Page 3 of My Three Hometown Alphas

She shifts in her seat, so she’s facing me as much as she can. “What’s your story, Owen? Where are you flying to today?”

All the levity from the last few minutes whooshes from my body like a deflating balloon, and reality settles back in. The pain inside of me is threatening to squeeze the very life from my lungs.

She must see the change in my expression because her face falls, too. “Shit, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

I wave my hand in front of me. “No, it’s fine. You had no idea. It’s just been a rough few days.”

She nods in what looks like understanding.

Maybe it’s this undeniable connection that’s already snapped into existence between us or some other force at play, but I feel the need to spill my guts to this woman.

“My twin sister has cancer.”

AVERY

Fuck.

The pain on Owen’s face is tangible. The air around us becomes thick with it because he’s not the only one feeling the emotion.

My heart hurts so much, to the point where I don’t know how I’m going to make it through each day. The pain and fear are almost paralyzing.

I could tell him that I’m sorry, but I know how futile those words are when you’re on receiving end of them in this situation.

Instead, I go with, “My dad has cancer.”

“Fuck,” he mutters under his breath, running his hand over his face.

He reaches over, lacing his fingers through mine. His hand is so much bigger than mine. It makes me feel safe, like with him here nothing bad can happen.

This can’t possibly be true, but I let myself believe it, even if it’s only for this moment.

“He starts chemo tomorrow. I would have come home sooner, but he insisted I finish my finals first.”

He nods but doesn’t say anything for a moment. “Where’s home?” he asks. “And please tell me your finals were for college or I’m going to jail.”

This guy.

I huff out a laugh even when I don’t feel it deep within me like the other laughs he’s drawn from me. “Austin, and yes, college. I’m twenty. Don’t have a heart attack or anything.”

He squeezed my hand. “You’re still too young for me, but at least I don’t have to resort to wearing orange every day.”

“I’ve always liked older men.”

“Daddy issues,” he says.

The way this man can make me smile when nothing else has been able to in the last few weeks is astounding. Reality is always lingering on the sidelines, though, waiting for its chance to smack me in the face.

My face falls once again, that ever-present reality making itself known.

“Fuck, that was a stupid thing to say. I’m sorry, Avery.”

Hearing him say my name sends a shiver down my spine that distracts me for a second.

“It’s okay.”

“No, it isn’t.”

I just shrug because what else is there to say.