амега (peterick)

dix-neuf.

Miraculously, my phone is still ringing by the time I shoulder the restaurant door open. Stretching the hems of my cardigan over my chest as I burst into the cool evening air, I click answer and press the receiver against my ear, beginning to pace back and forth in front of the building. "Hello?"

"Sweetie!" Allie responds. "It's been forever!"

Her heavy accent is so underlined is sounds almost British. She sounds a little bit like one of those single moms who you only ever see gabbling with the other single moms in the playground after school, all of which never realised that getting married was a total waste of time. They treat their children like lifelines, but for some reason they would also quite happily sacrifice everything to steal their friend's babies, too.

I hate walking in circles when I'm on the phone. It doesn't matter who I'm talking to, the emergency services or my own best friend, social anxiety believes that adrenaline is the only way to get through it, and therefore, I can't not walk in circles. But I hate it. Because all that adrenaline works wonders in building up more anxiety. There's no way out of it. So I find a bench in front of the restaurant window and sit there, leaning against the armrest with my legs spread along its length. Instantly, my body relaxes and my breath returns to normal, and I find the serenity to continue the conversation. "It has, hasn't it?"

Her voice becalms, from overexcited to affectionate. "How have you been, my love?"

"Pretty amazing. You actually caught me halfway through a date."

"Is it an Alpha?" she perks up.

Before long, we're gossiping as if we haven't missed each other for over five years. I chew on the tip of my thumbnail, like all teenage girls do whenever they talk about boys. "Of course It's an Alpha."

Allie gasps. "I'm so proud of you. What's their name?"

"His name is Pete." I peek through the window, where the Alpha is currently sitting at the empty table wafting his hands over the flame of the candle. He looks bored. His head then flies up to the window, and he grins at me. "He's pretty perfect," I continue, dropping my gaze shyly to my lap. "His parents are basically millionaires, and I live with him in his mansion house."

"I bet he's gorgeous."

"He's really gorgeous."

"Wonderful!" she exclaims. Allie's always been the type of person to be happy about everything. Many would think that annoying, but I don't mind it. It's better than having a friend who gets pissed at you every time you get yourself into trouble. "What's work like?" she asks. "I assume you've found a long-term placement somewhere, though I don't know why you'd still be working, now that you live with a rich man."

I hesitate a moment. "I dance. At a nightclub."

"Fancy. Do they treat you well?"

"Extremely. My boss is a Beta, but Pete's always there to keep an eye on me. There's been a few hiccups involving nasty Alphas, but that's a given. I wouldn't have met Pete, otherwise. There isn't anything else I'd rather be doing."

"Good, good," she says. "Listen, Patrick, I know it's been a while, but I've been thinking about dropping by for a visit. I'd love to see you again."

"I'd really like that, too, Al, but I have to think about Pete. I don't want to upset him." The Alpha looks annoyed enough that I've abandoned him to talk to a crazy woman. Truth be told, he knows pretty much everything about her, but I don't think he's particularly confident in meeting the woman who inspired my stripper name.

Allie scoffs playfully. "Well, you tell him there's nothing to be worried about. I know I can be a little eccentric at times, but I promise I won't do you any harm. I got engaged, by the way. To a beautiful Beta called Elara."

"Oh. Congratulations." Hell, I could have at least pretended to sound excited for her.

"Thanks. Anyway, how does this weekend sound? Assuming you're ok with me coming."

"Oh, yeah. This weekend sounds great. I'll have a look at my work schedule and text you details?"

"Brilliant, brilliant. Elara really wants to meet you, but she's been busy with wedding plans and life plans. She's already bookmarked at least four different adoption sites. There's a lovely little boy we've reserved to meet."

"Wow. You're really serious about the family thing... Do you still talk to my parents?"

"Of course, of course. Their money situation hasn't gotten any better since you left, but they're coping comfortably, and thinking of you always. Poor things can't even afford to send you a single letter in the post."

"Will you let them know I'm ok?"

"I will, darling, I will," she promises. If you couldn't already tell, Allie has a small habit of doubling up her words in the hope she'll enthuse me, but even that fails to lighten my mood. Boyfriend talk is one thing, but family talk? I try to avoid that as much as necessary. Allie can sense my discomfort, and immediately breaks down into sympathiser mode. "You should probably get back to your date," she mutters.

I sigh and gaze again at my Alpha through the window. He's starting to get agitated now, eyeing the food which has suddenly appeared on the table. "Yeah. Pete's giving me evils through the window right now."

"I can't wait to meet him," Allie says. "Stay safe, love."

"You too. See you soon."

I hang up and head back inside, and when Pete asks me what I'm smiling about as I cut into my steak, I don't say anything at all. Truthfully, Allie might be a little on the bizarre side of the crazy spectrum, but she's good at knowing when to care. And if she wants to play mother for a day, then I'm ok with that, too.