Page 7 of Omega's Pretend Mate
I chuckled and ruffled his hair. “Hey there kiddo. Have a good nap?”
“Hungy.”
I grinned and dropped him on Alex’s chest. “Your kid wants a snack.”
“You’re closer to the cooler than I am,” he protested.
“I also didn’t wake him by putting my feet up in my brother’s lap.”
Alex sighed, knowing that he’d been beaten by his own shenanigans. “Fine.” He turned to the rugrat. “Whatcha want kiddo? Does juice and crackers sound good?”
“Actually,” Benjamin said. “I bet they’re all getting a bit hungry. Let’s break out the real food instead.”
“Works for me,” Philip said. “I didn’t want to say anything, but I’m starving.”
I laughed and stood. “Why don’t you all prep the food, and I’ll go retrieve the kiddos.”
It was good to see my brothers and their families again.
∞∞∞
I smiled as I walked into Mitchell’s. I loved my family, but I needed a break after spending a week with four adult men and seven kids.
I made my way to the bar and took a seat.
“Hey Christian,” Randy, my favorite bartender said, wiping out a glass. “Haven’t seen you in a few days. What’s up?”
“I’ll take my usual beer,” I said, getting a nod in return, then answered his question. “My brothers and their families came into town for a visit. I’ve been playing tour guide all week. What are you doing here so late? I thought you worked the lunch shift.”
“Both Beau and I were asked to work late. One guy’s on vacation and another called in sick,” Randy said, settling a glass under the tap and drawing my beer. “Taking a break from the family then?”
I laughed. “No. They all piled into a couple vans this morning, headed back to Mountain Springs. I’ve spent most of the day cleaning up from having them all.”
“Is that where you’re from?”
“Yep. Little town in the mountains… obviously.”
Randy chuckled and set my beer in front of me. “Glad you clarified. I thought it was a suburb of Atlantis.”
“Smartass.”
Randy grinned. “Better a smartass than a dumbass, or so my dad always said.”
I shook my head. “I think every alpha parent says that.”
“Then it must be a good bit of wisdom.”
I laughed as Randy turned away to help another customer. I took a drink of my beer, then a familiar scent hit my nose.
I looked around and finally spied Gabe Everest sitting alone in a corner, slumped and looking absolutely miserable. He also appeared drunk, which was never a good look for an attorney.
Getting involved was generally a bad idea, but I couldn’t stand the thought of seeing the handsome omega looking like that and not doing anything. Maybe it was the fact that I’d admired him for years, but I had to find out what happened.
I caught Randy’s eye and motioned with my head that I was relocating. He nodded, and I carried my beer over to Gabe’s table.
“This seat taken?” I asked.
Gabe’s head lolled up, and he was definitely drunk. He squinted at me. “S’yours.”
