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“Worried?” He smirked.
“For everyone. Yes.” I walked back to the house and crawled back into my bed. Molly and Zi were still sleeping.
‘Cory?’ I reached out tentatively.
‘Hi,’ he answered softly. ‘Are you okay?’
‘I am. Have you gotten any rest?’ I asked.
‘Are you going to yell at me if I say no?’
‘Of course not. I know you’re the alpha and have more responsibilities than the rest.’ His sigh in my head felt more like a caress, and I couldn’t help the way my heart fluttered.
‘Then no, but I’m almost done for the night, and then I will get some rest,’ he answered.
‘Promise?’
‘I promise,’ he chuckled. ‘This is the second time you’ve told me to get some rest. Do I really look that shitty?’
‘No, but someone has to look after the man that looks after everyone,’ I answered. Cory was quiet for a long moment, and I thought maybe he had gotten distracted by someone needing him.
‘Thank you, Evie. Get some rest. I’ll see you in the office tomorrow bright and early. I’ll bring you breakfast.’
‘I’ll bring the coffee,’ I responded. ‘Good night Cory. Don’t stay up much longer. You did a good job today. You’re an amazing Alpha.’ There was another long pause on his end at my words.
‘Goodnight Evie,’ he answered, and I felt some unease in him before he ended the mind-link.
I didn’t need to ask him what was wrong. Even after all this time gone, I knew Cory. He always felt like he should be better or should have done more. Since we were children, he always felt like it was his job to protect everyone. If someone got hurt while we were playing, he always felt it was his fault. I knew this had to feel like a failure for him.
We just have to keep telling him he’s great until he believes us, Tozi answered and with that thought, I allowed myself to go to sleep.
“Good morning, Molly,” I said the next morning after a good shower. Molly was already dressed and ready for her first day of daycare. I signed her up last week before I flew out to meet them. She held her hands out for a hug, and I chuckled. Those cute little hands were covered in pancake syrup.
“How about a kiss instead?” I compromised, giving her a slobbery kiss like I knew she liked.
“Hey, do you want pancakes to go?” Zi asked.
“No, I’m good. Cory said he’d bring breakfast to the office. Are you ready to go?” I asked while I filled up two thermoses full of coffee. Three sugars, one cream for Cory. At least, I hoped he still liked it that way. Cory always had a sweet tooth.
“Yeah. We’re ready. Let me just grab her bag,” she answered, running out of the kitchen and up the stairs. I grabbed a towel and dampened it. Molly giggled as she fought me cleaning her hands and face of all the syrup she’d gotten on herself.
Thankfully, Zi had a giant bib apron that saved her from doing extra loads of laundry. I grabbed a few snacks I’d nabbed from Mom’s pantry from the counter and dumped them into my bag before we left.
True to his word, the house Cory set us up in was only a few blocks from the daycare, and it was en route to the new office building. We dropped Molly off and walked over to the building. The guards were expecting us and told us that everyone was waiting on the top floor of the four-floor building.
“Good morning,” I greeted Cory, Dad and James.
“Morning, sweetie,” Dad answered. “Miss Johnson.”
“Morning, ladies, I brought breakfast.” Cory pointed to a couple of wrapped breakfast burritos. I handed him the thermos I brought over for him, and I waited as he tasted it. “Wow, this is perfect. How did you know I liked it this way?”
“You’ve always liked it that way,” I answered and grabbed the burrito he’d brought. I took a bite, and it was delicious, but something was missing.
“Did you not-ahh.” I smiled as he pulled out a small salsa bag from a little grocery bag where he’d transported the food. I opened up my burrito and added some salsa and carefully wrapped it back up.
“Want some, Zi?”
“I’m good. I already finished mine.” She blushed.
