Page 15 of The Alpha: Part One
Benny can't contain himself at that point, his dimples popping with his laughter. "What did you do to deserve that?"
Seth sighs, shaking his head. "I really don't know. I think she was born solely to give me dirty looks. She still shares her toys, though, so at least she doesn't hate me."
Benny laughs harder.
"They're little girls?" I ask. "How old are they?"
"Two. Yes, girls. They're so adorable. I miss them."
The butterflies swarm, and I shove them back and down as hard as I can. I can't swoon over a man just because he says he misses those babies. I can't swoon because his face went from grief to adoration in less than a second over those little girls. He's only here for a few weeks, and Michael, Benny, and I need to take advantage of every minute. "Are they your nieces?"
His mouth draws to one side before he answers. "In a way they are. I don't have any siblings, but I imagine I love them like you love nieces."
"You don't have any siblings? None?" I'm sure the foreignness of the concept is obvious in my tone.
He shakes his head. "Nope, it's just me. Do you have more siblings than are here tonight?"
"I have two more, Sebastian and Gabriel."
Seth smiles again. "I always wanted a brother."
"Well," Mateo says, bringing attention to the fact that he's still there. "This night has ended nothing like I thought it would. We're going to get you back home, if you're finished, D?"
I look down at my plate. Somehow, I have finished everything Seth gave me without realizing it. Disappointment rings dissonantly in my chest. I might not see Seth again. He can pose as the twins' third without my presence. Why does that feel so terrible?
Seth's smile fades. "We will follow you out. I don't anticipate any issues with the other pack, but I would feel much better if we see you to your car."
Mateo nods, as do the twins. I knew they'd follow me out, and likely follow me home to make sure I get inside safely, but I didn't expect it from Seth.
"I guess I'm finished. It was nice meeting you, Seth. I hope you have a nice time on your visit. I don't know if I'll see you again but thank you for tonight." I can feel how sad the smile I offer him is.
"I hope to see you again before I have to leave, Desir'ee."
"Okay," I say lamely.
He and the twins follow us out. He watches intently as each twin gives me a small kiss on either cheek. The butterflies try to convince me that he's watching because he wants to give me a kiss of his own, but I swat them away. I don't have the luxury of entertaining thoughts like that or swarms of butterflies. He's temporary. He's only trying to help.
Benny calls me later, the minute I step out of the shower. It's a video call. Normally, I'd be thrilled to tease him through the camera wrapped in a towel after a steamy shower, but not right now. The evening was socially and emotionally exhausting. I don't have it in me to tease the boys tonight. I wait for the phone to finish ringing, then I call him back, no video.
"Why didn't you answer on camera?"
I roll my eyes. "That's how you answer your phone?"
"At least I answered. We just wanted to check on you and tell you goodnight."
We. "You know, Benjamin, it's always we, but you're the one who calls. Am I on speaker?"
"Yeah. What are you doing?" I hear the sound of their fridge door opening and shutting.
"Getting ready for bed. I just got out of the shower." I put on my biggest, softest tee shirt and lay on my stomach on the bed, listening to Ben hand Michael the beer I know he pulled from the fridge.
He groans, I can imagine his hand dragging down his face. "Wish you would have answered on camera. After today, seeing you all warm and steamy and mostly naked would make me feel so much better."
Uh-huh. "What's going to make me feel better, Benjamin? I went through a lot tonight. What's supposed to make me feel better about everything?"
"You want me to get in the shower and call you. I can give you a really good show if you need one, baby."
My eyes are going to get stuck in the back of my head if I don’t stop rolling them so much. "As pretty as you are, that wouldn't make me feel any better tonight. You couldn't find the opportunity to give me a heads up? Where did that guy come from, anyway?"
