He looked up the moment he sensed me, eyes wide and glassy, like he wasn’t sure about everything.
God. That look alone could break a man.
I crossed the room in a few strides and crouched down in front of him. “Hey.”
His breath hitched, and he reached for me before he realized he was doing it. I took his hands gently, guiding him up and into my arms. He fit against me like he’d been waiting for permission to fall apart.
“I didn’t know what I was supposed to do. Didn’t know if I were to stay where I was or make myself useful.”
“You don’t have to stay anywhere, I’m not. If you need me, come find me. Always.”
He trembled just a little, and I wrapped my arms around him.
Mom’s warning flickered through my mind again, but it didn’t change a damn thing. I wasn’t going to give him false hope. I wasn’t confusing him with a ghost.
I was holding the boy right in front of me. The one who needed me. The one I’d already chosen. And I wasn’t going to let him go.
Kasey stayed against me. He didn’t ask what happened outside. He didn’t talk. Just clung to me. And maybe that was why the memory rose up, quiet and unbidden, but warm in a way that hurt.
“You know…” I brushed a hand through his hair, “you did something earlier that reminded me of him.”
Kasey stiffened slightly, but didn’t pull away, just listening to that fragile stillness he had when he was afraid of the answer.
I kept my voice soft. “When you tucked yourself into my side like that. The boy I knew used to do that when he was little.”
I let the memory unfold, gentle, and slow. “There was this one summer, hot as hell with no breeze, the kind of heat thatmakes the air shimmer. You – he was maybe six? Seven? He’d been running around the yard with a popsicle, sticky from head to toe.”
A faint confused sound escaped him, like he couldn’t imagine himself that carefree. I smiled a little. “He got tired and came over to me. I didn’t say a word. Just climbed right into my lap and pressed his face into my shirt. Exactly like right now, even.”
Kasey’s fingers curled into my shirt, holding me close, or maybe trying to cling to me even more without being so noticeable.
“He was so small. And he trusted me without thinking. He’d fall asleep on me all the time, like he knew I’d keep him safe.”
I’ll never forget the small moment from back then on.
“I…I remember having popsicles. They were sticky and a lady said I was messy, but in a super nice way. Like your mother treated me.”
“My mother worries for my sanity, but she is very nice.” I pressed my cheek to the top of his head. She got to worry, since it wasn’t the first time I may have been slightly reckless in my search for my best friend.
“I….”
“You what, sweetheart?” I coaxed.
He breathed, leaning more into my hold. It was crazy to think that days ago he was terrified of me, and now here he was, taking comfort of all things from me. It was most likely one of the many flaws with Omegas from Lockswell. As far as I knew, the Omegas tended to latch on to any Alpha that showed them any sort of attention, good or bad.
“You’re nice, too.”
“I had a great set of parents that made sure I was. Alphas should treasure their Omegas and their friends and family. And I’m pretty big on family.”
“You’re…Mom knows about Lockswell.”
“Most people do. It’s advertised as a great school for Omegas to go to for obedience. It’s also where unwanted Omegas are given when the parents can’t care for one or would rather have an Alpha over Omega. But Lockswell isn’t the only boarding school. There’s a number of them across the country.”
“It’s not a great place.” The words were uttered before he could stop them. “Theyhurtus.”
“I’m so sorry you had to deal with all that. I really am. And I wish I could change the way things are.”
Chapter 31
