Amusing You - Claire Cullen Page 0,24

being straight with his best friend, but he hated even more the idea that William would drop everything and run the second the truth came out.

“Because it’s new, and it may not go anywhere. The less enmeshed we are in each other’s lives, the easier it’ll be on everyone if it doesn’t work out. We have close friends in common; neither of us wants any major fallout.”

Zac stared at him for a long moment.

“Are you sure that’s all it is?”

“What other reason would there be? William’s a good guy, you know that. But we’re sort of an odd pair, wouldn’t you say? People are quick to judge, and I don’t feel we should have to expose ourselves to that.”

“No,” Zac said quickly, settling a hand on Harper’s arm. “You shouldn’t. What happens between you and William is no one’s business but the two of yours. And I understand why you wanted to keep it quiet. How long has it been going on though?”

“Uh… about a month.” He and William had agreed to keep to the truth as much as possible.

“What about your whole muse plan?”

Harper shrugged. “It didn’t work out. I’m not sure I was the kind of omega they were looking for.”

Zac let out a breath and smiled. “I’m glad to hear that. At first, I thought it would be good for you. But you just hear so many stories about exploitation and manipulation. I have no doubt you’d have been a great muse, but it’s a weight off my mind to know that you didn’t go through with it.”

Guilt settled like lead in Harper’s stomach. “Maybe someday, just not right now. Besides, William is more than enough to keep me occupied.”

Zac grinned at him. “Speaking of occupied, you and he must be excited for next week.”

“Next week?” Harper frowned. “What’s happening next week?”

Zac’s grin became a look of bemusement. “Your heat, unless your cycle has gone way out of whack. I mean, it’s barely fifty degrees out there and you’re wearing a light sweater. If that’s not a sign, then I don’t know what is.”

Harper glanced down at himself in horror and grabbed for his phone, checking his calendar. Zac was right, he was pre-heat this week. Hell, he’d already booked the following week off work for it. How had he forgotten? Well, no, he knew how he’d forgotten. A certain alpha had kept him a little busy trying to keep up the pretense that they were in a relationship.

“It slipped my mind,” he said weakly. “It’s been so busy.”

“Well, make sure to mention it to William. I might have let it slip to Beckett earlier, and he’s perfectly happy to pick up the slack while William’s with you.”

“We’re taking it slow,” Harper blurted out. “So he probably won’t…”

“Are you saying you and he haven’t…? After a month? That’s not slow for you Harper, that’s glacial. And I know how much you hate going through a heat alone, especially off meds. I’m sure if you talked to William, you two would be on the same page. He’d at least keep you company, stop you spinning too far out of orbit.”

While Zac had a history of horrifically out of control heats, Harper’s problem was the emotional burden of them. When he had sex to keep him distracted, it was all well and good. When he didn’t… well, let’s just say they didn’t call post-heat ‘the black pit of despair’ for no reason.

Zac looked concerned then, and Harper scrambled to fix the hole he’d dug for himself.

“It’s just different with William. But I will talk to him about it, I promise.”

He would, at the very least, have to explain that he’d be occupied for the week. Inspire Inc. would probably do that for him, but now that they were ‘dating,’ he had to keep up appearances. And couples talked about these things.

“Good. Great.” Zac’s expression softened. “Henry’s gone right to sleep. You’re a natural at this.”

“Just good timing,” Harper retorted in a whisper. “The grim reaper could be holding him right now and he’d be fast asleep.”

“Don’t sell yourself short. You’re good with kids.”

“I’m no nanny. Not like you.” He liked kids in small doses.

“I’m not talking about being a nanny, I’m talking about being a dad. I think it would suit you more than you realize.”

“And I think no alpha in their right mind would want to settle down with me. Like I said, duck, I’m not marriageable material.” Experience had taught him that just a little too well.

“William