8. Justin

8Justin

The second morningat Kairo’s home, I tried to be quiet as I got the kids bathed and ready for Ashley. And thankfully, the kids seemed to be enjoying playing the quiet game.

Chris had watched them the day before, thankfully since Ashley had actually had a stomach virus and not food poisoning.

As I got both Theo and Sara into their high chairs that had appeared the day before, brand new ones too, my phone pinged. I slipped it out of my pocket to find a message from Ashley. I’d told her not to ring the doorbell since Kairo was still asleep.

He’d come in late last night. I knew this because I hadn’t fallen asleep till I heard him return. I tried not to think about how sad that was.

I let Ashley in, and when she stepped into the main part of the house past the foyer, her mouth dropped, "Wow, this is someplace," she said, taking in the super modern decor. "Although I already have nightmares thinking about baby fingers around that white sofa."

I laughed, "Trust me, I know."

I led her back to the kitchen, and Sara smiled and said, "Sashley."

My heart caught whenever I saw how big she was getting and just how much my sister would miss. Hell, how much she’d already missed, including Theo’s first birthday.

Don’t go down that road, not now, Justin. I had to keep reminding myself that Willow and Teagan would be happy right now, knowing that very soon their children would have a home that wasn’t in danger of falling down on top of them.

Ashley and I got the kids fed quickly, and then I showed her around and even managed to explain how to work the microwave. Then I showed her my room and the kid’s rooms and reminded her they should be kept there. Because as much as the house had been baby-proofed, this was not a house for fingers that seemed to end up sticky no matter how many times you wiped them.

By the time I was ready to go, I had realized I’d been lingering, hoping to catch a glimpse of Kairo. I called myself ten kinds of idiot because clearly, he didn’t want to see me.

* * *

I wasn’tsure if my luck was turning around, but everything went smoothly today. We’d actually sold out of quite a few items. Since the afternoon rush was about to commence, I was pulling bread out of the oven in the kitchen.

I’d added sandwiches and coffee to the bakery menu about three months ago, and it was actually doing well. Our freshly baked bread is a huge draw. We only did two sandwiches at the moment, ham and cheese and tuna and cheese either hot or cold, but people loved them.

The bell above the door rang, alerting me that I needed to get out front. "Coming," I called out. I still couldn’t afford the extra help, but I hoped that with the income from renting the in-law suite above the garage, I’d be able to at least hire someone part-time. Maybe I’d even be able to turn the bakery into a cafe like Teagan, and I had talked about at some point.

"It’s me," Chris called out, so I went back to prepping the tuna for the sandwiches.

I turned and smiled at my best friend when he entered the kitchen. "Hey. Venturing outdoors, I see."

He smiled, "It’s lunchtime. I have to get my sandwich fix."

Chris did medical transcription, so he mainly worked from home, which he preferred. "Need any help?" he asked.

I nodded, "Please, wash up and get an apron, though."

"I know the drill," he said and went over to the sink to get started.

"So how’s it been living with you know who," he asked.

I snorted, "You can say his name, you know."

Chris glanced back to me, "You sure? Because so far, I don’t think I’ve heard you say it."

Only in my head. Of course, I didn’t say that out loud. "I’m sure I have."

"Nope, you haven’t." He finished washing up and grabbed paper towels to wipe his hands. "Have there been any nighttime adventures?" he winked suggestively at me.

I groaned. "I so shouldn’t have told you he was my—" my throat seemed to close up at the word.

"Mate. You know you can say it. It won’t bite you. Generally, it’s considered a very good thing when that happens, you know," Chris said as he grabbed the nylon apron and gloves I used during food preparation.

"Except when they don’t want you," I muttered.

"Oh please, I call BS. From the little you’ve told me, the bedroom, highchairs, even helping with Theo, that doesn’t sound like a man that doesn’t want you."

"I think he’s just nice. Look at what he and his brothers do for a living. They legit swoop in like fairy god-"

"Hotties," Chris supplied.

I laughed, although he wasn’t wrong. All the brothers were handsome, but in my opinion, Kairo was the best looking. All I wanted to do was touch him every time he was close by. Run my hands through that ebony black hair. I already knew he was muscled, but my dreams had been filling in the gaps oh so beautifully.

"They just help people. I think that’s all this is." Even I heard how dejected I sounded, voicing my fears out loud.

"I’ve watched the show, and trust me, he’s never invited anyone to his house," Chris said.

"There were no hotel rooms available, and I think his brothers kind of forced us on him," I sighed, "I bet once the house is done, I’ll never see him again."

My vision blurred, and my stomach cramped at the thought. The next thing I knew, I had arms around me, and I was being led somewhere, not that I cared one way or another.

I was lowered into a seat, and Chris squatted so he was in front of me, and I was looking him in the eye.

"What if my mate really doesn’t want me," I whispered.

Chris wiped my cheek with his hands and shook his head, "I’ve met you. That’s not possible." My friend said, "How can he not love you? You’re you."

I snort-laugh, "You’re my best friend. You have to say that.”

“Helps that it’s true,” Chris smiled gently at me. “Maybe he’s just one of those alphas that needs a moment, you know. I heard that’s a thing.”

“Really?” I knew that sounded desperate, but I didn’t care.

“Have I ever lied to you? Trust me, in no time, he’ll sweep you off your feet, and you’ll be happily mated with a bun in the oven, making me an uncle again.”

Please let it be so.