Chapter Sixteen
“Road trip!”
Liam woke to Ollie bouncing on the end of his bed. “It’s time to go.”
He went from sleepy to wide awake in seconds.
“Now?”
“Soon. You have enough time to shower and have some breakfast. We don’t want to keep Eve waiting.”
Ollie vaulted off the bed and landed on the floor. “I’m making pancakes. Don’t be long.”
Liam lay there for another minute, thinking about the words he and Jensen had shared the day before and the day that lay ahead of them. It would be his first time stepping foot out of the den since he’d collapsed, broken and bleeding, on their doorstep. But Jensen was coming with them and Liam knew as long as the alpha was there, he’d be safe.
After washing up and having a breakfast of pancakes, bacon, and maple syrup, he helped Ollie and Davyn load the last of their bags into the car. Eve arrived and started directing people. Jensen got there a minute later, a first aid kit in his hand.
“Always be prepared,” he said to Liam with a wink, packing it into the trunk.
Davyn stormed by. “I’m driving.”
“Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed,” Ollie said brightly. “I call shotgun. You guys can sit in the back.”
Liam wasn’t complaining about that. From the grin Jensen sent his way, the alpha wasn’t either.
They set off as soon as Eve gave them the okay.
“You’ve been in a car before, right?” Jensen asked him in an undertone when Liam grabbed his hand as they started moving.
“Um, yeah.” Nevan had brought him with him when he’d visited other packs. Of course, Nevan had always made Liam kneel on the floor and never allowed him to sit on the seats. It made for an uncomfortable ride. Not as bad as the time Nevan had made him ride in the trunk. With a little shudder, he pushed that memory from his mind. Jensen’s large hand surrounded his and Liam turned his attention to the alpha.
They chatted quietly in the back as Davyn turned on the radio, music filtering through the speakers. Ollie was singing along, even dancing in his seat. Davyn rolled his eyes at his brother’s antics but tapped his fingers on the steering wheel in time to the music.
The drive took almost two hours. They went from quiet country roads to busier streets, to built-up streets with tall buildings. Liam had never been in a city before and couldn’t tear his eyes away from the sights.
“We’re almost there,” Ollie said, twisting around in his seat. “We’ll have a few hours to set up then have some lunch. Then the event kicks off.”
Liam knew all this already. Ollie had gone through everything the previous day, but it helped to hear it again and it settled his nerves. They pulled into an underground parking lot, following Eve’s car with the third vehicle pulling in behind them.
They climbed out, Eve calling everyone over. They stood in a loose circle, Liam standing next to Ollie and Jensen standing right behind him, his hands resting on Liam’s shoulders.
“We’re going to have a good day,” Eve started to say. “We’re going to have a great day. We know why we’re here. And it’s not just to pay the bills, it’s not just to host a really great party. We’re here to help people find love.”
There were cheers from everyone in the circle and significant glances at the eight omegas taking part.
“Alright, let’s get to it.”
Eve started giving out jobs. Ollie tugged on Liam’s sleeve. “Come on, you’re with me for the day. Doc here says no overexertion, no heavy lifting, right?”
“Right,” Jensen said from behind him. “I’ll be doing the literal heavy-lifting. You’ll be pulling your weight later, don’t worry.”
Ollie took Liam off to give him a tour of the venue.
“They hold concerts here and sports competitions. We’re the only dating company that uses it, as far as I know.”
While the venue was set up, Ollie explained how it was run. They climbed a set of stairs that took them to a balcony that ran around all four walls, giving them a view of the whole room below.
“There’s no phones or cameras allowed inside, everyone hands them in before they step in the door and gets them back on the way out. We stay up here on the balcony for most of the night, watching. We’ll have radio headsets and each of us has someone down below who’ll follow our instructions.”
“So, if we see two people who we think make a good match…”
“You call down on the radio and your alternate down on the floor brings them together.”
“But with so many people, how will we be able to point out who we’re talking about?”
Ollie grinned. “It’ll make more sense once the room is kitted out. There are colored zones, we use wall decorations and lights for those, and tables with numbers. So, you’d say something like… blue zone, near table seven, girl with the blond hair and orange sweater. We ask people to wear something distinguishable as well. So, you’ll often have a person with a crazy hat or a pair of fairy wings, stuff like that.”
“It sounds like nothing I’ve ever seen.” Liam had been at parties but nothing remotely like this.
He did what little he was allowed to help set up, but most of their morning passed with him and Ollie sitting together quietly, going through exercises to help clear their minds.
“Tonight will be a lot of noise, a lot of people, a lot of emotions, and a lot of connections. When someone’s new, one of us old hats stays with them for the first hour or so, so we can double check the connections. It can be harder to pick them out with everyone so hyped-up.”
“What if… what if I don’t see any?”
“Connections? Oh, you’re going to see tons. It’s a matter of statistics. Humans generally have a lot more options than shifters in general and omega in particular.”
“But what if I can’t see them?”
“You’ve seen them through the video profiles. You’ve seen them in person in the den. Why would this be any different?”
Liam shrugged.
“You’re going to be great, Liam. And I’ll be right here with you. We can work side-by-side all night if it’ll make you feel better.”
Lunch arrived and they all ate together at one of the tables downstairs. Jensen reappeared, taking the seat to the left of Liam with Ollie on Liam’s right.
“Are you going to help out on the floor?” Liam asked the alpha, wondering what he’d do during the event itself.
“Nah, I’m gonna stay up top and watch for trouble. Keeping you guys safe is my priority.”
“Are we in danger?” Liam looked between Ollie and Jensen. No one had said anything to him about it not being safe.
“Sometimes, people get curious about the matchmakers. They can be a little pushy. But we have plenty of human security as well as our own people and no one except shifter staff is allowed up onto the balcony.”
“Plus, we keep the lights on the balcony low, so people never get a good look and we all dress up just like everyone else,” Davyn said.
Liam looked down at the casual T-shirt and jeans he was wearing. He hadn’t realized they were supposed to dress up. He didn’t have nicer clothes than this.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered,” Ollie said, patting the bag by his feet.
“Alright, it’s almost showtime people. Let’s get ready,” Eve said, waving her hands. Liam wasn’t sure what the hand waving was supposed to do but it got everyone moving, pushing back their chairs.
Liam followed Ollie to one of the bathrooms. Ollie rummaged through his bag and handed Liam a pile of clothing.
“Try these on. I have a few other things if they don’t work.”
Liam went into a cubicle and changed, stepping back outside, and staring at himself in the mirror. He tugged awkwardly at the clothes. They fit but they were a little tight against his body. While he was staring, Ollie reappeared.
“Wow, you look great. I can’t wait to see the look on Jensen’s face when he sees you.”
Liam was wearing a blue button-down shirt that shimmered a little under the light. Underneath it, he wore tight black jeans.
“How about we style your hair a little. Maybe some liner for your eyes.”
Liam just went with it, letting Ollie fuss over his hair and eyes.
When he stepped out of the bathroom, Ollie on his heels, he found Jensen leaning against the wall, looking the picture of casual. He’d changed his clothes too, wearing a darker jacket over a shirt that Liam hadn’t seen him wear before. On seeing Liam, he pushed away from the wall and just stared.
“Is it bad? I could change?” Liam said, spinning around only to run straight into Ollie.
“Oh no, you don’t,” Ollie said, turning him back around and pushing him into Jensen’s waiting arms.
“You look amazing,” the alpha murmured into his ear, his arms slipping around Liam’s waist. They shared a kiss, slow and sensual, before a cough drew their attention away. They turned to find Eve standing near them, her hands on her hips, her foot tapping the floor impatiently.
“Sorry to interrupt, but if you could turn your attention away from each other for a moment, we do have some people downstairs looking for love.”
Liam felt a surge of guilt, but Jensen only chuckled, a warm hand finding the small of Liam’s back and urging the omega forward.
“Don’t worry, Eve. Just helping him focus.”
The quirk of Eve’s eyebrows said she didn’t quite believe the alpha, shaking her head and hurrying off to find the next missing person.
“Time to get started,” Jensen said, nodding toward Ollie who was waiting for Liam by the door to the balcony. “Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be,” Liam replied, hugging Jensen tightly for a moment. “I’m really glad you’re here.”
“So am I.”