Page 170 of Knot Their Starlet

“Oh! I see,” Momma says, her eyes darting between Andi, me, and our joined hands. “Well, welcome to our home, Andi. It’s lovely to meet you.”

“Eli!” I only manage to catch a blur of dark hair before my baby sister pushes past my mom and launches herself into my arms. “You actually came!”

“You’d been annoying me about it enough, I had to get you to shut up somehow,” I snark, catching her with one arm and giving her a little shake.

“Eli!” Andi hisses, her tone far different from Lucy’s excitement a moment before. “Are you a dick to everyone?”

I flash her a toothy grin and shrug, setting Lucy down.

She turns her attention immediately to Andi, a product of the boundless energy teenagers seem to have, I’m sure.

“Oh, hi! You’re Beck’s girl—” Her gaze immediately drops down to our joined hands and she freezes.

Is it really shocking that I’m holding her hand?

“Lucy! Don’t accost your brother when he’s just come home. At least let them come inside first.”

“Sorry, Momma,” Lucy answers automatically, an excited glimmer appearing in her eyes.

“Can I offer you anything to drink, Andi?” Momma offers as the two of us step inside.

“No thanks, I’m alright,” Andi answers, the picture-perfect omega.

“Please, I insist. At least let me get you a glass of water,” Momma says.

When you take away the whole her picking her husband over her son thing, she’s also a pretty good omega. Warm, hospitable, selfless.

The last adjective grates against my nerves.

Her selflessness is only a positive attribute if you’re my pops.

Andi gives my hand a little squeeze before slipping out of my hold.

“Be right back,” she says, her eyes drifting to Lucy, who’s practically vibrating with the questions I know she’s going to pepper me with.

Right on cue, Lucy starts bouncing on her toes the moment Andi and my momma turn the corner towards the kitchen of the small home.

“What are you doing with Beck’s girlfriend?” Lucy whispers. “I mean, you guys were holding hands, so I think I can connect the dots, but⁠—”

“You’re old enough to know about packs, Luce.” My shoulders shrug as I shove my hands in my pockets. They feel empty and listless without Andi’s small, warm hand in mine.

“So that’s your omega too?” Lucy hisses, her eyes wide.

“I mean, nothin’ is really official yet,” I grunt. “It’s all pretty new.”

“Still, she’s sooo out of your league.”

“You can go ahead and shut up,” I say, shoving my hand in her face as I make my way into the house. “How’ve you been doing?”

“Pretty good, school’s been going well and I’ve been loving cheer!”

“Those gymnastics classes are being put to good use, then?”

“Yeah! Thank you for paying for those, by the way.”

“Course, it’s the least I can do.” I nod, my steps slowing when I turn into the dining room.

From here, I can see into the kitchen, where Andi is smiling politely at my mother, who’s speaking to her in hushed whispers. I can also see into the living room, where my dad is lying in a recliner, watching a football game.