Page 33 of Knot Their Starlet

But there’s something inside me that desperately wants to help Andi. There’s an even bigger part of me that’s terrified of rejection.

It’s hard not to be when you’re as weird as I am.

Not even in a “I’m not like other guys,” kind of way, but a “my designation is so new most people don’t know what the fuck to do with me” kind of way.

Andi’s the most stunning omega I’ve ever met, and there’s something ridiculously calming about her chamomile scent. I wonder how it sweetens when she’s happy. I haven’t had the chance to see her when she’s happy yet.

I’m going to change that.

If only she would answer my texts.

I know this whole thing is supposed to be fake. It’s to make sure that she doesn’t have to go back to that ex-boyfriend of hers, but still. Is she attracted to me like I am to her? What if she’s not? What if she’s only into alphas?

“Fuuuck,” I groan, scrubbing a hand down my face. I’m driving myself crazy.

There’s a soft knock at my door.

“Yes?”

“I’ve got a pint of ice cream and your favorite blanket calling your name,” Eli says, his deep voice muffled through the door.

My eyes fall shut, and a strangled whoosh of relief leaves my lungs.

This is the Eli I know and love. Not the asshole he was to Andi.

“Come in,” I answer, flopping back into my massive bed and flinging my phone to the side.

“Hey,” Eli says, his voice soft.

“Hi.”

“It’s your favorite flavor.” Eli holds a pint of Rocky Road and a spoon in front of my face, and like a moth to a flame, it works at drawing me out of my shell.

“What about the movie?” I ask, pushing myself up against my pillows.

“Leo said he had some work to do with the legal team,” he says. “So we just thought it’d be best to save it for another night.”

He climbs into bed beside me, tucking me under his arm before he passes me the ice cream. He knows exactly what to do when I’m in a mood. I was never a big cuddler before I presented, but nowadays, when I get really freaked out, the only thing that can help me come down is physical contact.

I lean into his chest, inhaling his blood orange scent. It soothes the buzzing anxiety flowing through my body like an electric current.

“Want to talk about it?” Eli offers, tucking the fuzzy blanket around our legs.

We should probably talk about a lot more than just how I’m feeling right now, but curled up into Eli’s side, I don’t feel like touching any of it and ruining this perfect moment.

“Where has this Eli been?” I mumble around a spoonful of ice cream. “You’ve been an asshole these past few days.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” he says with a grimace. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry, too. I’ve been... kinda crazy.”

“You haven’t been that crazy.”

“Well, then I feel crazy,” I sigh, shoving another spoonful of ice cream into my mouth. “This whole omega stuff is hard to get used to. It’s only been two and a half years.”

“Yeah, I can only imagine.”

“It’s like I’m not in control the moment I get emotional,” I continue between my bites of ice cream. “I thought—I thought they’d get better after taking the clinical trial suppressants, but those haven’t even worked all the way.”