Page 70 of My Three Hometown Alphas

His last words seem to settle a sadness over him. Over all of us.

Liv was a force to be reckoned with. When she got her diagnosis, I remember thinking there was no way she wasn’t going to beat it because it was her.

She was my older sister, and until that point nothing could ever bring her down. Cancer turned out to be the one opponent she couldn’t overcome.

Fuck… I miss her. And I hate cancer with every fiber of my being.

Dragging in a deep breath, I try to think of a way to lighten the mood. That’s what I do. It’s the role I’ve taken on in the last few years, making everyone smile despite what they’re feeling.

With my free hand, I grab a package of tortillas off the shelf. When his head is turned, I throw it in Owen’s direction.

It hits the side of his face with a satisfying smack. With his quick reflexes, he snatches it before it falls to the ground.

His head swivels right to me. I point to Avery.

“The fuck,” she says under her breath, looking at her hands that are both occupied. One is held in mine, while the other is wrapped around Will’s waist.

“Not that I don’t think she’d do it, but I’m not that stupid,” Owen says, tossing the tortillas into the cart.

“Hey,” Avery says, clearly offended at Owen’s accusation.

Owen’s eyes narrow on her. “Are you saying you wouldn’t do it if you had the chance?”

She contemplates it for a second. Before she can respond, Lyla speaks up. “I want to throw tortillas at you,” she says, laughing.

“I second that,” Avery says, moving her arms from around Will to give Lyla a fist bump.

“The women in my life are going to be the death of me,” Owen grumbles as he maneuvers the cart in a U-turn through the aisle. He comes to an abrupt stop.

As we all turn, we see why.

The town’s grumpy-ass mayor, Kevin Sheridan, is standing in the middle of the of the aisle, glaring daggers at all of us. His stare is especially focused on how Avery is currently holding onto both Will and me.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Kevin snaps. “I swear this town is cursed. How can people think relationships like this are okay?” He shakes his head and his hand motions across all of us. “You’re all a plague on this town with your farce of a relationship.”

My brothers tense beside me, while my free hand clenches into a fist so tight it borders on painful. Will grabs Lyla’s hand, pulling her halfway behind him.

Unfortunately, Kevin rambles on. “All it means is someone,” he looks right at Avery, “is too desperate to have a normal relationship with one man.”

I’m just about ready to say something when I see Owen step toward Kevin, blocking Avery from his view.

Avery releases herself from both me and Will, stepping to Owen’s side. She presses her palm flat against Owen’s chest and gives him a look that seems to say “hold my beer… I’ve got this.”

Owen gives her a long, assessing glance before stepping back. He’s still standing guard behind her, but he gives her the space she wanted.

Avery turns to face Kevin. Even from her profile, I can see the venom spewing from the look she’s giving him alone.

“Maybe you should spend more time worrying about things that actually matter in this town, rather than other people’s relationships. Honestly, it’s kind of pathetic that you have to focus on others’ relationships so much because of the lack of one in your own life.”

I swear smoke is going to start pouring out of the mayor’s ears, but Avery continues.

“The fact you are so judgmental of things you know nothing about says far more about you than about anyone you’re passing judgment on. Love is love, sir,” she says, the last words dripping with condescension. “The world is far more than your narrow-minded, harmful views.”

She might be several inches shorter than Kevin, but she takes a threatening step toward him. Her pointer finger is thrust out in front of her, emphasizing each of her parting words.

“And if you ever say something like that to me or any of my people,” she motions behind her toward all of us, “I promise you, I will use more than words next time.”

“Have the day you deserve,” she says before stepping around him.