“N-No! I was standing on the pavement with mum. She was talking to a friend, and I was standing around holding the shopping bags like a complete moron. The guy just came out of nowhere and side-swiped the car. I think he was drunk.”
“That sucks. Was it badly damaged?”
“Yeah. The whole of the driver’s side was completely caved in. Definitely a write-off.”
“Damn. Well, I’m glad you and your mum are okay.”
He thought about how to broach the subject of Patrick without sounding overbearing. Eventually he settled on, “Has she calmed down with her match-making efforts?”
Pember groaned. “If only. Since my sister moved to the city she’s doubled down. There was this random alpha walking out of the police station today. Mum obviously clocked that he wasn’t wearing a wedding ring, so she practically pushed me into him just so we’d have to talk. Don’t get me wrong, he was good looking and all that, and I think his lanyard said he was a social worker, but myGod, he was so pushy. Couldn’t get his number into my hand quick enough. They’re all a bit like that, I suppose.”
Oliver’s heart sank, because Pember’s mother had no idea the danger she was putting her son in. “Y-Yeah. Hey, listen Pember. Be careful, okay? Don’t put yourself in risky situations just to please your mum.” He felt like a total fraud, giving a grown man advice that he would rarely abide by himself. “If you don’t like that guy, then don’t feel you need to contact him. Just throw his number away.”
The omega let out a surprised hum. “Ollie, are you telling me to throw it away, or?—”
Oliver could tell him to, and he’d probably do it too. But it was Pember’s life, and the boy had experienced enough over-bearing alphas already. But,man, he wanted to tell him just how much of a twat Patrick was.
“No. I’m just asking you to be safe.”
Had the conversation been the other way around, Oliver would be rolling his eyes and scoffing up a storm. However, Pember sounded genuinely grateful. “Thank you, Ollie. Wait, can I call you Ollie?”
“Sure.”
“Okay! Anyway… sorry, I got carried away talking about myself. What can I do for you?”
They chatted back and forth for a good thirty minutes, and Oliver found himself pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to actually have a conversation with someone outside of the police. He had next to no friends that weren’t police officers, and they’d always end up talking shop—no matter the social setting. Plus, his profession made him naturally suspicious of strangers, which never helped when trying to make non-police friends.
Pember talked about all the jobs he’d applied for, and Oliver gave him unsolicited advice about how to appear more confident in interviews. “Honestly, Pem, I’ve interviewed some right prats. The trick is to always maintain eye contact. Don’t cross your legs and lean forward if you can. Nothing throws people off like listening to every word they say.”
Pember chuckled. “Thanks, Ollie. But I think that might work better on criminals than scientists.”
“Nah. You need tosteerthe conversation, make them answer toyou.”
Then the omega was properly laughing, and Oliver padded to the kitchen to fetch himself a cup of tea. “You really are a police officer, through and through. Aren’t you?”
“Yeah. Sorry.”
“Don’t apologise, I like it.”
Even over the noise of the kettle, Oliver heard the suggestive edge to the comment. “Speaking of which—” Pember continued, voice growing quiet. “O-Ollie, are you seeing anyone at the moment?”
Oliver swallowed as he poured the water into a flowery mug that had “Fresh out of fucks” written in looping gold letters.Christ,he really had an astounding selection of stupid mugs.Sighing, he leant against the countertop. “I… kinda. It’s complicated, but yeah.”
Saying it out loud made him shiver.
Pember huffed, as though he had been holding his breath. “That’s good, Ollie. That’s great. He’s a lucky man.” If he was trying to hide the disappointment in his voice, he was doing a terrible job.
Oliver chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck. “How do you know it’s a ‘he’?”
“O-Oh, well, I don’t really. Perhaps I’m wrong, but I kinda assumed it was that big guy that came and got you from the coffee shop. He gave me a death stare to end all death stares when I said about my number. You wouldn’t have seen it because your back was to him.”
Oliverhadseen it, and he flushed at the memory. Had Lucasactuallybeen jealous? He’d made a back-handed comment about them having breakfast together, but Oliver assumed he’d been joking.
“Sorry about that. He looks mean, but he’s not a brute. In fact, he’s pretty funny when you get to know him.”
“That’s good. You deserve someone who can make you smile. You’re so funny, and kind, and handsome. O-Oh shit, sorry. I shouldn’t be saying that to someone who’s taken.”
Now Oliver really was blushing.Taken. The word sounded funny in the context of his own love life.
