My emotions ran wild when I was near Cody.  I just couldn’t control them and I felt like a bumbling idiot when he was close enough to touch.  All I had wanted since the day I met him was for him to walk into the shelter and say the words I desperately needed to hear.  After he left the kitchen, his musk was still present, and it was stronger than the smell of whiskey on my breath.  I constantly convinced myself he wasn’t interested in me, but it didn’t keep my body from craving him when he was near.  I was jealous of Lance just because Cody had hugged him.  I knew they had a bond because Cody brought him to the shelter, but being in Cody’s arms was a gift, even if it was just platonic. 

My mind was still racing with thoughts of him when I went to bed.  It certainly didn’t help that I was close to my heat and my biological clock was ticking so fast I could almost see the hourglass running out of sand.  I finally felt the exhaustion of the day carry me off to the dream world where the only thing I cared about was my own future—I might not have Cody in the real world, but my dreams belonged to me and the fantasy I wanted.

***

“COME ON, WE ONLY HAVE a few more boxes.”  Ricky was bouncing like he normally did and he hadn’t even had coffee yet.

“Take a break, Ricky.”  Sam walked towards the truck with a box in his hand.  “There’s some leftover spinach dip in the fridge.”

“Now you’re speaking my language.”  Ricky grinned and walked into the shelter with a purpose.

“He has to be related to Popeye.”  Sam chuckled and pushed the box into the back of the moving truck.

“I doubt it.”  I shook my head back and forth.  “Popeye was definitely an alpha.”

“Yeah, and all Ricky does after he has spinach dip is eat more spinach dip.  He definitely doesn’t get any stronger.”  Lance walked towards us holding a box in his hands.

“How did you get so much stuff?”  I put my hand on the back of the truck and stared at the boxes.

“It’s all the gifts he got.”  Sam pulled himself up onto the edge of the truck and took a seat.  “I should schedule a party of my own just to collect some loot.”

“You can’t leave.”  I shook my head rapidly.  “You’re the best cook we’ve ever had.”

“I could use a roommate.”  Lance grinned.  “Especially if you cook for me.”

“You’ll have to fight Ricky for him.”  I rolled my eyes.

“Too bad you’re not my type.”  Lance blew a kiss at Sam.  “Otherwise I’d marry you.”

We finished loading the boxes and each time I walked outside, I looked over to the spot where Cody parked his ambulance, hoping I would see it there.  His job kept him busy, but he should have been done with his shift.  We walked back inside and took a break before we left, loading up on bottled water and some of the leftover snacks.  Even though my desire to see Cody was self-serving, I also knew Lance would like to have him there.  It felt like a part of the circle that would be complete with the alpha that first brought him to the shelter being there to help him settle into his new place. 

When we walked back outside, I turned my head to the left and saw the ambulance where it normally was.  My heart nearly skipped a beat when the driver side door opened and Cody stepped out.  The passenger side door and his Beta partner, Manny, walked around the side of the ambulance.  Lance walked over and got another hug before Cody even had a chance to really get his feet on the ground.

“Do you need a driver?”  Cody looked at towards the moving truck.

“Of course!”  Lance nodded quickly.

“I’m at your service.”  Cody tossed the ambulance keys to Manny.  “Make sure it gets back in once piece.”

“Have fun.”  Manny nodded and smiled as he climbed into the ambulance.

“Yay!  Muscles!”  Ricky came bouncing out of the shelter clutching the last of the spinach dip like it was manna from heaven.

“William, you ride in the truck with Cody and we’ll follow you in the car.”  Lance nudged me and smiled.

“You can ride in the truck.”  I looked towards Lance.

“No way.”  Sam shook his head.  “I need to practice driving anyway so I can get my license back.”

Before I could register another form of protest, the other omegas were filing towards the car and I was left standing next to Cody.  I walked towards the truck and he opened the door for me.  I tried to take a step and found the height more difficult than I originally expected.  Cody put his hands on my hips and lifted me into the seat with very little effort.  My face immediately flushed red as I thanked him and watched as he walked around to the driver side.  The spot where his hands touched me felt like the were burning from the contact of his hands on my body, even though he had only touched my t-shirt and jeans.  He cranked up the truck once he was seated next to me and started driving towards Lance’s new apartment.  I tried to think of something to talk about, but my words were tangled in my throat.  There were a lot of things I wanted to say, but I couldn’t even make rational thought of them.  The cab of the truck was filled with silence as we approached our destination and I felt my stomach turning to knots as I realized I had wasted an opportunity alone with Cody and didn’t utter a single word.

He probably thinks I’m the most uninteresting omega in the world.

***

“ONLY A COUPLE MORE boxes.”  Lance wiped sweat off of his brow as Cody walked past him holding one of the heavier boxes.

“You’ve got a really sweet pad, Lance.”  Ricky came down the steps and took a seat on the bottom one, unscrewing the top of his bottled water.

“Stop being lazy.”  Sam nudged Ricky as he came down the steps.  “We don’t have many more boxes to go.”

“Are all of you moving into the vacant apartment?”  I heard a rough voice call out from beside the truck and I leaned around the edge to see a rather tall alpha approaching.

“Well hello there.”  Ricky immediately stood up and smiled.  “I’m Ricky.”

“Nice to meet you, I’m Brent.”  The alpha put his hands on his hips and looked around the group.

“I’m the one moving in.  My name is Lance.”  Ricky was practically pushed out of the way as Lance moved past him and extended his hand.

Brent was tall, tanned, and absolutely gorgeous—something that all of us instantly noticed.  He had curly black hair that was styled and tucked behind his ears.  His eyes were onyx-colored and flickered in the sunlight when he saw all of the attention he was getting from the group of omegas.  I couldn’t hear exactly what everyone were saying when I walked past them with a box in my hands, but it sounded like the omegas were shamelessly flirting with the alpha. 

I carried the box to the top of the stairs and stepped into Lance’s apartment where I saw Cody leaning against the counter sipping some water.  He had removed his blue paramedic shirt and it was hard not to notice the stacked muscles pressed against his white t-shirt—especially when parts of it were drenched with sweat.  I put the box on the ground next to the others and reached for my water, sinking down into one of the chairs.  I could hear laughter lifting up from the ground below and Cody noticed it.  He tilted his head and walked towards the door, peering off the edge of the railing once he was outside.

“They met once of Lance’s neighbors.”  I turned my head and called out to Cody.

“Ah, I guess they’re done moving boxes then?”  He stepped back into the apartment and took a seat across from me.

“There’s one more left, but I’m sure one of them can get it.  I’m exhausted.  I’m sure you are as well since you worked all day.”  I smiled and lifted the water to my lips.

“Yeah.”  Cody sighed.  “It wasn’t as bad as some days, but they’re never easy.”

“Will I have any new residents joining me?”  I raised my eyebrows—technically I had an opening with Lance moving out.

“Only if they want help.”  Cody shrugged.  “I wish I could save every omega I meet out there that needs help, but some of them aren’t looking for salvation.”

“They’re lucky to have someone like you looking out for them.  My doors are always open.  You know that.”  I smiled at Cody and nodded.

“Yes.”  He returned the smile.  “Hey, I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”

“Yeah?”  My heart started to beat a little harder in my chest.

“Lance has a date!”  Ricky came bouncing into the apartment before Cody could say anything else.

“His name is Brent.  He’s a cop.  He’s awesome.”  Lance held his hand to his heart, twirled, and dropped down onto the couch.  “I’m in love.”

“Got anything to drink around here besides water?”  Sam walked towards the kitchen.  “This calls for a celebration.”

“Check the box labeled kitchen.”  Lance sat up.  “There is a bottle of wine in the gift basket Solomon gave me.”

There was happiness all around me, but my eyes were locked on Cody.  Even with their interruption, the only thing I really wanted to hear was what he wanted to ask me.  If he was finally going to ask me out, I didn’t want to waste the moment.  I had waited so long for him to finally make a move and it felt like it was about to happen.  Sam found the bottle of wine and started setting up glasses in front of him when he popped the cork.  Cody stood up and stretched, reaching for his shirt.  It took me a second to realize that he was planning to leave.  My heart sank into my stomach and I cursed the distraction in my mind, even if I wasn’t actually angry at Lance for getting asked out on a date.  Sam started handing out glasses, but Cody declined.  I took my glass absently as I watched Cody take a step towards the door.  I immediately stood up, not wanting him to go, but struggling to find anything that I could say in the middle of the commotion.

“I’ll take the truck back.”  Cody waved to the crowd.  “Lance, congratulations on your new apartment and I hope Brent is the alpha of your dreams.”

“Thank you for your help, Cody.”  Lance ran over and gave Cody a hug before the alpha started walking towards the door.

“Wait...”  I followed Cody outside, finally regaining my senses.  “You wanted to ask me something?”

“I’ll catch up with you later.  Maybe I’ll stop by tomorrow.”  He waved over his shoulder and started walking down the steps.

I was left with the suspense of what he wanted to ask me dangling in my mind.  I watched until he reached the bottom of the stairs and stepped up into the truck.  The engine roared to life and he waved one more time before he left, and I held my hand up in response.  I didn’t understand why it was so difficult for some alphas to make a move.  I was so used to aggressive alphas that didn’t want to take no for an answer that Cody’s apprehension was confusing.  He had plenty of opportunities in the last couple of years, but he never made his move.  I felt like we had gotten closer to that moment than ever before, but the rug was ripped out from under us before he could ever say the words.  I walked back into the apartment and picked up my glass of wine, drinking it quickly and refilling my glass.  Lance was over the moon and the other omegas were so excited that they didn’t notice the gloom in my face.  I finally forced a smile and started celebrating with them.  Lance deserved happiness and I was determined to be supportive, even if I was struggling with my own love life at the moment.