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I hated that I now truly believed friends were overrated and I was going to have to commit to being a spinster. Maybe I’d get a farm and raise a bunch of barn cats. They’d never leave me as long as I supplied plenty of treats and a warm place to sleep.
“Damn, that’s depressing, Ellie,” I told myself as I turned the music up, willing it to drown out all the crazy thoughts swirling through my mind.
The view outside my window slowly shifted from the suburbs, to small towns and cornfields.
It wasn’t until I saw the sign for Lockwood coming into view that I turned the music down.
Lockwood wasn’t exactly tiny. They were big enough to have real restaurants and stores. But small enough that me driving down the road turned a few heads. It was the kind of place that people sat on their porches chatting and watching cars drive by.
Main Street was full of small businesses and quaint storefronts. It reminded me of one of those adorable sitcoms and I was already in love.
Sure, I might go crazy in a few weeks, but for now I’d cling to anything to keep me afloat.
As long as they had a good coffee shop, somewhere hiring, and wine in the grocery store, I could survive. What other choice did I have? It wasn’t like I could go invisible like I did in the city. Sometimes, it was nice to blend in and not be noticed.
Micah lived just past Main Street. Nervous energy filled me as my GPS app told me my destination would be on the right.
As if he could sense me coming, I saw my brother step outside and wave to me. His grin was bright and he looked genuinely excited to see me. My heart warmed at the sight and I parked quickly, practically jumping out of the truck the moment I turned off the ignition.
I was in my brother’s arms in a few seconds and it was as if the world was right again. Sure there was a ton to figure out, but for now it could all wait.
Tonight. Right now. I needed family.
Ellie
Nothing quite says ‘failure’ like your brother waking you up with awful coffee and a cheesy greeting card telling me to keep my chin up.
Yup. This was officially the lowest point of my existence.
“So, I have something I want to talk to you about,” Micah started. I swear that man had way too much energy in the morning. Anyone who smiled before seven was a psycho in my book.
“Listen. If this is one of your big ideas, it has to wait until I get some real coffee. I love you, but this coffee is horrendous.”
He winced. “Sorry. I definitely got you instant and don’t know how to make coffee. There’s a shop about a five-minute walk away. Want company?”
Clearly, it was one of Micah’s famous big ideas if he let it go so quickly.
“Give me time to shower and change, then you can show me around this town,” I promised.
To my complete shock he left without protest. Which meant whatever bomb he was going to drop was big. If I knew my brother, he’d pull out a tablet with graphs and spreadsheets.
My stuff was all still in suitcases and boxes, which were now stacked along the back wall of my room here. Micah had a four-bedroom home and gave me the guest room with an attached bathroom. So at least we weren’t packed in here like sardines.
The best part was that no one knew me but him. He’d escaped here after college thanks to his roommate and best friend. He’d grown up here and talked it up enough to draw Micah in. I wish I’d have joined him sooner, maybe I could have avoided all this.
After rifling through more boxes than I’d care to admit I found a decent outfit and my bathroom stuff.
The entire time I showered and dressed, I had to force myself not to think of them. My chest ached painfully at every mention of them. And after spending three months getting to know the guys, I’d see quick flashes of the alpha’s smile, or Jacob’s flirting smirk and touches.
But Bear hurt the most.
We’d connected the quickest. He was a sweet omega that loved books as much as I did and with just a few words had me talking.
Generally, I didn’t open up easily but somehow, he helped me to.
They were perfect. Until they weren’t.
“Fuck them,” I muttered as I forcefully opened the door. Micah’s hand was poised to knock and his eyes were open wide.
