CHAPTER 37: TRYING TO TURN ME INTO A BOOTY CALL?

Loud laughter comes from a booth table near the window. Roxanne and Jessie drink together, talking among themselves, while the younger men sit separately away from them.

"You go to SU, too?" Leo gasps. He slaps the surface of the table and leans forward, his blue eyes wide with interest. "What do you major in?"

Ethan nods his head and takes a sip of his beer. It’s not uncommon for those in the area to go to SU since the campus is nearby. Is that why Beck started staying and working with his uncle?

"Ah," Beck rubs the back of his neck and leans back in his chair, "I’m studying to become a doctor." His voice comes out timid.

"Oh wow," Ethan’s eyebrows raise in surprise. The beta glances at Leo who narrows his eyes at Beck and nods his head.

"So, you’re smart smart." The omega sighs and slouches back. "I wish I was as smart as that. Can you imagine me in a coat? I’d be so hot."

Ethan snorts, "Ignore him. Leo is doing fashion." He nudges Leo’s shoe with his own, but the omega only pouts. "Don’t let him fool you. He wouldn’t trade out style for anything else in the world."

"He’s right, I wouldn’t." Leo snickers, his mood suddenly shifting. "He knows me so well." Then his eyes widens and he’s bouncing in his chair, "Ethan used to study business at SU. He’s super smart too. Probably not doctor smart, but hella smart." Leo says matter-of-factly.

"Used to?" Beck asks, turning his eyes to Ethan.

"Ah," the beta chuckles awkwardly, "I dropped out to help my mom." Ethan drinks and then sets the can of beer down. "The restaurant is a family business, so I couldn’t just let it go down."

"Ah." Beck cringes, "That’s rough, I’m sorry."

"Oh," Ethan waves him off, "It’s fine. It’s not all that bad. The reason I went to college in the first place was for the restaurant."

Beck nods And then clears his throat. His gaze shifts from Leo to Ethan, and then he says, "I was going to ask for your number, but maybe it’s a bad time now?"

Ethan’s eyebrows raise, "No, it’s fine." He says. He pulls his phone out of his pocket and passes it to Beck. "Might as well." Since he has Zander’s now. His contacts list seems to be growing by the day. Not that he’s complaining. It feels good to make friends.

Just as Beck passes it back, the screen flashes and it rings. Noticing the name that popped up on the screen, Ethan steps away from the table and excuses himself to answer it.

"You seem to have a habit of contacting me late at night." Ethan says as a greeting. There’s a moment of pause before he continues. "Are you trying to turn me into a booty call?" His eyebrows raise.

"What?" Laughter blares through the ear piece and Ethan cringes back. He holds the phone away from him, and when the laughter slows, he brings it back to his ear. "I can barely kiss you, how could I -"

"Maybe you shouldn’t finish that sentence." Ethan chuckles. He reaches up to smooth his eyebrow, "It was a joke."

Zander hums, the sound soft and deep. I’m after you. The memory comes at the worst time. Ethan’s heart stutters in his chest, he has the sudden urge to hang up on him, but doesn’t.

"Have you been drinking?" The alpha asks, his voice deep through the phone.

Ethan hums, "A little."

"Can I join?" Zander asks. "I happen to be right outside."

Ethan’s breath hitches and he glances at the front door of the restaurant. Zander waves through the window. The beta hangs up and unlocks the door for him. Zander’s black hair is ruffled over his forehead, his green eyes rimmed with purple shining from the light above them. He’s wearing a thick sweater and jeans, all designer brand if Ethan had to guess.

"We’re kind of celebrating." Ethan explains as he glances back at the two sperate tables.

"Celebrating what?" Zan asks as he follows his gaze.

"Uh, mom got an investment offer." Ethan shares the news. "We just passed on the papers a while ago."

"Wow, that’s great!" Zander smiles. He steps further inside, "Let me go congratulate her." He spins on his heel, his dark hair swishing around his ears, and heads to the table where Roxanne and Jessie talk.

Ethan watches as Zander bends down to hug his mom, his much bigger and broader frame nearly engulfing her. When Zander is done talking with them, he follows Ethan to the other table.

"This is my friend Leo," Ethan gestures to the blonde who snacks on chips, "and this is Beck."

Leo blinks up at the dominant alpha, "Woah, you’re aura is no joke." He mutters beneath his breath. He shifts further away from him, his finger raising to rub his nose. He sniffs and then cringes. He glances at Ethan, his eyes screaming for attention. Why the hell is Zander here?!

"Zander Harlight." The alpha introduces himself. He forces a smile and shakes the omegas hand. Leo tries his best to act like he’s unaffected by him, but it’s harder than he thought. Why are his pheromones so aggressive?

"Harlight?" Beck gasps, his eyes going wide as he scans Zander up and down. "Like, Harlight from Phera Perfumes?"

"Yeah." Zander nods his head. He clears his throat, gives the second beta a dismissive look and then turns to Ethan. "What are your plans for the restaurant?"

"Hmm?" Ethan raises an eyebrow and opens his mouth to spew everything he thought they could improve on.

"No, nope." Leo raises his hand to block Ethan’s face and then shakes his head. "We’re not going to talk about that, right now. We’re celebrating, not working, Zander. So choose a different topic."

"Really?" The alpha glances at Ethan who ends up nodding in agreement.

"Drink, no work." Ethan says. He hiccups.

"Wow, that was a simple sentence." Leo laughs. He leans forward as if he’s going to tell a secret, "He gets quiet when he’s drunk. Like Kevin from The Office when he goes, ’Why talk much when few do trick’. It’s hilarious!"

"I don’t think I ever heard of a quiet drunk." Beck chuckles. He reaches for a convenience store bag and pulls out a water bottle. "I’ve seen loud and chaotic and sick, but never quiet." He sets the drink in front of Ethan.

"Haha," Beck leans closer to his fellow beta and pokes him in the cheek. Boop. "We should definitely hang out more often."

"Next door. It’s fine." Ethan replies. He waves away Becks hand, his gaze drifting to the alpha who watches him.

"Next door?" Zander frowns.

Leo nods his head, "Yup! He’s the nephew of the owner next door."