Page 133 of Knot So Social

He growls faintly. At least, I think it’s him but could be his dog. Joel rarely shows his true self, often going along with what other people want without expressing himself. He closed a lot after Maisy broke things off with us in high school, and Tracey often corrected him about his behavior. It’ll be tough for my brother to open up to Willow.

But I can’t let him continue to drift along. And the truth is, they have a lot in common.

“What do you want?” I ask softly. “You felt something special, didn’t you?”

“Does that even matter at this point?”

“It matters more than ever.” I tap my lip, trying to decide how far to push. Fuck it. This isn’t the time to pussyfoot around. “You scent-matched with an omega, Joel.”

He swears, voice guttural, and for the first time I hear how much this situation shook him. My brother stays silent a long time, and then he groans.

“I dreamed about her,” he mutters.

I grin and bite down on my knuckle to keep the smile out of my voice. “Oh, yeah? Good dream?”

“You’ll have to change your sheets.”

“Fucking disgusting, bro! Change them yourself.”

He chuckles, wicked and more relaxed. “She’s gorgeous, Jerry. Now I know exactly why you wanted to buy a Jasmine vine.”

I chuckle. “Guilty as charged.”

“If I signed up at Heat Wave, would they let us work together? With her, I mean.”

I scratch Mr Share’s head idly. “Well, I don’t know, but would you want to take on other . . . clients?”

“Fuck no,” he hisses. “But how about you?”

My stomach clenches. “Yeah, it’s looking like a problem.”

“Maybe tearing your groin was a good thing? Gives you some time to think about what to do.”

“Says the man who hasn’t hurt his groin.”

He snickers. Despite my answer, he has a good point. I can’t picture myself taking care of another omega when my heart’s a hundred percent locked onto Willow. And I can’t expect her to accept that as my line of work, either. Other omegas might, maybe, but Willow’s been betrayed by alphas before. I cannot let there be any room in her heart for doubt.

But leaving another job, especially after taking sick leave, puts a sour taste in my mouth.

“Earth to Jeremy!?”

I snap alert. “What?”

“Dude, you spaced out. Did Willow ask about me at all.”

I swing my bad leg to the ground, wincing against the pain. “I think you need to ask her yourself.”

He growls. I could make it easy for him, but Joel doesn’t need easy. He needs to work hard for Willow.

“Well, tight-lipped genius, tell me this. How do I ask my twin if he’ll consent to me hunting on his territory.”

I choke on a laugh.

“You see,” Joel continues, “I screwed up his love life once. Don’t want it ever happening again.”

“I won’t let that happen,” I say, curling my hand into a fist. “Ever. You’re not a boy anymore, bro.”

Joel chuckles. “True. You should’ve been the older brother, you know that?”