

“I stocked some pain relievers and some cheap first aid kits and you’re all upset and flustered. It’s not like I’m selling snacks and candy bars when there is a grocery store only three doors down.”

My buttons officially got pushed. “You can’t be serious. You think a few bags of chips and bottles of chilled water is some great competition against your whole-ass grocery store?”

Danny’s cheeks reddened, and he ground his jaw. “Are you saying my grocery store is ass? Is that what you just said? If you don’t like it, there are other places to shop. You would know since you stock your pharmacy from other places.”

“I didn’t say your grocery store was ass. I said you have a big store that sells all kinds of food and produce, and you’re worried about the few dollars’ profit I’m making on a couple of candy bars?”

Danny crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m not worried about anything. I simply think it’s unethical.”

I snorted. “So unethical that you chose to do the same thing to me by stocking drugstore goods.”

His lip curled. Like a predator. My rabbit wanted to run for the hills at the first sign of danger, but Danny wouldn’t hurt a fly.

He might give off big, bad wolf, but I suspected he was more like soft, cuddly wolf, given the right circumstances.

That was, if we weren’t verbally attacking each other over stupid things.

My rabbit no longer wanted to run. He was thumping his foot in that space we shared in our consciousness. He had no desire to fight with the wolf anymore—he demanded I throw myself into the wolf’s arms, end this silliness, and be cuddled.

Animals didn’t understand these pesky emotions and human interactions. They saw mate; they wanted them. Mate. Bite. Be happy. Have a family. It was all cut and dried in their eyes.

Life didn’t work that way.

“All grocery stores have a section for basic medicine.” That was his argument. I paused for a moment to see if he realized what he was saying.

“And pharmacies always have snack sections.” He backed up and furrowed his brow. Neither of us were making any points the other didn’t know.

The truth was, my heart began to hurt fighting with him.

My rabbit certainly didn’t like it. It felt icky and made my stomach turn.

“Look, Danny, I…I’m not going to argue with you anymore.

We’re just doomed to be enemies, it seems. I’ll start shopping somewhere else so it’s not aggravating for you. I’m going home.”

“You do that. Go on home. It’s getting late. Enjoy your banana bread while you’re at it.”

Huh?

“How did you know about that?”

Nothing.

I didn’t wait for his reply. The last thing I wanted was to hear more of his defensiveness. There was no reason for it. I meant him and his business no harm.

He also didn’t stop me from walking away. I held my breath and hoped he would run after me or call out my name but, as I turned the corner on my walk home, I gave up any hope for that.

Maybe it was my fault for bringing up the fact that he was stocking pain relievers now. It was a moot point. I didn’t care that he was. His tiny first aid kits and mini bottles of pain relievers were a convenience to the customers just like my water bottles were.

I walked into my house more frustrated and confused than ever. How did he know about the loaves of banana bread that showed up in my mailbox once a week?

The best banana bread ever. Sometimes with nuts. Or a cream cheese swirl in the center. Chocolate chips. Rivers of peanut butter. Every one was a surprise.

Was there a chance he knew who was making it for me? Did he think something bad of it? Was he jealous?

No. Jealousy wasn’t possible. Judging from our earlier interaction, there was no way the wolf had any feelings for me, no matter how much my rabbit desired them.

I had a crush on a wolf who had no interest other than competing with me.

Great.

At home, I put my dinner into the oven to heat while I showered and berated myself for how everything went down. I hadn’t meant to start a fight with him. On the contrary, I thought it was something we could laugh about.

Boy, was I wrong.

That night, I walked through town after eating dinner.

Was I hoping to run into Danny? A little.

I stopped by the new local thrift store and found a wooden paperback holder with clips that kept the book open and a cute lamp.

One night a week, the thrift store stayed open late enough for me to stop by after closing the drugstore.

I was tired by the time I left work, but going home meant being alone and, for some reason, tonight, I felt more alone than ever.