It’s no wonder Falcon behaved like such an asshole while he was a teenager.
He spent his childhood with a woman who could barely take care of herself.
Before he was even old enough, he was the one to take care of them both.
That had to be hard. I don’t think I would have had the strength for it.
“I won’t mention it,” Shadow promises. “We should go. If you’re ready?”
I nod in response. I’m beyond ready to have this night end.
Shadow nods back. “Follow me.”
He turns, moving toward the dancefloor.
I hesitate for a second, stumbling over my own feet when I snap out of my thoughts and start to follow my kid brother. Straightening, my shoulder connects with something, and a horrified gasp drags my gaze to the waitress I bumped up against. Her eyes go wide as the plates jump up and clatter back down onto the tray she’s carrying.
I turn quickly, reaching out to steady her arm and the tray as her worried gaze drifts upwards.
The moment her pretty eyes meet mine, time seems to slow down.
For one magical moment, the world around us melts away.
All there is, is me and this red-haired, bright-eyed woman.
She’s so familiar and so different, all at once.
The connection between us is too strong to deny.
This woman is supposed to be in my life.
Whoever she is.
“Oh, no! I’m so sorry!” she gasps out, gaze breaking away, moving back to the contents of the tray she’s holding.
“It’s my fault. I wasn’t looking so I didn’t see you.”
Though now that I’m hearing those words out loud it seems crazy.
If I’d been faster on my feet I might have missed her entirely.
I can’t imagine how horrible that would be.
Now that I’ve seen her, I don’t want to look away.
She’s captivating, with those bright eyes and that soft, sweet demeanour.
Her hair is tied back, but I can see it’s an auburn shade that’s a little darker than the freckles that are scattered across her nose and cheeks. They stand out against her pale skin, and I know if I didn’t need to help her hold the tray steady, I would already be reaching up to stroke my fingers over the skin on her cheek.
Her gaze is hungry when she lets it meet mine.
I think she can feel our connection.
It’s hard to tell with Betas. They don’t have the solid instincts of an Alpha, or the intuition of an Omega, so they don’t always understand what they’re feeling when it comes to these bonds.
She likely hasn’t felt this before, either.
I’ve had it happen three times.
