Page 20 of Galaxy Between Us

“Why would I be flirting with you? You haven’t exactly been the most charming to me.”

“Haven’t I?” he chirps smugly.

I can’t help the blush that takes over my face. Equal parts fluster and anger. No way am I being flirty with Brock of all people!

The rest of our library session is awkward to say the least. Brock doesn’t let me help him read but also doesn’t stop me when I snag a few textbooks myself. I jot down notes and place bookmarks on anything that may be useful to him. Instead of giving them to him directly, I have to set them aside on the table until he eventually grabs them. It’s the only way he’ll accept the help I’m not sure why I’m even offering.

He’s got the stubbornness of an Alpha. So much so that I nearly forget he isn’t one each time I tilt my head in submission and he doesn’t respond. He does pin me with a rather hungry glare every time that gives me goosebumps.

Why do I react so strongly to him? First, the pretty Omega in the cafeteria and now Brock? I must be around my time of heat which is going to be really annoying for the next few days.

The next morning, I’m woken up by someone banging at my door.

“Just a sec!” I call out, battling my blanket to let me out of bed. I nearly trip over my own legs as I tumble to the door. I must look a sight, but whatever it is, might be urgent. I'm out of breath by the time I swing the door open.

“Sorry, I was just– Brock? What’re you doing in the Omega’s hall?” I cross my arms over my chest.

“Get dressed. We’re going to breakfast,” he says plainly, as if he hadn’t just woken me up like an earthquake. I eye him suspiciously as he leans on the door frame with a cool aura about him.

“Um. Okay… Give me a minute.”

He nods so I close the door. What could this be about? Am I in trouble? I wonder about it as I hastily throw on my uniform and lab coat. My closet-sized dorm allows everything to be within arm’s length, so I’m done in no time.

“Ready,” I announce, swinging the door open. His eyes travel up and down my body, making me shiver.

“Yeah you are.”

“Brock,” I level with him as sternly as I can muster.

“Omega.”

“This isn’t a date.”

“Hey,” he puts his hands up in mock surrender. “No one said anything about a date.”

“Mhm.” My tone is suspicious.

I start toward the cafeteria and he follows. This is strange. Brock doesn’t like me so why is he taking me on definitely-not-a-date?

“You really don’t like me, huh?” he breaks the silence.

I pause and look back at him.

“I don’t like you? You’re the one who doesn’t like me!” I counter.

“What, because I’m a Beta I can’t be into an Omega?” he growls as we enter the cafeteria and hop in line. A few Omegas stare a little too long when they see Brock. I can’t even imagine how unkempt I must look beside his toned and tanned body. I haven’t been getting much sun exposure working the lab all day.

“It’s not because you’re a Beta. I don’t discriminate like that. It’s because you’re mean to me, Brock. How would I know that meant you were into me?”

He rubs the back of his neck as if this is the first time he’s thought about how being a jerk can make someone dislike you.

“Alphas treat Omegas like shit all the time and they still win all the good ones,” he grumbles.

I’m surprised by his openness. Hell, I’m surprised by my openness. Since when do me and Brock have conversations? We shuffle along the breakfast line with our trays, filling them as we go.

“You think I’m one of the good ones?”

He looks down at me like I’ve grown a second head.