“We’ve got snacks and the movie covered.”
“Thanks.”
He looks like he wants to say something else or reach out to me. But instead I turn away and go to the shower.
Why am I like this?
CHAPTER24
We’re at the hospital visiting Charlotte and her twins. This is the softest I’ve seen Mikael since I started on the team. They had a son and a daughter, Andrea and Lincoln. They’re so small and fragile, especially in their Alpha father’s hands.
Piper holds one of the babies, and I stand in the corner. It feels like I’m intruding on a moment, like I don’t belong here. Like they’re all one big found family and I’m the outsider.
Piper stands next to me holding the baby while Alexi sits in a chair in the corner. Katie is beside herself when it comes to her new siblings. While I may not be used to being around children, I can feel the joy in the room, and it’s the first time I truly get it.
Anders grabs Katie, and Piper and Mikael are directed to put the newborns in their cots. Charlotte looks exhausted, and I can’t help but to feel like the Omega won’t stop glancing in my direction, like she sees right through me.
“I’m ready for my sushi now,” she declares, and Eli smiles at her and gives her a kiss.
“Let’s go grab lunch. Do you guys want to come?” Eli asks, and we nod our heads in agreement.
“Are you sure you want to be alone,mon sucre d’érable?”Mikael asks, and she sighs.
“The babies are sleeping, and I need some sleep too. Go get lunch, and bring me all my favorites.”
“Okay,” he says, leaning down and kissing her forehead. Piper gives her friend a hug and tells her how proud of her she is, and then Charlotte looks up at me.
“Owen, can you stay for a second?”
I look around the room, and everyone looks confused. But you can’t simply tell a woman who just had two children no. Piper gives me a small shrug and grabs Alexi by the hand and takes him out of the room.
I take a cautious step toward Charlotte. We’ve barely spoken besides the Christmas party, and obviously she knows that the three of us are living at the same house.
“Don’t worry, Piper hasn’t told me your secret,” she says softly.
I blink at the small woman. “What?”
“I was trying to figure it out, what could be so important that my best friend would hide it from me. Then there was the intel I got from my Alphas about you being tired and the way that Alexi is with you.”
“I—”
“Don’t worry, they are too preoccupied with our family and hockey to notice. Your secret is safe with me. Just please don’t hurt my friend.”
“She’s my scent match,” I tell her.
Charlotte shakes her head. “Scent matches can hurt you the most.”
“I promise, I won’t hurt her.”
“Thank you. Not that it matters, but you should be proud of yourself, what you’ve accomplished. I don’t know many Omegas who could keep up with an NHL schedule. No matter what happens, you should be proud of that.”
“Thanks, Charlotte.” I look over at her babies. “And congratulations.”
She gives me a smile and a nod of her head as she lies down. I take that as my time to leave, but when I leave her room, I have multiple sets of eyes on me.
“What did she want?” Mikael asks first in an irritated tone.
“Hey, watch it,” Alexi says immediately, and I scrub a hand down my face.
