Page 4 of Faking It with the Omega

“What were you picturing?” I ask. He hesitates, so I quickly add, “You don’t have to tell me. Just curious what lit that fire. Someone better watch their back.”

He huffs a bitter laugh, dragging his arm away from his eyes to stare up at the ceiling.

“It’s a cheesy answer,” he says.

“I’m a cheesy guy,” I grin.

He blows out a heavy breath. “My dad.”

I let out a low hum. “Yeah, that is cheesy.”

“Fuck off.” He elbows me lightly, and Jesus Christ, why is that enough to make my cheeks hot?

“What did ol’ pops do to deserve all those hits?” I ask gently.

“Got off the phone with him about an hour ago,” Aiden says, using the back of his hand to wipe sweat from his forehead and hauling himself up so he’s sitting. “It’s my sister’s engagement party this weekend. He called me to ask if I was bringing a date, although he laughed down the phone before I could actually answer. I think his exact words were ‘you and I both know no self-respecting alpha wants an omega who looks like he could bench press them’.” He lets out a bitter laugh. “That was the gist of it, anyway. You’d think I’d be used to it by now. It’s been the running joke of the family since I had a growth spurt when I was fifteen.”

The hurt in his voice makes something ugly flare in my chest, and hearing him try to brush it off only makes it worse. There’s not much I won’t laugh off with humor, but this is one of those rare situations.

“You know that’s bullshit, right, Aid?” I say.

“I don’t know.” He rubs a mark on the mat with his shoe, still avoiding my gaze. “It’s not entirely bullshit. I don’t have a date. Haven’t even been on a date in nearly three years, and that’s not even mentioning actual relationships.”

I look at the shape of his profile, and the strong lines of his body, and find that almost impossible to believe.

“Relationships are overrated. I make it a personal rule never to go past the first date—strictly by choice, mind you. Takes all the pressure off,” I say, flashing him a wink.

He drags a hand over his face. “Maybe you’re right. Ugh, it’s so dumb,” he groans. “It’d just be nice to prove them wrong for once, you know?”

“So find a date,” I say. “Shouldn’t be hard, a strapping young omega like you.”

He rolls his eyes at me. “Sure. I hear family functions make ideal first dates.”

“Fair point,” I laugh, stretching out my legs. “Okay. So borrow me.”

Aiden tilts his head in my direction, giving me a sardonic look. “Very funny, Jed.”

“What? I’m serious!” I say, because I am. If I can’t ask him out on a real date, why not a fake one? “You can tell your dad I’m an investment banker with a huge property portfolio and a Porsche if you like. And I look great in a button-down.”

He frowns at me like he’s still trying to figure out if I’m messing with him or not. I stare back. “You’re actually serious?”

“Dead serious”

For a second, his mouth twitches like he’s on the verge of smiling, and I’m sure his cheeks weren’t that flushed a minute ago. But then the ghost of a smile fades, his eyes clouding with that same bitterness I’ve been hearing in his voice all night. “I don’t need a pity date, Jed. But thanks.”

I turn to face him squarely. “Will there be free food?”

“Yes.”

“Drinks?”

“Most likely.”

“And obviously the company will be unmatched,” I grin.

“That part’s debatable.”

I ignore him, whipping him with my towel instead. “Sounds like a good time to me. I kind of can’t believe you didn’t invite me already.”