River turns to grab something from behind the counter, and Ben immediately mouths at me:You into him?
My face goes nuclear. I shake my head frantically.
Ben's eyebrow raises. He's not buying it.
"You know what, Ben should get going." I grab Ben's arm and start pulling him toward the door. "Don't you have to get back to work?"
"I've got time?—"
"No, you don't. You're very busy. So busy." I'm physically shoving him now.
"Bea—"
"BYE, BEN."
I push him out onto the sidewalk. He's laughing.
"I'm not into him!" I hiss.
"You're definitely into him." He's grinning like he just won something. "Your face is doing that thing."
"What thing?"
"That thing where you're lying and you know you're lying but you're still gonna lie about it anyway." He starts backing away toward his truck. "Oh, and I'm looking at properties. Thinking about getting my own place."
I blink. "Really?"
"Yeah. Time to give you and Mom some space." He grins. "Though with the way you keep attracting alphas, maybe you'll need the extra bedroom for pack sleepovers?—"
"GET OUT OF HERE!"
"Love you too, sis! See you later, River!" He calls through the door.
I stand there on the sidewalk, face burning, as he drives off laughing.
When I walk back inside, River's trying very hard not to smile.
"Don't," I warn him.
"I didn't say anything."
"You're thinking it."
"I'm just thinking your brother is very..." He pauses, clearly searching for a diplomatic word.
"Annoying? Obnoxious? A pain in my ass?"
"Entertaining." River grins. "But those work too."
I groan and sink against the counter. "I'm sorry about that. He thinks he's hilarious."
"He kind of is." River's eyes are warm. "For what it's worth, he clearly cares about you. That's a good thing."
"He's been unbearable since I moved back home. Always in my business, always teasing." I pause, a wicked grin forming. "Though I should tell you something. Ben still sleeps with a nightlight. Has since he was a kid. Afraid of the dark."
River's eyebrows shoot up. "Really?"
"No." I laugh. "But this is a small town. One word from me and by tomorrow, he'll be known as the alpha who sleeps with a nightlight."
