“I’m not bisexual, Seth. I’m straight. I just don’t like rumors going around about me any more than you do. And I’ve dealt with that ever since I was a girl who decided to play sports. Especially rugby. I’m not ultra-feminine like some girls, but that doesn’t mean I am gay. And it doesn’t mean you get hot threesomes with my friends and me, which was way out of line.” I had to let him know I didn’t intend to share him with anyone, and I wasn’t going to put up with anyone else in our relationship.
“I’m so sorry. I was just kidding around. Ben’s an Omega, and I just didn’t want to cause any problems with him. I should have spoken up.”
“I’m not going to say it’s okay, but you of all people should know how that feels, and I’d hope that you would set the record straight if that ever happens again.”
“Yeah, I was just acting stupid. I’m sorry I hurt you.” I could tell by his tone that he was really sorry about it.
It was quite a few moments until our food came. We ate, and I did my best to make idle conversation until he finally loosened up again.
On the way home, I did most of the talking, and I felt terrible, hoping he wasn’t angry with me. “I didn’t want to make things awkward,” I said as he pulled into my complex.
“I just sometimes don’t know what’s wrong with me. I say and do things to fuck up, and I’m sorry. Most of all, I’m sorry that I hurt your feelings.”
“Well, I’m sorry too. For not telling you sooner.”
He turned and took my hand. “I’ll do better if you give me a chance.”
“That’s what I’m doing by coming out with you. I realized that you’re worth a second chance to me, Seth. But before you go thinking that was too easy, know that I’m going to make you work for it.”
Seth slumped back in his seat. “Okay. I can handle that.” He seemed disappointed, and I had to wonder if I was too hard on him.
I turned in my seat and faced him. “You’re mad at me, aren’t you?”
“No, I’m mad at myself. I’ve wanted to kiss you so badly and I guess I’ve screwed that up.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure about that.” I took his hand, and he smiled, wasting no time laying one on me.
I had missed kissing him too, and I was especially glad we had gotten things worked out. He had been honest with me, and I wanted him enough to look past his faults and give him a chance.
As our lips moved together, I realized just how much I had missed his kiss.
I finally pulled away when I felt I was losing control and knew if I didn’t tell him goodnight, I was going to invite him inside. I didn’t want to take advantage of that situation just because I could.
“I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Yeah. I can’t wait.” He gave me another quick kiss before I got out, and he jumped out too to walk me to the door. “Thanks for giving me another chance. Does this mean we can go out again soon?”
“We’ll see. I know I’m moving slowly for you, but I don’t want to be hurt again.”
“I’m sorry, and you take your time. I’m not going anywhere. I want to make it right with you.”
“It’s behind us. Let’s not take those steps back. Let’s move forward and see what happens.”
After another quick kiss, more feverish than the last, I told him goodnight and went inside alone. I watched out the window as he drove away. He didn’t push to come inside. Maybe he really was going to do better this time.
Chapter 6
Seth
I had never had a kiss so hot or cared about anyone the way I did Avery. Not even Layla. While there was a time that I thought Layla hung the moon, now my heart was mended, and I had moved on.
I felt like a dick for what had happened with Ben. To know that Avery heard us talking about her not only embarrassed me, but it made me feel just horrible.
A lot of times, the guys at Omega House said shit to me, and I would just blow it off. That was all I was trying to do with little confrontation about my love life.
While I had been a party animal and allowed myself to be talked about, it seemed that I’d also given some people the wrong idea that they could say anything and get away with it. I had to start being more accountable for making sure the truth was understood. What people said not only hurt me now, but they could hurt Avery as well.
I closed my eyes and could still feel her lips. Having the opportunity to kiss her had keyed me up, and now I was too excited to simply go home for the night.
If only she had invited me in. I knew Avery was going to take it slowly, but by not inviting me in, it had me wondering. What if she didn’t really like the kiss? What if it had given her second thoughts about us?
As I stepped outside her apartment complex, I felt so alive and up to whatever she threw my way. If Avery wanted to play hard to get, I was up to the challenge.
My head was reeling. I decided to stop by Omega House on the way back to my place just because I wasn’t ready to go home for the night.
I got out and went to the door, knocking even though I had always been welcomed without it.
Micah came to the door and opened it with a smile. “Hey, my friend. Come on in. You’re just in time for the next tapping ceremony to begin.” He gestured to the corner where the ceremonial keg had been wheeled out. A small crowd of Omegas stood around it, waiting for the beer to flow from its glorious tap that was being put in place as I walked in.
I shook Micah’s hand as his girl Tasha came over and got his attention. She was such a knockout, it was hard not to notice, but Avery was hotter.
Natasha gave me a hard look, believing the rumors along with the rest of the girls who were more loyal to Layla.
I was used to it. They didn’t matter. None of them.
“Come on, Micah. You promised me dinner away from this house.” Natasha Kelly had really changed Micah for the better too, and they were another couple who had what I wanted with Avery.
“Come on,” he said, taking her hand. “My honor calls.” He moved past me out the door and stopped on the stoop to glance back. “Go on in and have fun.”
As he walked away, I went inside and found it to be a lot crazier of a scene than was usual for a Thursday night.
“Come on in, dude,” said Ben, who was standing with a group of first-year cheerleaders. They were always up for some fun and for trying to impress Lizzy, who was usually busy trying to impress me as well as any other guy she could get her claws into.
“Seth,” called a voice from across the room. I turned to find Britany Burns coming my way. Britany had been after me for a while, and I wasn’t as happy to see her as she was to see me.
“Oh, hey. How’s it going?”
“Better now that you’re here.” She put her hands on me as soon as she got within reach, and I caught her hands and removed them from my chest before she could put them around my neck or arm.
“I’m not staying too long,” I said, trying to give her the brush off.
“Come on. I came hoping you’d be here. We never got to finish our talk last time.”
I looked into her big blue eyes and tried hard to remember ever striking up a real conversation with her that didn’t end in me coming and going. “I’m sorry. Maybe some other time.”