“I wanted to invite you to dinner tonight,” Kai says with a confident smile. My mouth pops open, ready to reject the offer, but he talks over my protest. “My mom will be there. She said she misses you, and I told her I’d ask you to join us.”
Well, fuck. He’s using Bee against me…
KAI
My mom is an incredible woman, and she's loved Plum since the day she met her. How could she not? Plum is amazing. Everyone that gets to know her likes her.
She’s a lot like Bee in that regard.
My mom is a badass old lady, and I hate knowing she’s trying to be strong for everyone else all alone. So, I’m here. Even if she does bitch daily about the house I bought her being too nice and complains the maid, chef, and driver I hired are an‘extravagant expense not to be wasted on me.’
As if she’s not the best fucking mom alive.
They keep her company, and each of them has known her their whole lives too, so I know she’s in good hands despite her complaining like it’s her job. That’s just Mom.
“You’re lying,” Plum says cautiously, narrowing her eyes at me.
Nick’s also watching like I’ll snatch her away from him at any moment. That’s not why I’m here, luckily for him. If he and Benson make her happy, then I won’t try to get in the way of that. I just need to convince them I’d be the perfect addition to their blossoming pack. I need to show Plum she can have everything she wants and more while convincing the alphas I’m worthy.
I’ve considered locking Benson and Nick in a dungeon until Plum agrees to be mine again as a last resort, though. Mostly unseriously, but…
“Here. Proof.” I pull up the text thread between my mother and me, burying the thoughts of locking her alphas away. I only show her the last three messages, where Mom says she misses Plum, and I say I’ll invite her to dinner. I hide the reply Mom sent, telling me not to bother her.
“I haven’t seen her since Halloween,” Plum murmurs, nibbling her bottom lip. She shifts on her feet, her legging-covered thighs looking damn enticing.
Did her alphas have them wrapped around their heads last night? Lucky fuckers.
I’m slightly regretful that I didn’t take Val’s advice and install those cameras in here, but I’m not trying toinvadeher privacy.Okay, I’m not trying toviolateher privacy. I’m definitely trying to invade it. Wouldn’t mind invading it right this second, actually.
I know she’d probably bury me in a shallow grave if she knew the thoughts running through my head, so I keep them to myself.
“Bring your alphas too,” I offer, grinning up at Nick, snorting when he glares back. He’s only a few inches taller than me, and I don’t miss the way his muscles flex as he holds Plum just a little tighter. His scent is doing its darnedest to drown mine out. I can tell just by the look in her eyes that it’s not working.
“You want me to come over to have dinner with you and your mother, and you want me to bring two other men with me?” she asks, staring at me like I’m insane. Which, okay, fair. But if anyone can win her over, it’s my mom.
“My mom misses you, and I just want to make her happy. If you don’t want to come alone, that's okay. Bring your boyfriends. Bee loves everyone…”
“No, she doesn’t,” the three of us say in unison, and her smile seems to break the tension in her just enough to let her guard down.
“Okay, she likes some and loves even fewer, but she’d be happy to share dinner with your alphas, especially if it means you’ll be there,” I add, lifting my left arm to rest against the doorframe and leaning into her doorway.
She swallows as her gaze follows the line of my body, pupils dilating.
“I’ll think about it,” Plum says, glancing down at her toes and getting lost in her head again. I wish I could lift her into my arms, stopping whatever dark thoughts are plaguing her.
“I’ll take that as a yes. Meet me here tonight at five,” I say, blowing her a kiss and shooting Nick a wink, smirking when heshakes his head at me. I leave before she can find an excuse to get out of it. Before she can ask about other things.
Plum didn’t mention the donation, thankfully, and I’m not about to bring it up.
I know she witnessed the disaster at the event, but I bailed before anyone else could thank me. It felt shitty and self-serving, like I did it for the praise, which couldn’t be more wrong. I did it because it was my girl's childhood dream, and I can finally make it come true.
I didn’t want Plum to know I was the one who made the anonymous donation. Which is why I fucking selectedanonymous.I should've known I couldn’t trust that bitch, Tiffany, when she started sneering at me.
Once alone, back in my apartment, I dial Mom, lifting the phone to my ear. She already gave me an earful about what happened, so I’m hoping she's let it go by now.
“Oh, what do you want now, Kai? This is your fifth call today, and it’s not even two!” Mom huffs, and I snort. I know she doesn’t mean it. She’s a cactus on the outside, but on the inside my mom needs love and attention just as much as any omega. The more I call her, the happier she sounds each time. Well, usually.
“Plum’s coming over for dinner tonight, and she’s bringing two alphas. Benson and Nick. She misses you, and I told her I’d convince you to have dinner with us,” I tell her while fiddling with the strings of my shorts, feeling just a little guilty for the half-lie I’ve told them both.
