Lights, Camera, Omega (Hollywood Omegas #1)

The worry has started to edge into panic, and I’m about to cancel my lunch appointment with Vinny, when Rupert walks a tidy figure eight between my ankles—his orange bottlebrush tail whipping this way and that—as he meows for his mid-morning treat.

Cat food isn’t free. Neither is my teensy apartment, with its beautiful, sun-drenched windows and proximity to my beloved beach. As much as I’m struggling to imagine myself becoming what I am not, it’s far more painful to imagine giving all of this up. To contemplate returning to Tennessee not just to visit–but to return as a mid-size fish in a small pond.

Not even a pond, a puddle, really.

I shudder at the thought and grab my plastic leather purse from its hook by the door.

“Alright Rupert,” I sigh, producing a few dried sardines from his treat jar and tossing them onto the floor before him.

“I’ll go out there and bring home the bacon for us,” I assure him, giving him a good scratch behind the ears before I slip on my nice pair of white leather Huaraches and set off for my lunch meeting into morning traffic.

When I get to the restaurant, an overpriced New American spot with an obscenely large patio seating area, I immediately feel underdressed.

Everyone seated outside is wearing at least business casual, most of the men are wearing light colored suits with pastel ties, and all the women are decked in frothy garden party frocks or twin sets emblazoned with designer logos; diamonds and pearls as far as the eyes can see.

I catch a glimpse of Vinny, a middle-aged beta with obvious hair plugs in a three thousand dollar Italian designer suit.

He’s sitting at a primo table on the edge of the sidewalk-frontage landscaping, talking loudly on his cellphone, with a tablet on the table next to what appears to be a glass of white sangria.

“I think I see my table.” I give the hostess a sheepish nod as I approach the podium.

She gives me an unimpressed once over and gestures to Vinny’s table without a word.

I’m halfway considering just bagging the whole thing, heading home, and packing up all my things now that I’m all ready to give up on my acting career—when Vinny jumps up from the table and clamps my hand in his for a firm and sweaty handshake.

“Mizz Dale,” Vinny stoops to peck a kiss onto my knuckles, and it’s all I can do not to recoil in revulsion.

He smells like galvanized nails and baby powder, I can almost taste the metallic tang at the back of my tongue as he pumps my hand up and down, his eerily blue eyes fix on me as he slides his now-silent phone into his suit pants pocket.

“I was told that you were very wholesome, but no one mentioned you were such a pretty little piece of Americana.” Vinny reaches out and pinches one of my shoulders and I try for what I hope is a playful smile, even though I’m feeling a little seasick and off balance.

“Nice to meet you, Vinny! I can’t wait to hear about the auditions you mentioned.” I immediately try to redirect the conversation as Vinny pulls a metal bistro chair away from our small two top table.

“Right to business! Clever girl.” Vinny gives a smarmy laugh, leaning in far too close to snap open my white linen napkin and drape it over my lap.

I remind myself that these are old school manners and do my best to keep my expression calm.

“First of all, I mean my darling, I hate to say this—” he yammers on, hardly taking a breath, hands flapping wildly as he prattles. “—you are incredibly behind schedule with this whole late blooming thing.”

I bristle, immediately on the defensive.

Even dingbat Vinny can tell he’s struck a nerve because he changes his posture and sweetens the tone of his voice before redirecting.

“We have to think about getting you into a solid bonding situation sooner rather than later,” he warns, casually swirling his drink.

“I-I haven’t even,” I stammer.

There just hasn’t been that much time since I found out I was an omega. I’ve done some preliminary considerations of what things are going to be like with heats and everything, and it’s not like I haven’t dated and stuff before. Hell, I’m very sweet and very wholesome, but I’m hardly some shrinking violet or wallflower. I can tumble with the best of ‘em. I’ve just been pretty busy lately. That’s all!

“Well, ya gotta!” Vinny interrupts.

I can feel the blush stinging my cheeks and the tops of my ears.

Vinny snaps his fingers at a passing waiter and orders some sparkling water with lemon for the table, along with an order of roasted vegetables and white bean hummus. I want to protest him ordering for me, but I’ll actually be thankful for both, so I direct the momentum of my irritation in another direction.

“Okay, I understand that we’re moving on a slightly different timetable than other omegas, considering how late I am to the party.” I attempt to handle him, but Vinny has had years of practice in the business.

“Which is precisely why I’ve already got three auditions lined up with eligible packs, all looking for their omega.” He wriggles handily out of my attempt to wrangle him, just like an eel.