Page 73 of My Three Hometown Alphas

I don’t have my little sidekick with me because I dropped her off at her best friend’s house a few minutes ago for a playdate. I think it’s exactly what she needed, a distraction and some time with her bestie.

The lady working at the front of the store gives me a smile when I walk in. By this point in the summer, I’ve gotten to know all the workers here at the store.

For not wanting to spend her whole summer here at the hardware store, Lyla sure wants to stop by and see her uncles frequently.

It isn’t like I’m stopping her, though. I’m always game to get a few minutes with any of them. And that’s a problem that future me is going to have to handle.

Turning down the hallway in the back, I hear Will’s voice coming from his office. I knock a few times, peeking my head in the partially opened door.

Will and Miles are standing to the side of the desk, talking.

“Hey,” I say, not stepping inside yet. “Is this a bad time?”

Both of their heads snap in my direction.

“Is everything okay?” Will asks, bypassing my question.

“Lyla’s okay,” I say.

“You?” Miles asks.

“I’m fine.”

“You can come in,” Will says, holding his hand up toward the door.

The door slides shut behind me after I step inside. They’ve both turned to face me.

“Lyla told me what tomorrow is,” I say. They both nod. “I just wanted to check on all of you. I mean, I know you aren’t alright. I just….”

I don’t know what else to say, so I just shrug.

“I’m not going to say we’re all doing great, but we’ll get through it,” Will says. He runs his hand over the stubble on his face. “We’ve made it through three of these days. We’ll make it through tomorrow, too.”

“Not having her here is painful every day, but this date always makes the pain a little sharper. A littler harder to ignore,” Miles says.

I feel torn, standing across the room from them. I can feel the way their guards are partially up right now, but I want more thananything to wrap my arms around both of them and soothe some of the hurt raging inside of them.

I give in, unable to take it anymore. I close the distance between us in a few short strides, wrapping my arms around both of them the best I can. It effectively forces them into a group hug, but they don’t seem to mind.

“I figured the first time the three of us were in a sandwich like this there would be a lot less clothes involved,” Miles jokes.

I let out a small laugh, but I see right through him. He’s using humor as a deflection from what he’s feeling, what his brother is feeling.

“Fucking Miles.” Will laughs, shaking his head.

I guess it worked.

I lean up, giving them each a kiss before taking a small step back. “Where’s Owen?” I ask. Something inside of me screams that I really need to check on him.

The brothers exchange a look before training their eyes back on me.

“He went home a little while ago,” Miles says.

Will leans against his desk. “You must have just missed him when you left the house earlier.”

I nod, feeling like there’s more to the story.

“He was really struggling,” Will adds, shaking his head. “He didn’t need to be here.”