Page 37 of The Omega's Fake Mate

Nick smiled.

I kissed him.

I didn't even think about doing it, I simply did it. It felt right. It feltoh so right.

Nick looked just the littlest bit dazed when we broke.

“Get a room, you two,” my sister said from the other side of the table. It was only then that I remembered she existed. While my lips were on Nick's, I forgot all about my family being in the room, but now reality came rushing back in.

My eyes darted back to Nick. Did he think that kiss just now was to fool my parents? He must have. He couldn’t know that I hadn't been thinking about my mother or my father at all.

Was I getting in too deep? I was definitely overthinking things.

I returned my attention to my plate and kept it there for the remainder of the meal. Better stuff my mouth with food so I couldn't use it for anything else.

When we were all done eating and so full that none of us even wanted to look at food anymore, my mother asked me to help her carry the leftovers into the kitchen.

She wanted to talk to me, no doubt.

Oh, joy.

I took the bowl with the mashed potatoes and the gravy boat and followed her into the kitchen.

“Are you serious about him?” she asked before the door had even properly shut behind us.

“What do you mean?” I asked casually, feigning ignorance only to annoy her.

“This boy you've brought along.” A discarding gesture accompanied her words.

“He's not a boy and he has a name. You know it, use it.”

“Just answer the question, Zander,” she said, setting a tray of left-over pies down on the counter.

“Yes, I'm serious about him. Why wouldn't I be?” I asked, putting the mashed potatoes and the gravy down beside the pies.

“Honestly, I'd hoped this would be over when he moved away and we forbade you from wasting all your time on the phone with him.”

I grimaced. Like my parents' silly little rule ever stopped me when phone boxes existed. Still, that didn't matter now. “We found each other again. Seems to me like we were simply meant to be.”

“Please,” she waved me off. “I don't believe in fate and neither do you. We haven't raised you to spout nonsense like that. Your father and I have gotten hundreds of couples together that never would have found each other if left up to fate. I should be able to do the same for my children. Iamable to do that. This omega girl I found you, you should have—”

“I'm not interested, Mother.”

She sighed as if I was being difficult. Like I was still six years old and didn't want to eat my veggies. “How can you say that when you haven't even met her?”

“I know because Nick is all I could ever need. He's the only one for me.”

My mother shook her head and left the kitchen. I decided to be happy about my victory rather than worry about how easy it had been to say those words with absolute conviction.

14

Nick

Shortly after Zandercame back from the kitchen, he told me that it was time to leave. I didn't mind, really. His sister had tried to drag me into a conversation and she wanted to know all sorts of things about modeling and whether I'd ever thought about being an underwear model (no). I'd enjoyed some wine with my dinner as well, but she'd definitely had a bit too much.

Even her boyfriend was keeping his distance. Poor guy.

When Zander came to get me, my relief must have been obvious on my face.