When June kissed December (Completed)

Bonus chapter. Part 3

"Why are you silent?"

"What shall I say?"

"You know best, Arm."

After receiving a silent invitation to go into the small kitchen of Arm's rented apartment, Pete notices the modest surroundings, but he doesn't care much about it. He is much more uncomfortable from the pallor on the face of his alpha friend and the longing in his eyes.

"Did you come because I blacklisted your number?"

"Well, this is at least one of the reasons."

Arm smiles weakly and shakes his head. Then Pete takes matters into his own hands again:

"You know, when someone on a skate playground or at school made stupid jokes into my direction, you just had to look in his direction to make the desire to joke disappear forever. And during the first time of my marriage, I missed you and our friendship more than anything in the world. So what has happened to my best friend right now that he didn't find the courage to share with me?"

The alpha gets up from the table, but Pete grabs his elbow, forcing him to go back:

"No, Arm. You're not going to escape."

"I wasn't going to. Just wanted to turn the kettle on."

"Later. We'll talk first."

There is a pause for a couple of minutes, then Pete tilts his head, looking at the alpha from under his brows:

"Hey, what happened to you, huh? Tell me."

Arm squeezes his lower lip, but is still silent.

"Uh, okay. Then I start putting forward versions myself," Pete shrugs. "Did you like another omega, but didn't have the courage to confess to Macau? And in view of the fact that we are relatives, you also decided to kick me off your life at the same time?"

Arm's eyebrows instantly rise to his forehead. He adjusts his glasses, and then the whole face is distorted by a grimace. Like he's about to throw up:

"What else will you say?.. Another... what sort of 'another'?"

"Well, I don't know how it really is with you. And please don't blame Macau. He would never have told me himself. I insisted. And not because I fucking want to get into someone else's life and others' relationships. But the thing is, you're not strangers to me. And I can't calmly watch both of you fade away."

"There is no other omega."

"Mmm... just lost interest in Macau? Then tell him honestly about it. But not by text-message. Personally. He'd rather get over it now, but knowing exactly what's going on."

"I haven't lost interest. I love Macau. And I want to be with him. But I can't."

Pete exhales. But the last words are alarming:

"Why?"

"Can't you guess?"

"No," Pete says, genuinely puzzled.

"Look around."

"What for?"

"Pete, we've known each other for almost five years, three of which we've been dating. Everything is going to... you know what step. And I would really like to hear him say "yes" and put a ring on his finger. But what can I give him? For these four years, I've managed to earn enough to rent a small apartment in the most unsightly area. I'm still a junior in our IT-company, although I know I'm doing my best. Tell me, is Macau used to living in such conditions in your husband's house? Yes, he is studying now, living on campus. But then what? Even if he doesn't say it right away, he will feel the difference. And it will definitely not be in my favor."