Page 25 of Small-Town Secrets
“It’s not your fault.” Laurence turned away from me and stepped toward the window looking out over the spacious backyard. “I can still see us running around out there. You’d always claim you were too old to play with us, but every now and then, we’d get you to leave the dogs alone and join us.” He glanced back at me. “How’s Marvin doing?”
"You haven't seen him?"
"I’ve seen him, but we haven’t talked much. I get it. I dropped him like a hot potato once I was pregnant and we lead different lives now." Laurence shrugged, but I could tell he was sad about the loss of friendship between him and my brother. "This was always my happy place, growing up," he muttered in a soft tone of voice, still looking out the window, and I got the feeling he wasn't aware of speaking those words out loud at all.
"Oceanport is lucky to have you back," I said, as if he'd meant the town instead of my house.
"You think so?"
"Of course."
Laurence smiled at me and my heart did a weird fluttering thing. Without even trying, the omega before me spoke to all my alpha instincts. I wanted to wrap my arms around him and bury my nose in his hair; breathe in his scent. Protect him.
I nearly groaned. I wasn't used to feeling this way. I hadn't felt this way in a long time. Not since Laurence had left Oceanport. Whenever I felt my protective streak come to life around my little brother's best friend, I told myself it was just instinct—a side effect of being around an omega for too long, since he was over at our place every other day.
I could never explain to myself why this feeling seemed to be limited to Laurence, though. It made no sense and I preferred not to think about it.
How could I be attracted to my baby brother's friend?
And why had this feeling not gone away after all these years?
Was it because I knew how good his body felt writhing underneath me? Even now the memory had blood rushing to my groin. There was nothing I could do about it.
"Is something wrong?" Laurence asked me when I was quiet for too long.
"No. Just got lost in thought. Sorry. Want me to show you a few more tricks?"
"Yes, please."
"Okay, let me show you how and where to strike."
I spent another hour in the family room with Laurence before we were done for the evening. Even though there were a lot of things I had to show him, I was careful not to touch him again. I'd already taken advantage of him once in our lives, and that was enough. He didn't need me losing control of my hormones when I was supposed to be teaching him how to defend himself.
Maybe I couldn't protect him the way I wanted to, but I could still make sure that he was safe.
9
Laurence
"Are you hungry?" Aaron asked when he was done teaching me how to throw a punch, 'just in case I ever needed it.'
Iwaskind of hungry. In between getting home from work, getting the kids from school and getting them ready to take over to Raphael’s and then coming here, there hadn't been any time to eat—and whatever Aaron had been cooking had smelled delicious when I came in the door.
But I shouldn't stay, should I?
You're here to get to know him, aside from learning how to fight,I reminded myself. The idea of having dinner with Aaron unsettled me a little, but there wasn't any harm in it, was there? It wasn't like we were on a date, or like Aaron was trying to seduce me. I almost snorted atthatthought. I'd pursued this alpha for long enough to know that my crush had been entirely one-sided.
No, Aaron posed no threat. And I was hungry.
"I could eat," I said, letting a small smile play on my lips. Not because I was trying to draw Aaron in, but because he deserved my friendship, if nothing else. And also because it was hard for me not to smile around Aaron. I wasn't lying earlier when I told him that being back here made me feel weird. I'd been happy in this house. Some of the furniture had changed and aside from Aaron, it wasn't the same people living here, but still.
It had been a long time since I'd felt the kind of happiness I'd felt spending my days here as a child and teenager, surrounded by a happy family, even if it wasn't my own.
I'd almost forgotten about it.
Now that I remembered, though...
I wanted my children to have this kind of home. Not the kind of home they'd had with my ex, and not the way we were living with Gregory now.
