The Alpha’s Fight for His Omega by Jess K

Chapter 54

Winnie

“Hello, Winnie! Nice to see you!” Rebel holds up her glass for me with a big cheer. She has switched places with Logan to sit on my left side when I walk up to the table.

Alice, however, isn’t sitting down. She stands up from her seat and gets this sparkly look on her face before coming to hug me. “Winnie!”

“Hi!” I hug her back. “How are you?”

“I’m good. How are you?”

Before I can answer, Nathan speaks. “Here she comes, my biggest rival in love: Winnie. I swear there is a romance going on here…” he sighs but hides a smile.

“Happy to see you too, big guy,” I tell him and pat his shoulder. “Have you gotten thinner?”

He snorts. “Shut up! I’m working out harder than ever!”

I grin. “It shows—I’m just teasing!”

People around the table snicker, including Logan. I feel welcomed sitting by the large table the Plaza Hotel has assembled for us.

“Oh, and since you wondered, I’m feeling pretty okay,” I inform Alice and beam at her. “Mark won’t be joining us, though. He needed to take care of something urgent.”

“We saw,” Alice sits down beside me, grimacing. “But you’re fine, right? We kind of assumed it was a friendly date anyway.”

“Oh, it was,” my eyes flicker to Jake, whose cold expression turns less icy after hearing me confirm I’m not into Mark. Interesting…

“I

Jake was probably mad because I told him, “I don’t date nice guys, and

can we move on with the celebrations?” Kelly, who I’ve never met before, says in a rather bitchy tone. “I would like for us to order some

confused by the other woman’s

shrug at her-I don’t know why Kelly dislikes me. Unless

away all negative energy and jealousy and focus on my friends. I’m here

***

The hockey guys I don’t know well aren’t with us. It’s Nathan, Alice, Logan, Rebel, Kelly, Jake, and me—the single girl who feels awkward not cuddling with anyone.

mind. She is finally not pregnant and got a babysitter, so she is cuddling

for Rebel and Logan, they are doing shots. by the bar. And Kelly? She is drunk, clinging to Jake’s forearm and

currently busy ignoring her. He called a cab for her. That, my friend, is perfect

as Kelly is gone, I will confess my feelings. Mark said Jake and Kelly weren’t exclusive or

fun, and once Jake is alone, Rebel smirks at

pushes the small of my back. While drinking, I told her of my plans, and now even

swallow thickly. “Okay,

by the bar and set the course for the corner of the bar. Jake is talking to some girl, and my heart pounds faster and faster. Can I do this? Yes. Yes, I

presence now. It feels like my blood is boiling when he is in the same room or paying me attention. I’m already dizzy, and when he looks up and tilts his head, smiling, I almost bail. My stomach does this unwelcome flip, and by some

feel so awkward standing in front of him. The girl scowls at me and

are you?”

Jake beats me to it by saying, “Winnie, my best

There you are!”

up from the ground while the girl stares at us. I’m shocked. The girl is shocked. And once I place my hands on Jake’s shoulders and wrap

but laugh. “What did you do

was rude to you, so I

in my chest speeds up. I’m speechless. I didn’t expect Jake to do that for me, and he makes a smug face as I stare at him. Eyebrows lifted, and

are on Jake’s broad shoulders, eyes locked onto his face. I don’t know what to say or where to go,