Page 71 of Knot So Social

The upside is, it means I get to be the alpha sharing her bed. I whistle a happy tune as I clump up the steps and claim my coffee.

Alessandro guns his engine and pulls away, waving once out the window. It’s been a few days since I had a conversation with another human being outside of moaning. Didn’t know I was missing it.

Which reminds me, I haven’t heard from my brother at all.

After checking Willow is still asleep, I duck into the kitchen and get ingredients out to make some egg muffins full of vegetables, canned beans, and cheese to turn them into nutrient packed bites for the omega in my care.

Once they’re in the oven, I phone Joel.

He picks up on the fourth ring. “Just leave me the fuck alone already!”

“Dude.” I pull the phone back and check I’ve dialed the right number. “What did I do now?”

“Jeremy?” he slurs.

“Are you drunk?” I glance up at the clock on the wall. The timepiece is a work of art made with gold-streaked resin. “It’s barely midday.”

“Um, no. I don’t think so?”

Something in the background falls with a crash and I wince. “You okay?” My heartbeat goes from a steady thud-thud to a gallop.

“Well, shit. Maybe I am drunk.” A tin can rattles. “Yeah, I drank a bit. Oh, and I broke your gnome, sorry. He still has his head.” Joel chuckles, the sound oddly distorted. “But he can’t give you the finger anymore.”

“I don’t care about the gnome. I never liked it anyway. But what happened to you?” Things had to be bad for him to willingly crash at my place, but to still be there and drunk in the middle of the day? “Joel?”

He growls under his breath. “She was cheatin’ on me, little bro.”

Ice blooms in my veins.

“Tracey?” I breathe out.

“Yup. After all that damn effort I put in, the hussy was sleeping around. Apparently, she was entitled to it. Me and my dick weren’t enough to satisfy her.” My twin lets out a self-deprecating laugh.

“Fuck, Joel.” My stomach twists, thinking of him denned up in my little house, nursing a heartbreak all alone. I can’t even go to him. “Man, I’m so sorry.”

He scoffs. “Why’re you sorry? I should be begging you for forgiveness. Me being an ass this past year plus all that shit she said about you? I know you heard it. I haven’t been a good a big brother to you.”

I drop onto a stool, fighting a smile. “You’re only eighteen minutes older than me.”

He hiccups. “Exactly. May as well be a decade in twin time.”

I choke on a laugh. He’s not making any sense at all, but he’s always been a hilarious drunk.

“All right, big brother. Then shouldn’t you be setting the example by not getting stone drunk in the middle of the day.”

“It’s almost bedtime.”

“No, it’s not even 12:30pm.”

“Well, shit.” He goes quiet for a few minutes and I busy myself stacking the dishwasher.

“Still there?”

“Yeah. Should I phone Tracey and give her a piece of my mind? Cheating cunt.”

I wince. “Maybe not. Wait until you’re sober.”

“Yeah, yeah. You’re the smarter one. Don’t tell Mom.”