“You really have the nerve to ask your ex-wife for a coffee while you tell her about your little one-night stand.”
Although the woman's voice sounded quite forceful, her expression as she brought the coffee cup to her mouth was quite calm. Soon, a slight smile peeked out as she looked at Mark. It was obvious that she was just teasing him.
“It's not like you have feelings for me, Amy. There never were.”
Mark's voice sounded quite irritated, Amy, who smiled widely this time, internally rejoiced at her success in making him angry.
“You're right, there is probably no worse fraud than our marriage.” Mark nodded slightly as he sipped his tea and Amy, satisfied with her little mischief, returned to the main theme of their meeting: “I don't understand why you worry so much about it. It's just a one night stand, what's wrong with it? You are a dominant alpha at the end of the day, it is implicitly forgiven that you are sleeping with whatever omega you meet. You really have a pretty weak conscience.”
Mark was quite embarrassed to explain to Amy the reason for his concern. However, it seemed that she was already getting an idea of that reason so she started laughing.
“Oh my god Mark... don't tell me that you... fell in love with that omega?!” Mark avoided her gaze and looked quite embarrassed at her question, so Amy took that reaction as a yes. “One night, Mark. You only saw him one night, and I can assure you that both of you spent more time moaning and sweating than having a normal conversation, how can you fall in love?”
“I'm not sure if I'm in love… I thought what you just said, how can I be in love? It was only one night… I barely know his name. But still… I don't know why I can't get him out of my mind. Amy, you know me well, we practically grew up together. You know I'm not a man of romance or sex. You said yourself that I am the most boring dominant alpha in the world. If you think about it, it's quite strange.”
“It certainly is,” Amy admitted, shrugging. “But why do you think it is love? You were technically a virgin of sex with omegas. Wouldn't it be easier to think that you only think about him because you really loved having sex with him?”
Amy's words caused doubts in Mark. Was it really like that? Couldn't he get Chris out of his mind just because he loved having sex with him? Was it just part of his alpha instinct that he was looking forward to seeing him again?
“Your sister once said: «Once you taste an omega, you can't stop desiring them. Omega pheromones are like a hard drug to quit». Remember? I was there that day, I remember it well. Your sister wanted to introduce you to an omega for you to marry but in the end you ended up marrying me.”
“And you became my sister's lover. So her words backfired in the end.”
Amy smirked arching an eyebrow at being exposed.
“So you knew.”
“Jean made sure to make it obvious.”
“And do you think our relationship will last, that I will marry her and be happy forever?” A bitter smile emerged on Amy's face. “Jean is a dominant alpha just like you. Soon an omega will appear with his beautiful pheromones and will end up taking her away from me. I know and I'm ready for it. Why do you think I never fell in love with you? Besides being a boringly old-fashioned man, you are an alpha. There is no room for a beta like me in this world of alphas and omegas.”
The words couldn't get out of Mark's mouth. He was silent for a moment and felt sincere sadness for his friend. Jean was his sister but she was quite different from him. She was the typical stereotype of a dominant alpha and that was why they could never get along.
“Then you are not in love,” he confirmed after deliberating on his thoughts. Although internally Mark had many doubts about Amy's feelings.
“No, it's just sex.” Amy tried to look carefree and even a little cynical. At first glance it was believable, but Mark knew that behind that mask was a heart that was being hurt. He wanted to tell her to stay away from his sister, but he also knew that it was impossible for Amy to listen to him. She was a woman who liked to give advice, but at the same time, she was very bad at following it. Amy realized that Mark was not fully swallowing her words so she continued: “...And probably what's going on between you and that omega is also sex.”
Mark considered those last words. That idea wasn't entirely far-fetched, and it even made more sense than thinking that he was in love with Chris. How can love be born between two people who only saw each other one night? Was it even possible? But even though he was faced with all the most coherent possibilities, a part of him refused to accept that his interest in Chris was only for their sexual encounter. There must be something else, but love? Isn't that a childish possibility?
“So what am I supposed to do now?”
Amy sighed, finishing her cup of coffee. “You have to make sure if it's really just your alpha instinct asking for omegas.”
“I'm not going to sleep with omegas like it's some kind of sport. I am not like my sister.” Mark immediately regretted mentioning that detail about her sister. However, although Amy evidently reacted to his words, she decided to ignore him.
“I know you won't, Mark. But that was not what I meant. Just open up to omegas. Get to know them… I'm pretty sure there's an omega out there just as boring and old-fashioned as you. If you hold on to that omega you met in Las Vegas, it will be worse for you, only with a lucky strike would you meet him again. Now that you are returning to New York, you have the opportunity to meet new people.”
“I do not know…”
“Just…” Amy sighed a little on the verge of losing her patience, and continued, “Just let yourself go. Stop being so… reserved. You may end up in love for real, who knows?”
Mark's sigh was long. He didn't look too convinced to find another omega other than Chris, but Amy was right, it was highly unlikely to find him again. It had to be fate if he really saw him again...
“I suppose I will not dwell on the matter any more and just let things happen by themselves.”
“Seems right to me.”
Then they took that issue for granted.
As the talk grew quieter and the sky darkened, Mark tried to relax his mind. Talking to Amy had done his good, but he couldn't lie saying that all his doubts were cleared. It sounded so bad, but maybe meeting another omega could get Chris out of his head. Although… his stubborn side refused to forget him.
Could he really forget him?
“When are you going back to New York?” Amy asked, pulling his car keys out of his purse.
“Tomorrow afternoon. I have to be there soon, since I have an interview for Time magazine.”
“After years of keeping your face anonymous, now you will be on the cover of Time, who would have thought.”
Mark scratched his head a little uncomfortable. “The pressure of winning a Pulitzer made me do it. There will already be photos of me out there thanks to the award ceremony, making my face official isn't something bad.”
“I guess you couldn't resist being on the cover of a major magazine either.”
“I accepted for the interview. They are interested in my work and I really want to boost what I do.”
Amy smiled widely at Mark's great enthusiasm. He really was a good man. If only she had fallen for him instead of her sister...
“A dominant alpha who is harshly critical of alpha behavior. What a character.”
Mark laughed. “Drive carefully, Amy. I'm glad I saw you and that you had time to listen to me.”
“What can I say? We are a cool ex-couple.” Amy opened her car door, but before getting in, she looked at Mark to say goodbye. “Have a nice trip, Mark.”
“Take care, Amy.”
Mark wanted to add a “be wary of my sister”, but before he decided, Amy's car had already driven away.
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