Page 87 of My Three Hometown Alphas

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Miles

Two days.That’s all the time we have left before she leaves for her graduation ceremony. She’ll be coming back to pick up all her things before driving to California, but she’ll only be here for a handful of hours then.

The reality of the situation is an uncomfortable weight in my heart. It makes me want to squirm out of my own skin and sink back into the couch cushions, letting them swallow me whole.

She’s sitting next to me on the couch, and I want more than anything to pull her into my arms. I have no idea how many more times I’ll get the chance, but Lyla is curled up on Avery’s other side while we have our family movie night.

Will and Owen are sitting on the opposite side of the sectional, their feet propped up on the coffee table.

Lyla chose to watchMulantonight. It was one of my favorite movies growing up, so I was pumped. When “I’ll Make a Man out of You”starts playing, Owen and I lock eyes, smirking because we know what’s coming.

The blanket that’s draped over Lyla’s lap goes flying toward Will. She bolts upright. Avery’s eyes pop wide in surprise.

Her shock quickly turns to amusement when Lyla starts belting out the song at the top of her lungs and dancing around the room.

Lyla’s been obsessed with this song since the first time she watched this movie. She never lets any of us sing or dance with her because she says it’s about girl power, so we just sit back and let her have her moment.

She pauses mid-lyric, spinning around to face Avery. “Wait… you’re a girl,” Lyla says, a little out of breath.

Avery’s smile grows. “That I am.”

Lyla grabs Avery’s hand, pulling her to stand beside her. Avery stands still for a total of four seconds before joining Lyla, who’s resumed her performance.

Apparently, Avery knows the movie well because she sings each word along with her little companion. They dance around, mimicking the movements everyone is doing on-screen.

When the song comes to an end, they both look defeated. Will silently picks up the remote, rewinding the movie a few minutes to where the song begins. Without a second of hesitation, they jump right back into their singing and dancing.

Glancing over at my brothers, I see a mix of joy and sadness shining in their eyes. We all want this.

It isn’t just the sex, which is phenomenal. It isn’t even just our relationship with Avery. It’s this.All of it.We want Avery to be a part of our family.

Wanting something you can’t have is an unyielding ache that festers and festers. It’s there constantly, reminding you how wonderful things could be.

If only…

The song once again comes to close. This time, they both flop back down onto the couch in a fit of giggles.

Lyla’s laughing so hard, she falls against Avery’s side. The movement presses Avery against me.

They both take deep breaths, trying to calm down.

“That was fun,” Avery says, peeking up at me.

“It was fun to watch,” I say, waggling my eyebrows at her.

Lyla sits up, reaching for her blanket. With Lyla no longer there as her excuse to snuggle against me, Avery starts to move.

Lyla presses on her shoulder, pushing her back. “No, stay. That was comfy.”

Avery shrugs. I lift my arm over the back of the couch as she lays back against me. Once comfortable, she focuses back on the movie.

With her blanket in hand, Lyla gives me a wink before resting her head against Avery.

This kid.

I just shake my head, wrapping my arm around both of them. Lyla’s sneaky ways might be a problem for us in the future, but right now I’m not going to shoot a gift horse in the mouth.