Page 41 of Not Looking
“But you like it.”
I chuckled. “How about we do something your alpha wouldn’t be interested in. I know you said just the two of us, but that tends to be something alphas like.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“There’s a small art market at that park near the university. I’m not showing at it. So we can go and browse. Maybe you’ll find a new artist for a client, and I can scope the competition.”
He chuckled. “That sounds like work, but fun work.”
“More fun than axe-throwing?”
He burst into laughter. “Ok. I’m in.”
Silence fell between us again—the space filled by the sounds of speedboats on the lake, my chickens clucking to each other in their run, and the breeze rustling the leaves overhead.
“Thank you,” I finally murmured.
“Anything for you.”
Chapter 10 - Craig
“Earth to Craig.”
“Hmm?” I asked, blinking as my thoughts were interrupted.
Joey laughed. “You’ve been a space cadet all night. What’s up?”
“Just lost in thought.”
Aaron snorted. “He’s thinking about some omega.”
“Well, that’s obvious,” Robbie said. “I’ve been sitting in a cloud of lovesick alpha all night, and if I don’t switch seats soon, I’ll go into an early heat.”
“Sorry,” I muttered. “I’ll go outside after this round to give you a break.”
“You could stop thinking of whoever he is,” Spencer countered.
“I think he’s too far gone for that.” Nate laughed. “And I’ll switch with you, Robbie. It’s safe here next to Joey.”
“Thanks,” Robbie replied.
“So,” Joey prompted, motioning to the cards in my hand.
I blinked, then looked at them. “Draw two?” I asked, pulling out the weak cards.
Everybody burst into laughter.
“We’re playing stud, not draw,” Nate reminded me. “You’re gone, gone. Aren’t you?”
I sighed. “Oh… um… fold.”
Another round of laughter.
“I’m out too,” Spencer declared. “Come on, Craig, let’s give Robbie a break and get some air.”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
I followed him out onto his apartment’s balcony, leaned against the railing, and breathed in the warm summer evening air.
