Page 8 of Rejected Plus-Size Mate

I looked at April, and I could see tears in her eyes. Her face was filled with rage. She quickly shook her head. "Still an ass," she said through a grumbled tone.

"I don't…"

"Don't," she said softer. "I….I get to be mad at him. No matter what he says, he left. He didn't even say goodbye. I get to be mad."

I didn't tell her she was wrong. I didn't tell her she was right, either. I simply gave her a nod, feeling that ache in my heart. I missed him already.

I felt my phone vibrate once more and pulled it out. April glanced at me. "Is that Brad?"

I nodded.

She scuffed, shaking her head. "Men. They suck."

I softly smiled at her. "I agree with you on that." April softly smiled.

Chapter 4 - Cayden

I sighed as the water splashed over me. I turned the shower nob up, turning the water even hotter than ever before. I was trying to clear my head, but it wasn't working. I kept seeing her smile. Over and over, it replayed in my head as she sat at my counter, a soft smile pulling at her lips. And my wolf growled with hunger.

I shook my head, knowing better than to take a hot shower with the image of her so vivid in my mind, but a hot shower was how I calmed myself. Yet, it wasn't helping.

I knew Riley and April would be here in a few minutes, but I didn't have time to jerk one out. But that didn't mean my body didn't realize that.

But Jesus, did I want to? I hadn't seen Riley in so long, and suddenly seeing her sitting across my counter looking so grown up….I could hardly contain myself. She looked perfect. I'd seen her in some photos, but the woman I saw today looked nothing like what I saw in them.

I switched the water off and stared at the knob. I swallowed, running my tongue over my teeth.

"She looked…grown up," I said more to myself. I remembered the last time I saw her. She was only fifteen. I could see the way that her eyes looked at me from the corner of April's room. She was wearing her pajamas; both had just gotten ready for bed. They both looked like children as they stared at me.

I shook my head, needing to get ready for the day. I couldn't be daydreaming like this. The girls would be arriving in a few minutes, and I needed to be ready. April was likely going to come and wanted to fight again.

I hurried as I got out of the shower, pulling on a pair of shorts and a shirt before heading into the kitchen. I started some coffee and pulled out bacon. I started the griddle and mixed the batter as I heard the front door open. I paused, hearing the girls talking.

"You know you could have knocked," Riley said, sounding tired.

"Why, he knows we were coming over," April responded.

I moved around the kitchen, peering towards my front door. The girls were both dressed in sun dresses with their hair pulled back. They always enjoyed wearing the same clothes growing up. While the dress was simple, they both wore it differently.

April wore a deep blue dress with a black jacket and darker tights underneath. With her hair pulled back, I could see eight piercings on her left ear and a tattoo right below her ear. She was giving off a dangerous aura, and it showed.

Riley had paired the blue dress with a white cardigan and a pastel scarf, which gave her a welcoming aura around her. She had a blue ribbon in her hair and a pair of dangling earrings that shined when the light hit them.

Riley was the first to notice I was watching them, and she gave me a half smile as she slid her shoes off. "Sorry that we didn't knock."

"The door was unlocked," April said as she took a few steps toward my couch. "My brother doesn't mind."

"Just because the door was unlocked doesn't mean you don't knock. Imagine if he had someone else here."

"Like who?" April said.

"I don't know….a woman."

April made a face, and I sighed. "I don't mind that she just welcomed herself in. I take it she's comfortable."

"Or lacking manners," Riley quickly added, shaking her head at April.

"So, what did you make for breakfast?" April said, throwing herself onto the couch.

---