I obey because I don’t have the willpower to fight him.
“It was a winter’s day; the wind was blowing so hard it was making the windows rattle. The sky was full of clouds that were racing across the sky, and the rain was falling in unpredictable sheets of water, and all the Sol’s were home. And Devon, of course, because our home was basically his home.”
Isn’t it ironic that while Sofia was crushing on her brother’s best friend, I was sitting here, staring at their house, crushing on my best friend’s brother.
I listen to Sebastian talk until I fall asleep. In the morning, when I check, my brain stops, and I just stare at the screen on my phone, unable to process, because it was real. It really happened.
But he stayed. I press my shaking fingers to my chest where a warmth blooms.
Sebastian stayed on the phone with me all night. He stayed for six hours, fifty-five minutes, and forty-three seconds. I stare at the number and start to cry because it’s just about the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me, but that is the alpha I love.
The day goes too quickly, and before I know it, I’m standing in the entrance of my home wearing jeans, a cream winter jacket, and boots. Gale has had Imogen over, and she has been loving on him. So, he’s settled in for the night.
I press a hand to my stomach, wondering if I will throw up.
“This was stupid. I should just call Lorelei and get out of it.”
Just as I reach for the phone, the door opens, and Bas is standing there. Not Seb. Not Sebastian. This is my Bas, thealpha who loves this town more than anything, who worked with Devon on the boat he hated to stop Devon’s dad from being an ass. My friend, who secretly draws erotica and has an almost cult following of romance readers who adore his work.
“Ready to go?”
I huff and step towards him, relaxing since he’s being normal, except as soon as I relax my guard, he pulls out a single, long-stemmed red rose. It shimmers in front of me like something from a fairy tale. I melt, the gesture reaching and touching me like the way that phone call did.
“It’s beautiful,” I whisper.
“No rose in the world is as beautiful as you are.”
I gape at him and wonder if I throw myself at him if I can convince him we can stay here tonight. Together. Forget the world, I just want him.
He chuckles and touches the flower to my nose. That breaks me out of my stupor, and I hesitantly take it.
“No one’s given me flowers before.”
“Another first,” he murmurs.
He was the first person who I contacted as Lynn, the first person to teach me how to punch, my first everything. It’s only right I keep giving my firsts to him, especially as this dream seems to be coming true.
“Are you ready to go? Katsu and Fox are waiting outside.”
“No. Can we cancel?” I whine.
“No can do, darling,” the endearment slips out of his lips like he’s been calling me that for years, but it gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling that leaves me feeling as if I’m on unsteady ground. “Mum would come out and turn us all into shish kebabs.”
He puts an arm around my shoulders, plucks the rose out of my hand, and drops it on the side cabinet, and then guides me out of the house.
“We should, umm-”
I see Fox and Katsu, and my mind stops working. They look incredible. They are both dressed up, neat but casual. Fox is wearing a brown jacket over a white top and a smile that sends my pulse fluttering wildly, while Katsu is elegant in all black.
“Oh, this is a bad idea,” I whisper.
“I won’t tell them anything. I’ll keep your secret. Come on a date with me. With us.”
I look up at him and remember a thousand memories. “This isn’t a joke?”
He growls, and suddenly, he’s ducking towards me, his face stopping just short of mine, staring at me.
Is he going to kiss me?
