Page 8 of A Knotty Road Trip

“I'm Beckett,” the man beside me mumbles, and I turn to look at him. He has the bluest eyes and messy hazel hair. His forehead has a red mark, and I wince.

“Hi.” I smile, then wave my hand at his head. “I really am a klutz. Are you okay? And please let me pay for your glasses.”

He stares at me for a few seconds, not saying anything, and I'm starting to think he doesn't like me much.

I should probably just go before I cause anymore drama. “Okay, then. If you change your mind let me know,” I mutter.

Standing, I take the small, blue ice pack from the man in the leather coat, then leave them, moving back to my corner.

My stomach grumbles, and I groan. I never did get something to eat.

TATE

“Want to tell me what that was all about?” I ask Beck as he watches Belle move over to the corner.

He looks almost sad with every step she takes away from us.

“Baby, what's wrong?” I sit beside him and take his hand. Sighing, he leans his head against my shoulder.

I rub my thumb against his knuckles. He seems down. He hasn't acted this way in a very long time. Maybe the stress of the tour is getting to him.

“It's nothing… I just thought…” Lifting off my shoulder he shakes his head, rubbing against me, and I purr. I kiss the mark on his head, and he gives me a small smile.

Angel hands him an ice pack, and he laughs. “Hard to think that little beta almost took your ass out,” he says with a grin, and I chuckle.

“Omega. She’s an omega,” Beck mumbles, and I give him another look. “You guys are on blockers, remember.”

“Shit, sometimes I forget. Are you sure you’re okay?” He nods, then looks off.

Angel plops down next to me with a groan, closing his eyes for a moment. I can't blame him. I'm exhausted too.

My phone buzzes, and I check the app for our flight.

“Looks like we have a delay. Should we go back to the VIP area and chill there?” I suggest, and Beck looks over toward the corner again.

“Did you want to invite Belle?” I look over to the blonde omega once more and take her in.

She looks harmless enough, I guess. At least she hasn't started to squeal or fangirl. Though maybe the knock to her head distracted her from our awesomeness.

He shakes his head, then stands and grabs his stuff.

“No, let's just go. We have some files to go through, and I need to email your dad back, so this gives us time to do that,” he says with a sigh.

He looks as exhausted as I feel, and I wish I could just tell my dad to fuck right off. He's become unbearable all of a sudden, and I don't know why.

Like I get it, in the beginning we partied hard on tour and got into some trouble with the media, but that was a few years ago. Lately we just chill at home.

And I wasn't lying about wanting a kid. I do. I always saw myself as a dad. I just don't want the drama of an omega. I've been burned once before.

No thank you. Never again. Angel hands me my duffle bag, and I slip the strap over my shoulder.

Beck begins to walk down the hall back to the elevators, and I follow him. Angel grabs my arm, and nods toward the pizza place that's still open.

“You guys get whatever, but I'm going to stop here. I'll meet you at the VIP room in a bit.”

“Sounds good. Grab a thing of garlic knots if they have them,” I tell him, and he grunts, walking off.

“It's so weird not having Ken and Rich here,” I mutter aloud and shake my head.

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