Page 1 of Our Time

CHAPTER ONE

RYDER

I snuggle deeperinto my couch, pulling my throw blanket tighter around myself as I listen to my sister, smiling to myself. I miss her so much and every time we facetime, it goes on for hours just so we can catch up on everything and anything going on in our lives. Today is no different.

“So then I saw this and I just couldn’tnotget it. You know? I figured we could use it to put s’mores supplies in it. Or maybe even let people put their cards in it. What do you think?”

“Totally,” I tell Rose as she flashes the camera at the giant picnic basket she’s picked up. It’s plenty big enough for people to put their cards into. “I think that’ll be adorable with everything else. And I picked up some super adorable red table clothes that will fit the theme. It’ll be like every table is a little picnic table.”

“Oh my god,yes. That’s gonna look so cute with everything else.” She turns the camera around so her face fills my screen once more. My cheeks hurt from how much I’ve smiled during this call. “I can’t wait to see you,” she says softly, giving me a giant pout. “It’s been too long, Ryder.”

“I know, I know. It’s just such a long drive.”

Rose wrinkles her nose at me. “Ryder. We live in the age of technology. You realize airplanes exist, right?”

I roll my eyes. “Of course I’m aware of that little fact, you asshole.”

“You can’t call me that! I’m your baby sister! And I’m pregnant, you fucking dick.”

We both chuckle and I’m overcome with fondness. Fuck. I cannot believe mybaby sisteris all grown up. She’s mated to a lovely alpha she met at college named Dean, and now they’re having a little pup of their own. I suddenly feel a thousand years old. God, I’m gonna bean uncle.

Ben is going to be an--

Yeah, I’m just gonna stop that thought right now. Just gonna throw it into the trash and not think about the way it makes my heart both stutter with excitement and break a little bit at the same time.

“You good?”

I blink, coming back into the moment and flashing my sister an easy smile. “I’m good. Now show me what else you got.”

“Are you sure? That look didn’t seem like ‘you’re good’,” she says, complete with doing little air quotes with her fingers.

I let out a dramatic groan. “I’mfine, Rose. Nothing you need to worry about anyway.”

My sister’s face shifts into understanding. “Ah.That. Got it.”

“No, no, no, no. Don’t fucking do that.”

“Do what?” Rose says, her voice dripping with innocence that doesn’t match the gleam in her eyes. “I’m just saying that I understand.”

“You don’t understand shit. You think because you’re mated and pregnant that you’re this wise omega. I’m the older sibling here.”

“Methinks someone protesteth too much.”

“Methinks someone should see themselves out of my business before I hang up.”

“Okay, okay. I don’t want you to hang up.” She turns the camera around, showing me some bottles she picked up from the shop. They look like expensive wine bottles. “I’m gonna fill these with punch and leave them on the tables. I think that’ll be super cute.”

“I like it,” I tell her, latching onto this subject change with both hands, not wanting to think aboutwhymy heart hurts when I think about Ben. “I still think we should have mimosas.”

“No booze. If I can’t have it neither can you.”

I stick out my bottom lip, making her chuckle. “You’re being a mom-zilla.”

“You take that back, asshole.”

“Make me,” I tell her, sticking out my tongue.

“Alright. Let’s talk about Ben.”

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