CHAPTER 28: HIS MUSCLES FEEL LIKE CEMENT.

Ethan powers off the computer and stands up. He stretches out his arms before ruffling his brown hair, "Come on." He steps past Zander and gestures for him to follow him up the stairs that leads to the second floor. He doesn’t know why the dominant alpha is here after closing, and although he’s curious, he doesn’t ask.

Zander did help him, after all. Which proves Ethan’s skills are in business and not marketing.

Ethan’s room is set with a standard bed, a black dresser, and a night stand with a lamp. A stack of textbooks sit under the bedframe, along with a locked metal box. "Just give me a minute to get changed. Feel free to sit." He gestures to his bed and then disappears into the bathroom across the hall.

Ethan stares at himself in the mirror and frowns. He has dark circles beneath his eyes, and his skin looks pale as if he’s not getting enough sunlight. Why did Zander have to come with all his good looks, when Ethan looks like death?

The beta bites his lip, it feels awkward, if he’s honest. The only person Ethan ever brought inside is Leo, but he’s known him for years, but now that someone else is in his room, he suddenly feels self-conscious. He presses the back of his hand to his cheeks, remembering Leo’s words.

That alpha totally has a thing for you. There’s just no way. Dominant alphas are instinct driven, more so than the average alpha. If he’s into anyone, it’s Leo. A petite omega who’s pheromones attract all sorts of weirdos. He’s attracted Max and now Zander. It’s the only logical explanation.

If he were an omega though, Ethan scans his broad shoulders, would he be happy to have Zander in his home? He rolls his eyes and sighs, what a dumb question. He quickly changes into sweats and a shirt and returns to his room.

Zander sits at the edge of the bed, one of the textbooks in his hands as he flips through it. His black hair covers his eyes, but the sharp lines of his nose and lips still displays how attractive he is. He looks up when Ethan comes in and smiles, his green eyes glistening. He closes the book and holds it up, "I didn’t know you went to SU. You were studying business?"

Southern University is a campus in the middle of the city and it took two buses for Ethan to get there. It wasn’t an ivy league college like Zander probably went to, more of a community college.

Ethan eyes the book before throwing his dirty clothes into the hamper. "I was." He sits beside him and leans back on his hands. The scent of Zander’s laundry detergent tickles his nose. "Leo and I went there together. He’s studying fashion, but is taking night classes now so he can help us at the restaurant."

The beta scoffs as he glares at the ceiling, "He’s stubborn, and I feel bad that he’s doing this for me. But I also can’t force him not to do it." Ethan shrugs. "I dropped out a few months ago. But sometimes I’ll study if I have time."

"What happened for you to take a gap year?" The alpha bends forward to return the book to the stack.

Ethan chews on his inner cheek, "We couldn’t afford the tuition anymore after my dad left." He shrugs. "It sucks, but you know, stuff happens."

Zander frowns, "Oh. That does suck. If things pick up, do you plan on going back?"

Ethan raises his eyebrows, "To SU?" He tilts his head, "Of course. My drop out is more of a gap year. The only reason I chose business, was to help the restaurant." He blinks up at Zander’s green gaze, strands of his black hair framing his face. He averts his eyes to the brown smudge that’s been on his ceiling for forever. "Mom used to have big dreams when she first opened ’On The Rox’." He continues.

He can feel the alpha staring at him still, and he wonders if he can see how tired her is. "Even though she may have lowered her expectations, I want to show her that it can happen. So if I manage the place right, she’ll see that it wasn’t all for nothing."

"You care about her a lot." Zander smiles. "I’m a little jealous of the relationship you have with her. I’m close with my mom, but she feels distant sometimes. His dark brows furrow, "And Leo cares about you two as well. There’s not a lot of friends who will stick it till the end."

Beau doesn’t count as a friend to him. He’s more of a brother, one Zander trusts completely. He thinks if his family ever happens to go bankrupt, Beau still wouldn’t leave his side. Leo must be the same to Ethan.

The beta hums and lays back to stare at the ceiling. "I can’t give you his number without asking, but if you come by sometime while he’s working, you can ask him yourself."

When Zander doesn’t say anything, Ethan glances at him to see the alpha frowning, the muscle in his jaw ticking. Oh, he must really want his number. Is he really that upset?

"I didn’t ask for his number though." The alpha scratches the spot behind his ear, and shifts a little closer to him.

Ethan blinks, "Actually, now that I think about it, you have a competitor."

Zander frowns, "What? Who?"

Ethan sits up on his elbows, "Max is basically a stalker though, so maybe you have a better chance."

"Max is stalking you?" Zander scoffs.

"What?" Ethan laughs, "No, not me. Leo." Zander blinks at him.

"It seems I wasn’t clear." The alpha sighs. He shifts and then he’s climbing over the beta, straddling Ethan’s thighs and staring down at him. His body heat seeps through his clothes, warming Ethan’s skin. Do alphas run a higher body temperature?

Ethan’s dark eyes widen, his hands raising to push against Zander’s chest, but the alpha doesn’t budge. Geez, his muscles feel like cement.

"I’m not after Leo." Zander’s chuckle is deep and throaty, "I’m after you." He lifts Ethan’s chin with two fingers and kisses him.