Page 17 of My Three Hometown Alphas

I’ve never had anyone straight out say it like that before, but it’s pretty perfect. It does suck.

Her voice grows softer. “I really miss my mom.”

I grab a hair tie from the table, quickly tying off the end of the braid. I guide her by the shoulders until she’s turned aroundon the chair and faces me. I kneel in front of her, so we’re face to face, and take her hands in mine.

“You know what my dad used to tell me when I was growing up?”

She shakes her head, tears welling in her eyes.

“That it’s okay to miss people. It just means you were lucky enough to love someone that much,” I say, blinking away the wetness building in my own eyes.

She nods, thinking about what I said. “I was lucky to have her as my mom, even if it was only for five years.”

I squeeze her hands. “You really were. She sounds awesome.”

It’s obvious her uncles have kept her mom’s presence alive in Lyla’s life because she mentions things about her all the time. She seems like a wonderful person who didn’t deserve to be ripped away from all these people who loved her dearly.

“You’re lucky to have your uncles, too,” I say.

Will explained to me that Lyla’s dad was never in the picture, and Olivia wanted it to stay that way. It was her wish for her little girl to be raised by her three brothers. All of them. Together.

Lyla gets a smirk on her face. “They’re okay, I guess.”

“You love them, and you know it,” I say with a wink.

She rolls her eyes, spinning back around in the chair. “They drive me nuts sometimes, but I do love them.”

We settle into chatter about what she wants to do for the rest of the day while I finish her other braid. When we get everything put back away in her bathroom upstairs, she stops in the doorway.

“Thanks for listening about my mom,” she says quietly.

My heart feels like it’s going to constrict in on itself. I swallow, trying to find words to respond with. “Of course. I’m always here if you need to talk about anything.”

The depth of emotion in her eyes is more than any eight-year-old should possess. She gives me a small smile beforewalking back downstairs, leaving me reeling in the mess of my own emotions.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Will

I blink several times,trying to make sense of the staffing calendar for the coming week. It’s already after six and my brain is fried.

With a sigh, I push back from my desk. I’m not going to get any more work completed in the next hour, so I might as well finish it in the morning.

I spare a quick glance at the accumulating pile on the edge of my desk of things that need to be done for the charity work my family funds around Aspen Springs.

Our family is definitely not hurting financially, but my siblings and I were all raised to work for what we have and to give back as much as possible.

Spearheading this work was always something my mom and Olivia did together. Mom is still involved, but since Liv’s passing she’s taken a step back.

Owen and Miles help too, but it leaves a lot of it on my shoulders on top of running the store. I’m really not complaining, though, because the people in this community, specifically the kids, deserve everything we help to make happen.

Deciding that I’ll focus on that pile right after finishing the schedule in the morning, I walk out of my office. I swear I yawn more on my drive home than I ever have. I’m not sure why I’m so drained right now.

Maybe because of the errant thoughts of a certain raven-haired beauty who happens to be living in the guesthouse that keep me from sleeping every damn night.

I groan, trying to push the thought away, even if it is the truth. My mind wandering to thoughts of Avery happens more often than I would like to admit, even to myself.

I’m way too old for her, and I’m her boss. It can’t and won’t happen. I just wish my brain could fully comprehend this and stop daydreaming about her.