Page 12 of Temporary Omega
After they’d returned to the party, going back in the way they came, Luca had gone to the bathroom to try freshening up. When he looked himself in the mirror, it was obvious that he’d been crying, his eyes puffy from the tears.
Luca looked a total mess.
“At least the alpha doesn’t want you for your looks,” he muttered to himself. He looked a complete fright.
He did his best to make himself presentable, but it was the whole closing the barn door after the horse got out... pointless.
Why didn’t he have concealer on him? He kind of wished he wore makeup now, a touch up would have been in order. Sigh, too bad it had never been his thing. If anyone needed their puffiness concealed right now it was him.
Luca went back out to the party but stayed to the corners. At the moment, he was kind of wishing that his friend had had a large ceremony because then he could have made the excuse later of him being surrounded by a lot of people when Luca decided to perform a disappearing act, and leave without being noticed.
Luca would admit he’d been tracking the alpha since he re-entered the large living room that had been cleared out for the occasion.
When he’d come back in the room, his eyes had immediately sought the man out. Luca hated to admit it, but a part of him was fearful that he’d dreamed up the offer. As much as he loathed to take a hand out, he also knew that Lincoln was the best of a worst situation.
You mean he’s a godsend?
Because Luca knew his options were very limited. Who was he kidding, he had no better option.
When he’d come back in the room and his eyes landed on Lincoln, it was to find the man with the two boys, the twins, that Riley had said belonged to his new friend Jai, and Jai’s husband Nickolas–also a friend of Riley’s new husband. Which meant he probably was a friend of Lincoln’s.
Lincoln had the twins and Max with him, one on each leg and Max in a chair facing him. Riley watched as the man did the magic trick where he pulled a coin out of Max’s ear, to all the kiddies delight.
He couldn’t be half bad if the kids were comfortable with him. Although if he was frank, it looked like they were more than comfortable, it looked like they loved Lincoln. He was definitely no stranger to them.
And weren’t kids good judges of character? Didn’t the saying go, kids and dogs could spot evil? He should have remembered that saying since neither creature had particularly cared for his ex.
Luca couldn’t stop the sigh that escaped, and the anger that coursed through him whenever he thought about Frankie. But more than that, he hated the sadness. Sadness because as much as he hated to admit it, he’d had real feelings for the alpha, at least until he’d showed his true colors. But at one time Luca had believed the man was his future.
His eyes never left the alpha, so he saw the moment Lincoln stood, putting both twins on their feet first. The kids ran off and out of the room, probably to the well-stocked playroom he’d been shown earlier in the day when Riley had given him a super quick tour.
Lincoln walked up to Grayson, who had Riley tucked into his body. The newlyweds had been plastered together since they said I do. Not that he was jealous or anything.
He watched as Lincoln said something to the newlyweds before leaning down and placing a kiss on Riley’s cheek, only to have Grayson pull him back playfully, if the laughing going on was any indication.
Grayson said something to Lincoln that had the alpha throwing his head back in a laugh that showed the full expanse of the alpha’s masculine throat. Were throats hot?
Nope, he wasn’t going there.
He focused back on the scene in front of him in time to see the hug between Lincoln and Grayson, and the back pats, followed by whispered words that had both of them smiling. Then had Grayson glancing down at his new husband, his smile getting wider.
Luca could tell from the way Lincoln and Grayson behaved towards each other that theirs was a good friendship
He watched all this take place from his position. Observing Lincoln like he could learn more about the man by watching his behavior. Luca figured he could learn something, anything, about the man he’d agreed to basically live with.
Lincoln stood back, then said a couple more words to the newlyweds before turning to leave. The man must have known where Luca was the entire time because he met Luca’s gaze with precision without having to search the room, and held it for a moment before exiting the room.
Luca waited five minutes then walked up to the newlyweds himself. When Riley spotted him, his face lit up in happiness, and his friend let go of his husband and opened his arms, which Luca walked into.
He needed the hug. Badly.
Luca was lucky to have Riley as a friend.So why won’t you tell him what’s going on?
He knew why, he didn’t want to be a burden. Luca knew Riley would open his home to him, but it wasn’t right, the newlyweds already had two kids, they didn’t need a friend intruding on their newly wedded bliss.
Riley pulled back and looked at Luca, a pout on his delicate face. The man could give cupid a complex with those angelic features. “You’re leaving? You sure you don’t want to stay the night? We could spend the day together tomorrow. This one,” Riley pointed at his alpha and husband, teasing, “is at the office all day tomorrow for a meeting before we leave for our family vacation and honeymoon. Isn’t it great? Oh, I miss you Luc, you’ve been too scarce.” His friend babbled, and pulled him in for another hug. He couldn’t help but smile at Riley’s joy. He was a totally different person from the man Luca had first met.
His happiness so bright you could probably see it from space.