"So, uh, do you like pumpkin spice?" The question tumbles out before I can stop it, and I immediately want to crawl under the table and die.
Everyone stares at me. Zayn looks like he's torn between laughing and strangling me. And here I was worried about him. Darren's expression is purewhat the actual fuck?
But Lexie, bless her, just smiles. "I do, actually. Fall is my favorite season. Pumpkin everything, sweaters, the whole cliché."
"Mine too," I admit, feeling my face heat up. "I mean, fall. For the... hockey."
"Right." She looks amused now, which is better than confused or uncomfortable. "Hockey season."
The second course arrives, saving me from further embarrassment. Some kind of pasta dish that I barely taste as I try to get my frenzied thoughts under control. Suddenly, the only thing I really have a taste for is pumpkin spice, but I'm pretty surethat'snot happening anytime soon as badly as we're all collectively bungling this first date.
Second, I remind myself. We stood her up for the first one.
Fuck.
Halfway through the course, Jax suddenly stands. "I'm going to check what's taking the risotto so long."
"We didn't order risotto," Zayn points out, earning himself another not-so-subtle kick under the table, this time from Jax. Little did he know he'd need shin guards for tonight even more than this morning's practice.
"Oh. Right." Zayn's eyes widen with sudden understanding. "Better go see."
He stands too, following Jax toward the door. I catch on immediately. Jax wants to talk to us, away from Darren and Lexie. Pretty easy to guess what it's about, too.
"I need to use the bathroom," I announce abruptly, standing as well. I tap Dmitri's shoulder. "Come with me."
Dmitri looks utterly confused. "Why would I?—"
"I need support," I hiss, trying to communicate with my eyes.
Dmitri blinks. "In thebathroom?"
"Yes," I grit through my teeth.
Dmitri stares at me warily, like I've lost my fucking mind, but the behemoth of a man gets up from the table and follows me.
Darren is now outright glaring at us. If looks could kill, I'd be a dead man.
Lexie looks between us, understandably bewildered. "Do alphas…usuallygo to the bathroom in a pack?" I hear her asking as we leave the table. "I thought that was more of a girl thing."
"It's an alpha thing, too," I call back, the words tumbling out in a panic. "Strength in numbers and all that."
She blinks. "Oh."
Darren's expression promises murder when we return, but I can't worry about that now. We need to regroup, figure out how to handle this impossible situation.
Dmitri follows me out, still looking confused but willing to play along. We find Jax and Zayn in a secluded alcove near the restrooms, heads bent in urgent conversation.
"Strength in numbers? Really?" Jax says as soon as we join them, running a hand through his hair.
"About as realistic as you and Zaynbothneeding to check on the nonexistent risotto," I counter.
Jax sighs heavily. "Look, clearly we're all a little flustered."
"No shit," I say, my voice pitched low despite the privacy. "Lexie is our fucking scent match. What are the odds of that?"
"About as nonexistent as the risotto," Dmitri rumbles, speaking for the first time since we left the table. "Statistical impossibility."
"Well, impossible or not, it's happening," Jax says, glancing back toward the dining room. "And we need to figure out how to handle it."
