"The waiting line is huge," Ethan mumbles as he and Leo climb out of the maroon colored car. Ethan isn't much of a car person, so the make and model is lost on him, but Leo still seems impressed with it as he can't help but admire it one last time. Then with a sigh, the omega taps the trunk and then the vehicle drives off with a loud rumble of the engine.
"We'll spend over half our time waiting." Just the thought has Ethan's legs aching already. While working at his mom's restaurant requires him to stand for the duration of the day, there are at least times between customers and orders for him to sit at the front counter.
"Nope." Leo pops the word and grins. "Lucky for us, I know the bouncer working tonight." He grabs Ethan by the elbow and drags him to the front of the line, where two buff and burly men dressed in black handle the front entrance to a famously known club called Hyjinx.
Ethan gives an awkward smile to those lined up against the front of the building, trying his best to ignore the glares sent their way. Isn't this technically cheating?
"How your wife, Vic?" Leo smiles as the bouncer with a clean caved head pulls him into a hug. Leo is nearly engulfed by his much larger frame, and Ethan guesses both he and his coworker have to be alphas to be built with such a large frame. There's no way a beta or an omega could be so muscle packed.
"It's been a minute since I've seen your trouble making face. Sandra is doing well. Due to pop out our baby any day now." Vic, despite his intimidating appearance, sounds giddy at being able to talk about his personal life.
"Oh, I can't wait to see the mini version of you." Leo coos. Then he slips Vic a fifty dollar bill. "I'll drop by sometime soon." Then he grabs Ethan by the arm once more and pulls him inside, ignoring the groans and protests of the party goers outside.
"You seem to have a wide variety of connections." Ethan mutters. He squints his eyes as numerous strobe lights of multiple colors fly around the room.
"That's what happens when you go out and make new friends! Instead of staying inside all the time." Leo shouts over the loud pumping music. It shakes the building with its vibration, the bass seeming louder than the dancing beat.
Ethan's mother had to force him to take the day off after she did herself, and went to the nearest city casino with her girl friends. The only reason Ethan caved into both her and Leo's demand, is because he didn't want his momma worrying about him. Besides, one night to relax sounded nice.
Ethan follows Leo to the bar, but halts when a delicate hand tugs on the back of shirt. Ethan turns around to find a familiar looking face peering up at him. The guy only comes up to his chest, his frame small and petite, even when Ethan compares him to Leo. The man gestures for him to bend down, and when Ethan does, he leans into him to whisper in his ear.
"Do you remember me?"
Ethan nods his head, "You're the omega from the bathroom." The one Ethan had to boot out so he could handle the alpha in rut. It's a little embarrassing to be running into him at a club of all places, but he imagines it's even more so for the omega. He very much put himself out there that day, but what's done is done.
The long blond haired man flushes red and glances over at Leo. "Can I buy you two drinks as a show of thanks?" Ethan goes to decline, but Leo is linking arms with his fellow omega and smiling like they are already best friends.
"Who would say no to that?!" Leo shouts. Ethan would have. He didn't do it to get anything in return, and Leo seems more interested in spending as little money as possible. But the beta doesn't complain. If the omega is okay with it, then why not?
"What's your name?" Ethan asks as the three sit side by side at the bar.
"Christopher, but please call me Chris." He leans his elbows on the black and white marble counter top, resting his chin in his hand. His curtain of long hair nearly shines under the lights above, and Ethan can't help but to compare him to a whimsical elf.
"I'm Ethan. My friend is Leo."
"You two work together right?"
"Yeah. He's the one who warned me about the alpha in rut in the bathroom. I'm just glad I made it in time before anything bad could happen."
"You two really saved my butt back there." Chris grins. He leans forward, his coconut oil scented hair falling from his shoulders. "Truth be told, the alpha and I were on a date. Our families set us up to be engaged."
Ethan's brown eyebrows raise in surprise. Engaged? Zander never told him about that, he only said that he happened to be the alpha in the bathroom. Ethan bites his lip, then again, were he and Zander close enough for him to tell him that? Definitely not.
"Wow, imagine if Ethan hadn't showed up. It would have been even more of a disaster." Leo jumps into the conversation.
Does Chris come from a wealthy family too? Ethan still finds it strange how the others have so much money to spare and spend, yet they chose to go to his mother's humble restaurant. Is her food truly that good, or are they just flocking over because they're curious about Max going to such a lowly establishment?
Ethan chases the bitter and judgmental thoughts away from his mind. Even so, it really isn't his business, he only has to serve. Where they spend their money should be little concern to him, just as long as they're spending at his mom's restaurant, what is there to complain about?
"I never properly thanked you," Chris turns to Ethan as Leo chats with one of the bar tenders. Ethan smiles and takes a sip of his drink. "Usually when an alpha goes into rut at a public place, betas are usually too intimidated to go near them."
"I don't blame them. Alphas can be very scary." His hand subconsciously goes to his bruised wrist. It's been a week since Zander has given him his business card, and still the bruise still lingers. Every once in a while the injury will pulse with a dull ache, but while it was once black and blue, it's healed enough to just be a discolored yellow spot.
"They can be!" Chris chuckles. He looks up at Ethan through his lashes, "But you were so brave and straightforward. I've come to admire you because of it. So I'm glad we ran into each other here."
Ethan's eyebrows raise in surprise, "Really?"
"Don't look so shocked!" Chris leans forward and rubs Ethan's biceps. "You're very fit for a beta. Do you work out?"
Ethan clears his throat and glances over at Leo, who looks just as surprised. "Ah, not really. I do most of the heavy lifting at the restaurant, so I consider that my work out."
Chris laughs, "You're funny."
Before Ethan can say anything, the bartender puts down three glowing blue drinks in a fancy saucer cup.
"Oh, we didn't-" Ethan goes to protest. He'd rather not pay for something that will probably empty his wallet, but the bartender nods his head further down the counter.
"The alpha at the end sent them." And then he turns to make another drink for someone else. The three men turn their eyes to the end of the bar and finds a random black haired alpha. He raises his own drink to them, and winks.
Chris and Leo don't hesitate to sip at it, so Ethan shrugs and does the same. "Does this happen often?"
"Our friend here is cute, " Leo throws his hand over Chris' shoulder and beams. "I'll bet we get free drinks all night!"