snorted. “No, I’m aiming for friendly and understanding, not weird and likely to kill me in my sleep.”
“And you say you didn’t get your parents’ imaginations.” Rowan grinned. “So which one?”
I’d seen Dakota talking to a few people, but I wasn’t sure who would be more receptive. Austin seemed to be the one who would most likely be able to talk Dakota into something insane, but that probably wasn’t what I needed to aim for.
“The quiet one.” I looked around the room, searching for the quiet omega he’d been laughing with earlier. “Dakota was talking to someone who had to be a good friend earlier. It was one of the only times he smiled since he got here. Gotcha.”
Over in the corner, looking like he was trying to hide from everyone, was the guy he’d been talking to. “Wish me luck.”
Rowan giggled and shoved me toward the corner. “I’m the one who needs luck. Now that we’ve talked, every alpha in here is going to think we’re dating or something.”
I snorted. “I don’t date crazy.”
I was aiming for creative and unique.
More quiet giggles followed me as I started weaving my way through the room. When a friend of a friend had invited me, I’d assumed it was some kind of joke at first, but after a bit of cajoling from him, I’d agreed to at least show up. From the crowd in the room, it looked like more than a few people had taken the plunge too.
But I hadn’t relaxed any when I’d gotten to the private gate and had been grilled by a huge fucking alpha who was taking security very seriously. After listing off who I was and who’d invited me and explaining that I was there to visit a good friend—the code to get into the party—I was eventually let in.
I had to stop complaining, though, when I realized whose house we’d been invited to.
Thankfully, all the photographers who’d been following him around lately were distracted by some kind of surprise movie release party that was happening a few hours away. I didn’t follow the celebrities that were in the movie, but according to some gossip at the party, Austin might have asked for help distracting the paparazzi.
Dakota lived in the strangest world.
He made my parents and their friends look sane, so it was impressive.
The quiet omega’s eyes started to widen as I walked closer, and he seemed to be deciding if he wanted to duck behind a potted tree in the corner. Since I didn’t look like some kind of troll, I guessed it wasn’t me specifically that made him nervous.
Getting closer, I raised my hands. “Not going to flirt or ask weird questions about your personal life or about Austin’s personal life. We’ve all seen that on TV lately.”
The omega chuckled quietly, nodding as he patted the couch beside him. “Have a seat. I didn’t mean to be rude.”
I grinned. “It would take more than a game of hide-and-seek to make anyone here question your behavior.”
He gave a low laugh and scanned the room. “But everyone has been very nice.”
“They’re on their best behavior and a few people seem to be worried that they’re dreaming. Earlier, I passed two alphas who pinched each other and were nodding like ‘See, it’s real.’” I smiled as the guy gave a sweet grin.
“So I wanted to introduce myself and ask for help with Dakota.” Might as well get that out in the open. “I’m Tristan and a few weeks ago I started emailing Dakota. He’d put out an ad for an assistant to help with the business side of his work. From what I understand, with everything going on he realizes he’s taking up too much of Jonah’s time.”
The omega nodded and seemed to relax as I confirmed that I didn’t have any interest in him. “I’m Wade. It’s nice to meet you.”
“I saw you talking to Dakota earlier and I figured anyone who could actually make him relax and smile had to be a good friend.”
Wade laughed, nodding. “Guilty as charged.”
Not wanting to get sidetracked, I continued. “Well, he got distracted and forgot to respond to my email. I was planning on poking him online, but I saw him here today. That seems to have made him…uncomfortable.”
Wade giggled. “Let me guess. He was a bit flustered after realizing that you know a lot more about him than he’d probably intended on telling you, and the fact that you’re…very attractive didn’t help either.”
“Right on the money.” I sighed