“What?” she replies with her mouth hanging open.
“Miss Henderson was fucking hot. She had this whole naughty librarian vibe about her. She always made sure to put her boobs on my back when she leaned over my desk. It was senior year, and I had already presented as Alpha. I was taller and bigger than all the other guys in my grade. One day she asked me to stay after class to discuss a ‘test.’ She took off her shirt, and I rutted her over her desk.”
“Wow,” she says, so I just keep going.
“She begged me to knot her, but she was a Beta and I had never done it before. So when I didn’t, she was super pissy and gave me a low grade on the next quiz. It never happened again. From what I heard, it sounds like quite a few of the guys fucked Miss Henderson that year.”
“My virginity story is nowhere near as interesting.”
“Do tell,” I reply.
“Well, it was at band camp,” she says.
“No way. You’re messing with me.”
“Definitely not messing with you. I was the band kid in high school, and let me tell you, band kids are freaks. I’ve walked in on more orgies than you can imagine.”
I belt out a laugh. “I played football and let me tell you, the amount of shit that went on in the locker room.”
“Did you ever join?” she asks with a twinkle in her eye. I can’t tell if she’s teasing or not.
“No, not with my teammates. Other Alphas aren’t my thing.”
“But neither are Omegas?” she asks.
“Betas are easier,” I reply.
“Why?”
“I don’t like to share,” I say, and her cheeks have a hint of flush to them.
“Like…in all ways?”
“No,” I keep it simple. We’re locked in a staring contest as she takes in what I’ve said. I should just ask her if she could see herself with just one Alpha. Would it be enough? The doctor told her she needs a pack, not an Alpha. I’m not sufficient.As always.
“We…we should probably get some sleep. We leave for Atlanta tomorrow.”
“Do you need anything?” I ask her before she heads off to bed. She pauses like she wants to ask me for something, but changes her mind and shakes her head no instead. “Goodnight, Cami,” I tell her before she is out of sight.
She turns and smiles. “Goodnight, Smith.”
Cami’s mom’s house reminds me a lot of my own parents’ house—like she hasn’t changed a thing in decades.
Cami and her mom are currently locked in the tightest hug as her mom, Nadia, rubs her back. Nadia looks in great shape. As she hugs her daughter, I can see some similarities between their stature and eye color. She has that warmth that exudes from a good mom. It makes me miss my own.
“I missed you so much, honey.”
“I missed you too, Mama. I’m happy to be home.”
“You look too skinny. I’m going to make your favorite tonight.” Nadia looks over her daughter’s shoulder. “Do you like ribs, Smith?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I reply and smile. I can’t remember the last time I had a homemade meal.
“Perfect, I’ll make extra. You look about the size of my brother, Karim. I’ll make sure there’s plenty of food,” she says while smiling at me. She holds Cami’s hand and walks her into the kitchen.
I take the time to look throughout the space. It’s warm and cozy. A simple two-bedroom ranch style home. The living room has a large beige couch in the middle of it with quilted blankets on top. Photographs plaster the walls and I look closely at the different images.
Cami wasn’t lying about being a band girl. There are multiple pictures of her playing various instruments and wearing her uniform. She looks so happy, not bogged down with the weight that’s on her shoulders now. There are also a few family pictures. It looks like the one with her father is from when she was about ten years old.
