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“I know what you think of me,” Wynter cried. “I’m a small-minded, terrible person… but I’ve endured more than you realize. More pain than you can imagine.” He cringed. “It hardened me. Turned me into…” Wynter chuckled, the sound foreign. “Maybe I was a monster.” He walked closer and caressed Wilder’s chest.“Youwere the one I wanted. You. Just you.”
“What are you talking about?” Wilder asked, gripping his papa’s wrists.
From the corner of his eye, Wilder noticed someone moving closer. He turned to see a stranger approaching. A stranger with very a familiar face.
Shock paralyzed Wilder.
Wynter gasped at Wilder’s side. “What areyoudoing here?”
The man looked between them, clearly nervous. “I saw the news. I’m… I’m so sorry for your loss, Wynter.”
Wynter walked closer, clearly in pain. “You shouldn’t have come.”
“How could I not?” The man’s eyes flitted to Wilder for a moment, a frown marring his expression. He returned to look at Wynter. “Ineededto see you. See that you were alright.”
“Go,” Wynter demanded.“Go now.”
“If that’s what you wish,” the man said before eyeing Wilder another few seconds. He backed up and turned, leaving them there, stunned.
“We should go home,” Wynter declared.
After flicking Wilder a glance, Vaughn moved to his side and led their papa to the waiting limo.
“Wilder?” Rohan asked.
Wilder looked at his best friend. Concern was etched on Rohan’s features.
“Are you okay?” Rohan asked, his tone gentle.
“No… yeah… no.” He stared at the stranger’s retreating back. The man paused, looked over his shoulder at Wilder before continuing his departure.
“Is anyone going to say what we’re all thinking?” Gray asked. “Please tell me you saw that?”
“Leave it,”Wilder spat. He wasn’t mentally prepared to deal with what Gray spoke of. His own mind was still reeling. “We need to get back.”
“Let us drive you home,” Rohan said, reaching for Wilder’s arm.
“Leave me!” Wilder roared. He stalked across the cemetery, bile rising in his throat.
Luckily, Wilder had brought his own car, the coupe, so he could drive himself. He’d seen it as his last joyride before turning it in for something more staid. He slid behind the wheel and started the engine, knowing he had no business driving. Yet drive he did. Not back to his parents’ house, but home to his omega. He parked before the house and leapt out.
“Hey… I didn’t expect you back so soon,” Avery said, lounging on the chaise in the family room, their babe asleep in a portable bassinet at his side. “Didn’t you go?”
Lake and Auggie were nearby, in the kitchen, but not close enough to hear their conversation. They didn’t yet seem to note his presence.
“I went,” he said, reaching in to caress the soft hair at the back of Emory’s head. It was blond, like his.Justlike his. “I didn’t go to the luncheon after.”
“Why not?”
“I wasn’t in the right head space.”
Avery caressed his arm. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.”
Wilder sat on the end of the chaise and pulled Avery’s feet into his lap. “I wish you had been, too, but you belonged here. You need time to heal.”
Avery searched his face. “Did something happen?”
“There was a man…”
