Page 101 of His Surrogate Omega

“Thanks,” Gray said, pocketing the card. “For everything.”

“Anytime… though I doubt I’ll see you back with this kind of hair for some time.”

Gray laughed. “Agreed.”

He left the shop, hearing the click of the lock once he was outside. The last remnants of afternoon were gone. Gray looked up at the night sky, the cold hitting him hard. His head was freezing. After pulling on his coat and wrapping it tight, he looked down at the braid in his hand and wondered if he could wrap it around his head until he got home.

The bell behind him jingled, the door opening again. “Hey!”

Gray turned.

“You’ll need this more than I will tonight,” the stylist said before tossing something small.

Gray caught it and looked at his hand. A small knit hat. “Thankyou,” he added, pulling it on over his bald head.

“Don’t mention it,” the beta said. “Be safe, okay? That hair’s pretty valuable. Keep it close.”

“Thanks. Have a nice night.”

Gray watched as the man locked up again before he walked the short distance to the trolley station. He coiled the hair and tucked it into his coat before he arrived—just in time for the next car. After jumping up and tucking himself into the packed car, he traveled closer to home, ready for his night to end.

When he arrived, he found Avery and the boys weren’t alone.

Avery and a boy were studying at their kitchen table. “Uncle Gray, this is my classmate, Brett. Brett, my uncle Gray.”

Gray reached out and shook the beta’s hand. He cast a look at Avery—who looked like the cat who ate the canary.

Avery avoided his stare. “We’re just about done here… and I have a lasagna in the oven. We’ll have dinner soon.”

“I’m sure there’s enough if your friend wants to stay, but then again, you might not want him to eat your cooking, hmmm?” Gray asked, smiling. He took off his coat, knocking his hat off.

“For the love of Paul,” Avery spat, looking at Gray’s head. “What in the hell have you done?”

Gray showed off his braid. “Need to have a wig made.”

“For Jamie?” Avery asked, one brow rising.

“For Jamie,” Gray said, nodding.

Avery’s friend closed his book and notebook. “It looks like you two need a moment. I’m going to head out.”

“No, please, stay if you’d like,” Gray said. He didn’t truly mean it, but he didn’t want to appear rude. He wasn’t in the mood for visitors and playing the game of pretending Avery was a beta after the day he’d had.

“Maybe next time,” the beta said with a smile. He tossed his books into his bag before rising to his full height and casting Avery a sexy smile. He was a handsome beta…betabeing the keyword there.

He wouldn’t be able to woo Avery. When he glanced at his nephew, he was shocked to see the boy looked infatuated.

Lovely.

“Next time, it is,” Gray said. “I’m already looking forward to getting to know you more, Breck.”

“Brett,” Avery corrected.

“Sorry… Brett.”

Brett smiled at them both. “Thanks for the study help,” he said to Avery before heading to the front door.

Once the beta was gone, Gray turned to Avery. “What was that?”

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