________

BRYAN

 

I lingered in bed a little bit longer than normal the next morning, reliving the events of the previous night in my head.  I was so caught up in my attraction for Alistair I was not thinking straight and I was happy that at the last minute I decided to go home.  I hoped he didn’t think I was leading him on because that was not my intention, but I had never had a one night stand and I definitely wasn’t going to do it if I couldn’t even see the guy’s face!  I ripped the covers off of me in frustration because I couldn’t get his sexy smirk out of my mind, and I got ready for the day.

 

I was drinking my coffee and checking email when I saw two emails requesting a job interview.  I sent my resume to at least 10 interior design firms in and around Eden Pines so I was pretty excited that someone actually responded.  I quickly scrolled to the bottom of each hoping to see my dream firm, Blocke Designs, requesting an interview, and I was briefly disappointed when I didn’t see them.  I had just recently sent my resumes out so I told myself that I still had plenty of time to get that dream interview.

 

My job at the men’s boutique was great experience, but my long-term goal was not to stay there.  I had worked there part-time most of college and for the past year the manager allowed me to design all of the display windows.  I really appreciated her trusting my design ideas but I wanted big things for myself and the only way those would happen was if I went to a big design firm.  When I arrived at work that day, I put my things down in the back and my friend Paul walked in as I was touching up my hair.

 

I glanced over at him.  “Hey, how was your weekend?”

 

He turned and smiled at me.  “It was good, Steven finally took me to that new club on Tiffany Square that opened a few weeks ago.  We had a great time.  Have you been there?”

 

“Yeah, we went there a couple of weeks ago and it was pretty cool.  I’m glad Steven finally took you somewhere you wanted to go,” I said.

 

“I know, right?  How was your weekend?”

 

“Pretty good.  I picked up a part-time job at a banquet hall and they had a cool masquerade party Saturday night.”  I left out the part about the mystery man with the gorgeous eyes.

 

“Oh, fun!”

 

We chatted for a few more minutes and then went out on the floor.  It was a pretty standard day at work and after work that day I stopped by Carl’s apartment to see how he was feeling.

 

“Hey, I brought you some chicken noodle soup.  My mom made it for you and hopes you feel better soon.”

 

“Thanks, Bryan, I love your mom.  She’s so sweet.”

 

“Well, you know she thinks of you as a second son since we practically grew up together.”

 

Carl and I had known each other since we were five years old and we had gone to school together since kindergarten.

 

“Yeah, she’s my second mom.  Soooo, how was Saturday night?  Did you like working the masquerade party?”

 

“Carl, it was like nothing I had ever seen.  I made so much tip money and I am so grateful that you put in a good word for me.”

 

“Oh good!  I’m just happy that you finally decided to give it a try after begging you to do it with me for months.”

 

I hung my head and then looked at him and smiled.  “I know, I know.  I was being stubborn for some stupid reason.  I guess I thought it was going to be too much work for not enough money.  When you told me the pay was seven bucks an hour, I think that turned me off.”

 

“I know, but I told you about the tips…you just didn’t believe me.”

 

“Yeah, it just sounded too good to be true.  But you were right and I should have listened to you much sooner!”

 

“Was there anyone interesting there?”

 

“Okay, so I wasn’t going to say anything because nothing really happened, but I met someone.”

 

His eyes got wide as he scooted a little closer to me on the couch.

 

“Who was it?”

 

“A really sexy alpha named Alistair Dibb.  Have you heard of him?”

 

“Hmmm, I don’t think so.  What does he look like?”

 

“Well, that’s part of why I wasn’t going to say anything.  I’m not really sure what he looks like.”

 

“Wait, what do you mean you’re not sure what he looks like?”

 

“He never took off his mask but, Carl, there was something about him.  He was so sexy and I almost did something stupid but I came to my senses at the last minute.”

 

“Did you go home with him?”

 

“Kind of.”

 

“Huh?”  He looked totally confused.

 

“I made it to his doorstep but changed my mind about going in because he wouldn’t take off his mask.  But I did let him kiss me and, Carl, I am not joking, it was the sexiest, best kiss I have ever had.”

 

He sat there with his mouth open just staring at me for a minute and then he finally said something.

 

“Okay, first of all, who are you and what have you done with my normally very reserved best friend?  Second, Bryan, we have to find out who he is!”  

 

“What? No!  He is totally not the guy for me.  He wouldn’t even take off his mask so I could see his face!  He likes to play games and I’m not into that at all.  It was just a fun encounter for a night, that’s all,” I said trying to convince myself about what I was saying.

 

I could tell that Carl was ignoring my protests when I saw that familiar gleam in his eye that told me he was on a mission.

 

“Was Trevor there?”  I could see his wheels spinning.

 

“Yeah, he was nice.”

 

“He’ll know who he is.  He knows who everyone is.”

 

“He said he had never heard of him,” I said.

 

“Well, let me find out who he is.  I am really curious.”

 

“Fine, but don’t tell me because he’s not the type of alpha I want.”

 

“Okay, I won’t.” 

 

I knew he was lying.  As soon as Carl found out who the mystery alpha was he was going to do his typical meddling.  I didn’t make a big deal about it because he was coming from a good place.  Carl had a huge heart and didn’t have a malicious or jealous bone in his body.  He genuinely wanted people to be happy, and if you were his friend?  He always went the extra mile for you.  I decided not to give him a hard time on his investigation and it was time to change the subject.

 

“So, how are you feeling?”

 

“A lot better than a couple of days ago.  Hey, let’s dig into that soup your mom made.  Thank her again for me because I love anything she makes.”

 

I hung out with him for a while and then went home.  The first thing I did when I walked in was check my email and I saw two more interview requests and that made me feel really good.  Still nothing from my dream job, though.

 

The rest of the week was pretty uneventful until I got a call from Mr. DiLorenzo asking me to work a wedding Saturday night.  I called Carl to see if he was going to be able to work and he said he was since he was feeling much better, so I was really looking forward to working with him.  The banquet parties were such easy money, so by the end of the summer I was definitely going to be in a better financial position than the one I was in at that moment.