Page 82 of My Three Hometown Alphas

I should be paying attention to the game, but I couldn’t even tell you what inning we’re in. I could say it’s because we’re in the middle of the second game and it’s all a blur at this point. That would be a lie.

It’s actually because I keep finding myself staring at Avery. I don’t know when it happened, but I’ve completely fallen for her. Hook, line, and sinker.

I’minlove with her.

A small smile crosses my face as she throws her head back, laughing at something Hadley said. She’s been over there acting like the other two women are her long-lost sisters, not two women she met a couple of hours ago.

I get it, though. Avery is an easy woman to be around.

I would know.

She must sense my eyes on her because she looks right at me. The smile she gives me is enough to send my heart rate into overdrive.

I subtly wink at her before she turns back to her new friends.

I try to turn my attention back to the game, but it’s pretty pointless unless I’m on the field. All I can think about now is this new worry that’s settling over me.

How am I going to hold my whole family together when Avery leaves? I don’t know if I’m going to be able to keep my own head above water without her anymore.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Why does loving someone have to hurt this much?

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Avery

My finger has been hoveringover the button for a full three minutes now. I haven’t been able to bring myself to actually submit my final essay.

It just seems so monumental. Years and years of work culminating with this one final click of a button.

The political science master’s program was so popular they started additional cohorts of students that would finish and graduate after the summer semester. The only thing currently standing between me and walking across that stage to receive my diploma is turning in this essay.

“Aves,” Lyla says, leaning over my shoulder. “Why haven’t you sent it in yet?”

“I don’t know,” I say honestly.

“Do you need to fix anything?” she asks.

“No.”

“Do you need to add anything?”

“No.”

“It’s perfect?”

“As perfect as it can be, I think.”

“Then…” She leans over me, clicking the submit button herself. “Done.”

My head whips to the side. “Lyles… What did you just do?”

“You just said it was perfect. I just did the hard part for you,” she says, smiling at me as she takes a couple steps backward.

I love this girl.

“Thank you,” I tell her. I think I’m actually thanking her for more than just clicking that button.