Page 22 of My Three Hometown Alphas

I’m leaving in a few months. California. Internship.

He’s technically my boss right now.

Things would be so messy with the rest of his family—especially his brothers who I’m pretty sure I’m developing feelings for, too.

In a storm of my thoughts, I murmur, “I know.”

His lips press against my forehead. Then, he’s stepping around me and opening the door that leads back into the house.

I can’t keep from looking over my shoulder at him. The light from inside the house is a shock, but not as much as the utter devastation staring back at me in Owen’s face.

He takes a deep breath, then finally lets the door fall closed between us.

I stand there in the silent darkness unable to think of anything other than the feel of his lips against mine and how much I want it to happen again.

Without a drink in hand, I walk back inside. Maybe that’s the last little piece of Owen I will ever get. If it was, I’m grateful because that felt a lot more like the Owen I met years ago.

It wasn’t so much in the number of words we exchanged but the feeling behind them.

Don’t ask me how I can sense this, but it’s true regardless.

My eyes lock with his across the dining room table as I sit down. He gives me a small smile laced with finality, picking out the piece he wants to use for the game Lyla chose.

I guess that’s it, then.

CHAPTER NINE

Miles

After washing my face,I glance at my reflection in the mirror. There are several black smudges streaked across my cheeks and forehead.

I spent the morning fixing the joints on the metal framework we use to store all the lumber outside the store. Whenever I get to weld, it always makes my day better.

I have an associate’s degree in welding. I tried working other jobs outside of my family, but I quickly realized working with my family is where I belong. Welding is still a part of the job from time to time, and I get to spend the days with my brothers.

Win-win…

If I wasn’t convinced before Liv got sick, her passing cemented my decision. Losing her made all of us pull our circle in a little more. In part it was to be there for Lyla when she needed us the most, but it was also what all of us adults needed, too.

Wetting a few paper towels, I do my best to wipe my face clean. It’ll have to do until I can take a shower later.

Turning down the hallway, I hear Will’s voice through his office door that’s not fully closed.

“Sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you. I set up automatic deposits that will go in monthly for the after-school program through the school year,” he says.

There’s silence for a minute.

“I know it’s more. I trust you to do what’s best for the kids,” Will says. He must be talking to Marlene who works in conjunction with the school district and the rec center to run the after-school that our family predominantly funds.

Will chuckles. “Marlene, you’ve been doing this for long enough. You know I trust you. I don’t need you to run everything by me.” He laughs some more. “Yeah, yeah, you too. Talk to you later.”

I run my hand over my face. Will shouldn’t have to shoulder so much of the burden with running things. He naturally takes on the role of the big brother, but the burden isn’t on him alone. I make a mental note to take some of the work off his hands.

If it weren’t for the positive things we’re able to do with it, I would probably be resentful of the wealth my parents have.

It has felt strange to have always had the safety net of our parents’ money, when so many people never have that security. The inequity has always made me feel uneasy.

It isn’t that we were raised to be spoiled brats. That wasn’t the case at all.