I watched the game. Like last period there was a lot of punching of people, skating around with knives for feet, and the puck flying across the ice, so quickly that it was hard to keep track. Both teams scored again. Intermission started with the score now at 2-2.
“Will you tell me what happened now?” Aunty Kiki demanded.
An abbreviated version of what I discovered tumbled out.
“I’m the wrong omega.” I sniffed. But if I was the wrong omega, why did being with them feel so right?
“I can understand you’re upset. But how does this impact anything? We’re going home tomorrow,” Auntie Kiki said.
“I wasn’t who was chosen. I wasn’t the person they were supposed to meet,” I explained. “Everything is based on a lie. Relationships based on a lie only work out in the movies. I mean look at me and Logan, we exploded because he’s a big liar.”
“This is nothing like you and Logan.” Auntie Kiki looked confused. “It’s okay to be mad at that girl, but I don’t understand, there were no lies.”
“It was an innocent mistake on the boys’ part. Probably fate,” Auntie Cookie agreed.
“You’re not getting it. I was the wrong person again,” I implored.
“Oh, Kai.” Auntie Kiki held me to her. “You were never wrong.”
“Maybe.” I sniffed. Everything was starting to make sense, but I wasn’t ready to see reason yet.
“You thought it was us?” Auntie Tiff asked.
“Yes, because you’d absolutely do something like that,” I replied.
“Me?” Auntie Mimi put a hand to her chest like she would never.
I rolled my eyes. “Actually, I thought it was Auntie Cookie.”
Auntie Cookie laughed. “Not me. But I like this idea of setting everyone up to win. I should do that with my team at work, so we become the best-selling team in Vegas.”
She worked in real estate. Honestly, she could probably pull it off.
Auntie Kiki squeezed my shoulder. “I can see how you thought it was us. Why didn’t you ask us earlier?”
“To me it felt like you wanted it to seem natural, so I was letting you have your fun.” My shoulders slumped. If only I had asked earlier.
Auntie Kiki pushed up my chin. “None of that. You met nice boys. Nice boys you weren’t planning to keep.”
“True.” I hadn’t planned on keeping them.
Part of me wanted to.
“We’re leaving tomorrow and you’ll probably never see these boys again,” Auntie Kiki assured. “Let’s get some cocktails. You’ll feel better.”
Her words echoed through my head. I was leaving them behind. My heart twisted. But honestly maybe finding all of this out was for the better.
As amazing as they were, it wouldn’t erase the fact that their life was here and mine was in Hawai’i.
I stood and followed them up the stairs.
A hand laid on my arm and I turned. Carys.
“Are you alright? You look like you’ve been crying?” Carys frowned.
“I’ll be okay,” I replied. I had to be.
Chapter Twenty-Four
