Obsessed With My Alpha

Just Friends

Gema's POV

When I get back to the table, my stomach twists at the sight in front of me—Jonah and Rebecca, locked in a kiss. It’s the kind of kiss that’s so intimate, it feels like a punch to the gut just watching it. Rebecca glances up mid-kiss, her eyes meeting mine with a smug, triumphant look that screams, *I’ve won.* I feel a surge of jealousy so intense it nearly makes me stumble, but I force myself to stay calm. I clear my throat, and Jonah pulls away from her, turning to me with a look of concern.

“I’m leaving. I don’t want to ruin your date, so… I’m just going to go home,” I say, keeping my voice low and pitiful, my best wounded act on full display.

Jonah stands up immediately, reaching for my arm. “No, no, Gems, you can’t walk home in this condition all by yourself,” he says, his voice full of concern, and I fight to keep the flash of victory off my face. I can feel Rebecca’s eyes boring into me, but I pretend not to notice, keeping my focus solely on Jonah.

He turns to Rebecca, an apologetic smile on his face. “Hey, babe, would it be okay if I called you an Uber? I just… I need to make sure Gema gets home safe.”

I catch the way Rebecca’s jaw tightens, and it takes everything in me not to smirk. But then an idea pops into my head, a bold move, one that could push things to the edge. “Jonah… could I maybe stay with you tonight? I don’t know if I should be alone right now,” I say, my voice trembling just enough to sell the act.

Rebecca’s head snaps up, her eyes blazing with anger as she looks between us. “What the f**k?” she bursts out, her voice barely contained. “You’ve got to be shitting me, Jonah! Are you seriously falling for this? I’ve kept my mouth shut all night, but this—this is the last straw!”

Before she can go on, Jonah moves closer to her, reaching out and pressing his lips to hers in a kiss that’s so intense, it feels like I’m watching my own heart shatter in slow motion. I can’t help the sting in my chest as he slips his tongue into her mouth, a lingering, deliberate kiss that leaves me feeling both gutted and furious. But just as quickly, he pulls back, giving her a steady, reassuring look.

“Babe, Gema and I are just friends, you know that. And right now, my friend needs me,” he says softly, and I watch as her expression softens, her anger melting into something gentler. But as she relents, I feel my own anger boil over, simmering just beneath the surface. I turn away, unable to watch him console her any longer, the sight of it making my blood run cold.

“Okay, babe, I’ll trust you…” she says, her voice hesitant but yielding, and the way she clings to him only makes me want to push harder, to show her that I’m not going anywhere.

“Jonah,” I interrupt, keeping my tone calm but insistent, “can we please go?” My voice carries a subtle edge, enough to remind him that I’m still here, waiting.

He nods, giving Rebecca a quick kiss on the cheek. “I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?” he says, offering her one last reassuring smile.

With that, he turns back to me, taking my arm gently and leading me out of the restaurant. I glance over my shoulder just once, catching the flash of frustration in Rebecca’s eyes as she watches us leave, her jaw clenched tight. Inside, I’m practically buzzing with a mixture of triumph and bitterness, knowing that I’ve won this small battle, even if it’s only temporary.

As we step outside, Jonah’s hand on my arm sends a wave of warmth through me, but I shove it down, determined to keep my focus. Tonight isn’t about giving in; it’s about holding my ground. And as long as I have him by my side, even if it’s only as a “friend,” I know I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him close.

Even if the ache in my chest is unbearable, I know that tonight, with his attention on me, I’ve won this round, even if it cost me a piece of my heart.

When we reach his frat house, Jonah glances around to make sure no one’s watching before he sneaks me inside, guiding me quietly down the hallway and up to his room. My heart’s racing, and I don’t know why I thought this was a good idea. Maybe I just wanted to be close to him, to feel that connection I’ve been craving for so long, but now, standing here in his space, surrounded by everything that’s so him, I feel a nervous energy crackling between us that I didn’t expect.

“Thank you for letting me stay with you,” I say softly, my voice barely above a whisper as I look down, unable to meet his eyes. “I wasn’t trying to ruin your date, Joe…”

He steps toward me, his hand reaching up to the zipper of my dress without a word. He slowly pulls it down, the soft sound of the zipper filling the silence, and the fabric slips off my shoulders, pooling at my feet. I look up at him, searching his face, but his expression is unreadable. We stand there for what feels like an eternity, just staring at each other, my heart thundering in my chest as he holds my gaze. Then, finally, he raises an eyebrow, a smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth.

“Are you just going to stand there all day?” he teases, tossing one of his oversized T-shirts at my face.

I laugh softly, slipping the shirt over my head, and as I glance down, I realize it’s the old “I’m with Stupid” tee we bought together at the fair when we were kids. The memory makes my heart squeeze, a bittersweet reminder of simpler times. I look up to find him lying on the bed, watching me with an amused expression.

I climb onto the bed beside him, laying my head on his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath my cheek. He tenses slightly at first, and I could swear I feel his heart speed up, but then he shifts, turning onto his side to face me. I mirror him, our faces close enough that I can see every detail, every little fleck of color in his eyes.

“What’s going on with you lately, Gems?” he asks, his voice soft but probing, his gaze searching my face for answers.

I shrug, not knowing what to say. How could I explain all the things I’ve been feeling, the way he’s consumed my every thought, the desperation that drives me to be close to him, even when I know it’s probably breaking me more than helping? He blinks, sitting up to pull off his shirt, tossing it carelessly into the hamper before lying back down, and I feel my breath catch. He’s inches away from me, bare-chested, the warmth of his skin radiating in the space between us, making it hard to think, let alone breathe.

“You know you can talk to me about anything, right?” he says, his voice low as he scoots closer, his hand reaching up to brush a stray lock of hair from my face. His fingers linger, and the nearness of him, the warmth of his breath mingling with mine, is dizzying.

I swallow, trying to steady myself. “Can you just… hold me until I fall asleep?” I ask, my voice trembling slightly, the words spilling out before I can stop them. I’m not even sure if that’s what I want or if it’s just something safe to ask, something to keep me in this moment a little longer.

Without hesitation, he pulls me into his arms, wrapping me close, and I nestle against his chest, the steady beat of his heart grounding me, soothing the ache that’s been gnawing at me for weeks. His hold is warm and secure, and as I close my eyes, I feel like I’m exactly where I belong. In his arms, I feel safe—like the world outside this room doesn’t exist, like there’s nothing and no one that can touch me as long as I stay here.

The moments stretch, and the silence between us feels thick but comforting, a quiet acceptance that fills the room. His hand rests gently on my back, his fingers drawing small, absentminded circles that send a comforting warmth spreading through me. I breathe in his familiar scent, a mix of pine and something distinctly him, and I let myself relax, let myself sink into this feeling of complete safety.

In his arms, the world feels different, lighter, as if nothing can harm me, as if time has stopped just for us. I could stay like this forever, wrapped in his embrace, feeling the steady beat of his heart, the warmth of his skin. For the first time in weeks, I feel a strange sense of peace, a pure, blissful contentment that makes everything else fade away. The worries, the jealousy, the heartbreak—they all dissolve in the quiet, leaving only this moment, this connection between us.

I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, or how much longer I can keep pretending this is enough, but for now, I let myself drift, held in his arms, where everything feels perfect, even if just for tonight.