Carson Wood knew he wasn't the most observant guy in the world sometimes. He was plenty observant when it came to business dealings, but in his personal life, mostly he was completely clueless.

That being said, he was pretty sure something was going on with Kyle. He didn't have the first clue of what it was, but he was going to make it his mission to find out. He didn't like the dullness in Kyle's normally bright eyes, and whatever it was that was bugging him, if it was in Carson's power, then Carson was going to fix it.

It had to wait, though, because he had a date. He was already running late, his meeting with one of their clients going long, and he hoped the girl he was meeting didn't hold it against him. She sounded nice on paper. Her name was Christa, and she was some kind of teacher at the local high school. They met during one of his runs, and she was pleasant enough.

She was also an omega, but that went without saying. Carson wasn't against alpha-beta couplings or even beta-omega couplings, but for him, he wanted an omega.

Carson sent her a quick message, letting her know he was going to be a bit late. It was a good thing they'd picked a more casual setting for their first date. They were going to a pub near Carson's office, and he was glad he could just walk there, instead of having to figure out parking.

They lived in a small college city, just outside of Toronto, and parking in the main downtown strip was a premium.

He grabbed his jacket and keys from the hook in his office, locking the door behind him as he made his way to the main doors of the building. There weren't very many people left at this time of night--just a couple of the junior associates and the maintenance staff.

He waved goodbye at them, smiling as he walked out. Tonight was going to be good. Or at least, he hoped it was going to be good. His last few dates hadn't gone well, and Carson was hoping this one was going to be different.

Maybe he was being too picky. Maybe he didn't give those women enough of a chance, he didn't know. He just knew they weren't it for him, and with how busy he was, he figured there was no point in prolonging or starting anything deeper with someone who wasn't going to work out in the long run.

He wanted someone interesting, someone who challenged him, someone who was fun and flirty, but also someone who was serious about the things that mattered. Carson wanted that spark, that undeniable connection, and so far, he hadn't been able to find what he was looking for.

Maybe Christa would be different.

Walking into the pub, he spotted her right away. She looked beautiful, with her red hair cascading down her back. She was wearing a tight, black dress that accentuated her curves, and Carson definitely approved.

He touched her back when he got close. "Hey there. Were you waiting long? I'm sorry for being late."

She smiled at him graciously. "No, no, I just got here maybe five minutes ago? I was running late, too. Perfect timing."

"Excellent," Carson said, grinning. "You look at the menu yet? Anything good?"

Carson had been here in the past with his friends, but he figured some kind of small talk would never be amiss. The two of them discussed the menu, before settling for some appetizers and a round of drinks.

Once they ordered, Carson leaned against the back of the bench, letting himself relax and get comfortable for the night. He wasn't at work any longer, and now, he could let loose and have a little fun. Christa sounded like she was just the person he needed.

Until, well, she wasn't.

It didn't take long for him to find out that as beautiful as Christa was, as sweet as she seemed, she was also really, really boring.

Really boring.

They had nothing in common, and she tended to agree to everything Carson said. It was like she was afraid he was going to leave if she disagreed with him on anything.

It was tedious.

Carson didn't want some omega without a thought or a brain. That was the last thing he wanted. Christa seemed satisfied with nodding along to whatever Carson was saying, though, and he was just bored.

He had high hopes for this date, but it was clear it was steadily careening down the same path his other dates had gone. He really should have just taken Kyle up on his offer to hang out. Hanging out with Kyle would have been infinitely better, to say the least.

Carson didn't want to be rude, though, so he stayed until their appetizers were done. He may have lost interest in Christa, but he was still a gentleman. He wasn't just going to get up and leave.

"What do you think, should we order mains?" Christa asked, her eyelashes fluttering.

Carson fought a grimace. "Actually, I'm feeling kind of sick," he said, hoping she'd believe his excuse. "I think I should probably go home. I wouldn't want to infect you or anything, if this is something worse."

"Oh, that's...that's not good. Are you okay?" Christa asked, looking disappointed.

"I'm fine, just a bit queasy." Carson felt awful for lying, but he didn't know if telling Christa the truth would have been better. "Rain-check?"

"Ye-yeah, you have my number," Christa said. "I hope you feel better."

He signaled for the server and paid their tab. It was the least he could do for bailing on her.

"It was good to see you again, though," he said. "I'm sorry for this."

She nodded, standing up to get her things. "No, no, it's fine, I understand."

Carson wondered if she knew the stomach bug was a front for disinterest. He wasn't the best actor ever, and subtlety wasn't his forte. He walked her to the door of the bar, letting the cold air hit him as they walked out.

"Thanks for the drinks," Christa said.

"Thank you for the company," Carson replied. "I'd offer to give you a ride, but I left my car at the office."

Christa shook her head. "It's fine, I don't live too far out from here."

Their goodbyes were awkward. She was clearly expecting a kiss, but Carson wasn't feeling it. Instead, he gave her shoulder a friendly squeeze, and tried to ignore the hurt look on her face.

Shoving his hands in his pockets, Carson walked listlessly towards the office. He should probably get his car and go home, but he couldn't face going home to an empty house.

He walked, letting his feet carry him wherever, until he passed by a familiar neighborhood. He'd gone to Kyle's home without even thinking about it. Carson didn't know why his subconscious had chosen Kyle's home, but regardless, he was thankful. He loved Kyle's house. It was warm and comfortable, all the things his own house wasn't.

There were three steps to the deck, and by the time he knew it, he was knocking on Kyle's door. It took a while for Kyle to open the door, and for a minute, Carson thought maybe he wasn't home.

The door opened, and a rumpled-looking Kyle appeared. Kyle looked confused, like he couldn't quite believe that Carson was at his door. "Hey, what are you doing here? I thought you had a date?"

"It didn't go very well. Can I come in?" Carson replied. Kyle had his glasses on, something he rarely wore at the office. He looked comfortable, with his thin, white t-shirt and blue pajamas. On another person, it would have been a disheveled look, but on Kyle, it looked cute.

Kyle nodded, opening the door further. "Yeah, yeah, come in."

"I didn't interrupt anything, did I? I could go?" Carson said. He probably should have called or texted Kyle first before barging in like this.

"No, it's fine. I was just reading. It was good you came, actually, because I totally fell asleep on the couch." Kyle led him to the living room, where they both sat together on the plush, leather couch.

Their knees touching, Carson suddenly felt hot, like the air was too thick, too warm. "Good thing I came then. I bet you would have slept for hours, and your back would be crying afterwards."

Kyle laughed, throwing his head back. "Probably, yeah. This couch is pretty comfortable, but it's definitely not made for sleeping," he said. "Should I even ask what happened to your date?"

Making a face, Carson stretched his legs out, laying them on top of the coffee table. Kyle swatted his leg in disapproval, but made no other move to get Carson's legs off the table. "It was whatever, you know? It wasn't going to go anywhere, so I called it off early."

Kyle whistled. "That bad, huh?"

Crossing his arms, Carson laid his head on Kyle's shoulder. "I'm forever doomed to be alone, I guess."

"So dramatic," Kyle teased. "Oh no, Casanova had a bad date. Boo hoo, you probably have one lined up with another woman later this week."

"Hey, I'm not that much of a serial dater," Carson protested. He was ashamed to say that Kyle wasn't wrong, though. He did have another potential date lined up with another woman.

He wanted a mate. He wanted someone to spend his life with, and he wasn't going to find The One by sitting at home alone in his cold house.

"Doubtful. Very doubtful," Kyle said. He burrowed himself closer to Carson. "You're like a furnace, I swear."

"You keep making fun of me, and your personal heater will go away," Carson mock-threatened. "What's wrong with me? I swear, I keep attracting all the wrong women. Am I that much of a loser?”

Maybe he was doing something wrong. It was becoming increasingly clear that he wasn't looking in the right places, but then, Carson didn't know where else to look. He wasn't the sit and wait kind of guy. He needed action, and he was going to go after what he wanted.

But that method when it came to finding a mate hadn't worked out for him. No matter how many women he went out on dates with, none of them held his interest long enough.

Hell, the closest thing he had to a long-term relationship with an omega was Kyle. If only the women he dated were more like Kyle. That would solve all of his problems. Kyle was interesting—he was good looking, smart, and never backed down from a challenge.

"Ugh, don't make me placate your ego, please," Kyle said, jokingly. "But seriously, you're not a loser, okay? You just haven't found the right person."

"But why not? Alphas younger than me have found their mates. I want a mate, Kyle. Not only that, you know my parents have been pressuring me to find a mate." Carson knew he sounded whiny, but he couldn't help it. All his life, he'd dreamt of finding the perfect mate.

The added pressure from his parents only made things worse.

"An alpha needs the stability that only comes from being mated," his father had told him repeatedly.

"You ever think that maybe you're pressing the issue too much? You can't rush love, and no matter how much you want to will it into existence, it's not just going to happen when you want it to happen."

There was a hint of sadness in Kyle's voice, and it made Carson stop. Was Kyle speaking from personal experience? Kyle had never really talked to him about finding an alpha or getting mated. They talked about everything under the sun, but Kyle had always been quiet when it came to his love life. Come to think of it, Carson wasn't sure when the last time was that he'd seen Kyle go out with an alpha.

"Love? Who said anything about love? I'm looking for compatibility and mutual respect. Love will come after," Carson said.

"That's such a depressing way of looking at it. No wonder you haven't found your mate yet. Most people are looking for love, Carson. Mates aren't supposed to be transactional," Kyle said.

Carson bristled a little. "I don't look at mates transactionally. I'm just saying, it's hard to fall in love with someone--anyone--after just a few dates. Love takes time."

"So why not wait for love? Why not wait to find the one that really makes your heart jump? Why not wait for the one who's not only compatible with you, but someone who also loves you? Someone who you love in return." Kyle sounded so sure, so resolved, that it made Carson fidget uncomfortably.

Was Kyle right? Had he been wrong all along?

"I didn't know you were such a romantic," Carson said quietly.

Kyle pulled away from him, and Carson lamented the sudden loss of warmth. "I'm not. I’m just, you know, human," Kyle said. "Unlike you, you android."

"Ha ha, you think you're so funny," Carson said, tickling Kyle's side.

Laughing, Kyle squirmed against him, and Carson took the opportunity to wrap his arms around the man. "Nope, I've got you now. You can't escape me," he teased.

Kyle stopped struggling against Carson, biting his lower lip. They were red, plump, and Carson didn’t know why he suddenly couldn’t look away from them. He was fixated, and he couldn’t help but think what it would be like to kiss Kyle’s lips, to bite them. Lick them.

He blinked, shaking himself internally.

What the actual fuck? This was Kyle. His oldest and dearest best friend.

Letting go of Kyle, Carson straightened himself out. He cleared his throat. “So, you gonna offer me a beer?” That was safe, that was neutral.

Kyle nodded, brushing away the strand of hair that fell on his face. Carson had to fight the urge to reach out and touch him, and god, what was going on with him?

It was just—it was nothing. It was a brief moment of nothing.

Right?