Page 153 of Alpha Mates

I’m laughing again, and can’t stop by the time our waiter swoops in to take our order. Aiden rattles his off, and I point to mine while I bite into my smile, the closest thing to silence that I can manage.

“I love that laugh,” he confesses once they’re gone. “I love it so much.”

I don’t manage my next breath as I stare at him, and the way he leans forward to rest his face in his hands.

My skin suddenly feels too tight for my body, and I still can’t breathe—not when he leans forward to brush the hair from my face and tucks it behind my ear. I stare at him like a lost pup, not knowing what to do afterthat.

There are words sitting on my tongue, words that feel too big and too much for right now, but they’re there.

When the food arrives, we draw back to our respective sides of the table. Aiden frowns foully down at his plate, but he dives in. A few bites, careful chewing, and bliss replaces the frown.

“I need another,” he says, already almost done, flagging down the waiter.

Three more. Aiden orders three more while I’m still working my way through my pasta.

“A frittata is just a thin-crust pizza with vegetables on top,” he declares after his fourth. “Another!”

“No more, you animal,” I tease, wiping at my mouth with a napkin. “The day’s almost done.”

He glances out the window; the pinks already setting into the sky as the sun begins its descent. “Shit,” he mumbles. “It all went by in a flash.”

“Yeah, but we can still squeeze in that last thing,” I tell him.

“We don’t have to,” he says. “I mean, we can try, and I’m all for it, but if we don’t, that’s cool too. Today’s been great, Jewels.”

“Really?” I check without bothering to hide my worry.

“Yes, really. Are you crazy?” He looks at me like I might be. “It’s been fucking amazing.”

I nod, relaxing slightly at the confirmation. Vacations are rare for alphas, and though this is a makeshift one, it’s the first thing I’ve really done all for him, and I want him to enjoy every second of it.

“But I’m ready to get out of here,” he whispers, looking around. “I swear I feel these plants closing in on me.”

Laughing, I toss the money on the table, grab his hand, and haul him up behind me. “Let’s get back on the road.”

“I’ll take you anywhere, anywhere!” Aiden sing-screams while we cruise along the highway with the windows down. “I’ll buy you diamonds, give you rings. I’ll give you anything, anything!”

The highway is busy, but there’s no traffic as Aiden sings his heart out, and he really does put his all into it, despite the looks he gets from those passing by. He gets a cheer from someone equally crazy as they drive past, but that’s about it.

I stay quiet, focusing on driving while he performs his jam session, and it’s strangely peaceful, even with his bellowing.

I’m not thinking about the pack or our bond, the heat or my parents. I’m not thinking about anything. I’m just driving on the open road with my matebeside me, and just that is perfect.

“Stop the car!” Alarms sound in my head and Alex jumps to life. “Stop the car, Julian! STOP!”

I pull over hard, heart pounding as I look for a threat I can’t spot. There’s nothing but honking from the drivers I cut off and a tent in the distance.

Aiden’s already scrambling out of the car, leaving the door open behind him.

“Aiden!” I shout, sprinting after him. “What’s going on—?”

“Fireworks!” he yells, making me stop dead in my tracks. “Julian, it’s fireworks!”

I stare at his broad back as he runs on without a care in the world, and in my mind’s eye, I imagine drowning him in a toilet. I would be quick about it. I would make sure he swallowed a good gallon—I imagine it all as I watch him pick out a hundred and one fireworks with a childish smile between his eager glances at me.

We must’ve offended her,Alex bites out when I’ve finally manage to catch my breath.We must’ve done something awful to Goddess to receive this punishment.

I think you meanyou,I reply as I watch Aiden try to haggle with the vendor.