Page 23 of Lilacs and Leather

I glare at him, even if he doesn’t catch the look. He’s smirking, too. Bratty little shit stirrer.

“I did, Luc. We’re going to Alice’s tomorrow. I’d like the pack table for seven, if it’s all the same,” I throw back, not letting them get the reaction they clearly wanted.

“Can you set that table for three? I think I’d like to meet her,” Mateo adds, turning his attention back to the game.

I growl low in my throat, and Mateo’s eyes snap back to me, expression losing all of its teasing humor.

“She’s skittish enough around alphas, Mat. I don’t want to push it,” I return evenly.

Lucas perks up at that, concern pulling his brow low over his eyes. “She going to be okay meeting the rest of us? We are sort of a package deal.”

I sigh, looking down at my phone as it buzzes in my hand. Lydia sent a block of text explaining why the food in New Orleans is better than New York City, but I turn off my phone screen and set it on the couch for the moment. Our conversation has been light thus far, but I keep thinking back to that flinch I saw when I kissed Lydia’s hand.

“I want to take things slow. I…” I trail off with a sigh.

Ever since that first meeting, something has been nagging in my gut whenever I think about Lydia Anderson. She’s beautiful, and even our brief text conversations have been funny and flirty, but never too deep. She diverts attention whenever I ask something deeper than a superlative, and her cagey behavior should have me on edge. But instead, the only instincts I have are protective ones. I want to push, to find out why I’m having such strong feelings, but this feels delicate. One wrong move could send her running, and I don’t want that. Not when there are so many unanswered questions buzzing through my head.

Mateo’s crestfallen expression softens something in me. He’s a romantic at heart, and it’s been a while since he’s shown any interest in anything more than a one-night stand. I know that he’d do right by Lydia, but I also know that Mateo doesn’t do anything in half measures.

“Does Lex know?” Lucas asks softly, almost hesitantly.

I swallow and sigh, nodding solemnly. Lucas’s face falls, and my heart twists at the disappointment there. Mateo slumps back into the couch, his mouth pulled into a deep frown. I want to reassure them, but false hope would help no one. I understand Lex’s hesitation, even if it makes me equal parts furious and heartbroken when I think of the reason.

“She’s never going to be happy, even if this omega—”

“Lydia,” I interrupt.

Mateo nods before continuing. “Even if Lydia is the most magical unicorn omega ever, Lex is going to self-sabotage. Again. And she’ll find every excuse until the rest of us have no choice but to give up. Again.”

I snort derisively, but don’t say anything to disagree. I know she hates the nickname, but Mateo doesn’t call her the Ice Queen for nothing. And as much as she’s our friend and this pack is a partnership, at the end of the day, Lex is still the prime alpha, and we have to respect that.

“I mean… it’s still worth trying, right? Do you think there’s a shot?” Lucas asks hopefully, looking to me.

I bite my lip as I consider. That is one of the many unanswered questions floating through my head. Something in Lydia feels… different. Her eyes hold a wisdom that I don’t understand, but I want to. Desperately. There’s a rightness to this, a settled feeling in my heart that I’ve only felt three times before now. I’m not particularly superstitious, but my mother raised me on enough fairy stories to not discount fate.

My phone buzzes in my hand, and I spare a glance at the screen.

Lydia: I hope your silence is you taking the time to craft an apology for trying to say that a Po’ Boy is the same as a sub.

I smirk, shaking my head a little as I smile to myself. Every time I think I have her figured out, she does something to amaze and surprise me.

“Yeah. I think this one will be different,” I say softly, swiping my phone to start typing again.

I do have an apology to write, after all.

Ten

Lydia

I stand in front of my small bathroom mirror, trying to see as much of my outfit as I can.I’d gone through six different ones in my attempt to find something that would be first date appropriate, but not too dressy. Men just didn’t understand that “casual” wasn’t a good enough dress code description. I’d finally settled on a knee-length fit-and-flare vintage inspired dress with flats. The dress is navy blue and patterned with pink hearts, with a belt that helps define my waist. It has elbow-length sleeves and is light enough that the heat shouldn’t be a problem. I keep my makeup pretty minimal, and my hair is up in a high ponytail, a section swooped a little on my forehead in keeping with the vintage style.

I check the time and my heart rate kicks into a higher gear. Rhett would be picking me up soon. I’d spent the day cleaning my apartment, but I blame my weird hormones for that. I had no intention of bringing an alpha into this space, and especially not an alpha like Rhett. I grab my bag and lock the door behind me, going to wait near the front door of the building.

I only wait for a few minutes before I see his sleek sedan pull up to the curb. I step outside and he smiles as he sees me and jumps out of the car to come around to my side. He’s dressed in dark jeans and brown shoes, with a belt that matches. His shirt is a white button down with emerald green on the inside of the collar.

“You look beautiful, love,” Rhett gushes, looking me up and down.

I blush under his gaze, looking at my shoes. “Not too bad yourself,” I mumble with a smile.