Page 20 of Choosing Their Omega

“You should go on if they do a special with professional athletes.”

“I’m pretty sure Lawson already has an alert on his phone in case they ever do exactly that so he can sign me up without telling me.”

Miles grins over at Lawson, who laughs and says, “Damn right, I do.”

Lawson winks at me before disappearing around the corner again, and I can’t help the smile that spreads over my face. The banter between the men is so natural and lighthearted. It’s fun to be a part of it, and it makes the last few days of stress feel like they’re melting away.

We finish up the meal prep, and my mouth is watering. Already, my mind is filling up with ideas of things to cook now that I’ll have all the food and equipment that I’ll need. All the delicious recipes that I would stare at longingly in cookbooks and online cooking blogs but had to pass on because of finances, I can finally create.

I set the table and then the others come in with Ben still on Knox’s hip. He’s clearly deeply attached to his uncle, and it makes my heart ache. I’m happy that Ben is so loved and that he feels close to Knox and the others. It just also makes me sad, knowing what a loss he must feel.

I’ve only known this boy for a day, but I’d already do anything to help him be happy.

We all sit down. The pasta smells so delicious, that as soon as we start eating, I can’t help myself—I start shoveling the food in, trying to taste it while also eating as fast as possible. It’s delicious, rich and hearty, with garlic and tomato, and the pasta is a dream.

I glance up, and I see the others looking at me.

Instantly, my face heats up. I swallow and sit back in my chair. I feel like an animal that just got invited into the house and destroyed all the furniture.

A hand reaches out and touches mine, and I look up to see Lawson smiling gently at me. His scent envelops me again and I inhale deeply on instinct, feeling it sink into me. It’s a very comforting scent.

“I grew up without a lot,” he tells me, quietly. “I get it. You eat each meal like it’s your last. You’re safe here. There’s always more food. You can take your time.”

My eyes water and I quickly swallow the tears down. “Thank you.”

Lawson gently strokes the pads of his fingers against the back of my hand, then pulls away.

I eat a bit more calmly after that, and savor the food. It really is delicious. When I was at home, I ate quickly because I didn’t have a lot of time, between working all day and trying to sleep, then when I was kicked out, any meal could be my last. But Lawson’s right, I am safe now. And while something could still go wrong, like Knox deciding that I’m not right for his nephew, the men seem to be going out of their way to make sure I’m taken care of.

I can relax, I tell myself. It’s safe—at least, in the literal sense. I’m not so sure how ‘safe’ it is that I’m wildly attracted to my employers, but I can’t help that. They’re handsome men, and they smell amazing. All I want to do is press close to them.

That would be wildly inappropriate, though. Especially with Ben at the table.

“He’s adorable,” I say earnestly, watching him eat. He’s old enough that he’s trying what the adults are eating, but also has some kid food to go along with it.

“He really is,” Cruz agrees.

“So, Lawson said—” I don’t want to accidentally be rude. “Did you all grow up with Lawson, then? How long have you all known each other?”

The men look at each other, doing mental calculations. “We didn’t grow up together,” Cruz says. “We met… damn, was it really five years ago?”

“We met when we all signed onto the Titans,” Miles explains. “But we grew up in very different places.”

“I’m from the city,” Lawson says. “Cruz here is from…” He adopts a Fargo accent. “Minnesota.”

Cruz throws a bit of pasta at him and I laugh.

“Hey, I also grew up in a small town,” Miles points out.

“You’re the odd one out,” Knox says to Lawson. “Small town here too.”

“From Canada, eh,” Lawson says, also imitating a Canadian accent.

“Do a Midwest one,” Miles says. “I dare you.”

Lawson makes sure Ben isn’t looking, then flips Miles off.

I smirk into my food. “So you all grew up in places where it gets really cold and you skated on the frozen pond, huh? Except for Lawson, of course. He skated on the frozen asphalt parking lot.”

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