Page 42 of My Three Hometown Alphas

“It’s kind of nice to have people to take care of again.” She swallows. “I didn’t realize how much I’d miss it.”

We haven’t talked about it a lot, but I know she did a lot to take care of her dad over the last several years.

Her sorrow hits me right in the heart. I can’t help myself from pulling her in against me. Her arms wrap around me, and her forehead rests in the middle of my chest.

Wanting to give her any small comfort I can, I slide my hands up and down her back. When I turn my head to the left, Owen is staring at me with a burning intensity.

“What’s wrong?” he mouths.

“Her dad,” I mouth back.

He nods once, and his eyes glance down to Avery. He looks like he wants to rip her away from me and cocoon her in his hold.

He doesn’t. His heavy boots clomp against the hardwood and out the front door.

There’s a clatter in the sink behind us, then Lyla is staring up at me with worried eyes.

“Aves, are you okay?” she asks.

Avery turns her head so she can look down at Lyla. “Yeah, Lyles. I’m okay now. I was just missing my dad.”

Their new nicknames for each other are adorable, even though I’ll never tell anyone I think such a thing.

Lyla nods with an understanding I wish she didn’t possess. “Uncle Will gives the best hugs. They help when I miss my mom.”

I damn near melt into a puddle on the floor. I’ve done everything in my power to be anything and everything that little girl could need.

She’s had enough sadness in her life. She won’t be facing any more if I have anything to say about it.

Avery tilts her head back to look up at me. “Yeah, it’s pretty great.”

Fuck.Now my heart’s melting for a completely different reason.This woman…

Her eyes stay locked on me as she steps back. Finally, she looks down at Lyla. “Let’s go get you ready so we can go to the library.”

The two of them disappear up the stairs, and I’m left standing in the kitchen. My hands hang limply at my sides, now that she’s no longer here to hold onto.

Miles’s voice startles me. “And we’re the ones being dumbasses,” he laughs.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Avery

“Lyles,”I groan, letting my head fall against the back of the couch.

“What?” she says, turning to face me from where she’s kneeling on the floor by the coffee table.

“I’m so tired.”

“Did you not sleep good last night?” she asks.

I’m definitely not going to tell her that fantasies about one, two, or maybe even three of her uncles kept me up far too late last night. Since the night I spent with Miles and Owen a few days ago, I’ve been able to think of little else.

It doesn’t help that every interaction with their stubborn older brother stokes a confusing fire inside of me.

Why do they all have to be fine as hell?

I just shrug. “I don’t know. I’m just struggling here.”