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They were mine to protect and provide for as well. Just like the ornery omega who was making one hell of an entrance trying to catch the eye of a certain little ray of sunshine. Even if what I felt for Cole and Summer was something more that I couldn’t quite put into words yet.
“Well aren’t you all a sight for sore eyes?” Bash called.
I laughed at Bash’s antics. “If I don’t go now, he’ll get out of the car and come up with some kind of excuse to be here until Cole gets here.”
She removed her hand from my lap as she chuckled, walking down the porch to say a quick hello.
I said goodbye to Theo, who was still immersed in his world, before opening the passenger side door and turning towards the woman who had us all on our toes.
“Summer? You might not need compliments and caution, but you’re still going to receive them. You deserve to have people looking out for you too, and we’re more than happy to do that,” I told her, loving the tinge of flattered shock it wrung from her.
I got in the car, buckling up without another word, and hoped for all of our sakes, the two of them found their way.
7
Summer
Butterflies filled my stomach at the sound of the heavy knock on the door.
As I opened it, I found Cole standing on the other side, a bag and a bouquet in one hand and pizza boxes in the other.
“Thanks so much for having me over,” he said, stepping inside as I welcomed him in.
His basil and lime scent washed over me, instantly making me a complete wreck. Between him and Miller, they’d completely obliterated any illusion of me staying sane.
When Miller had asked to sit next to me on the porch swing earlier, I’d squeezed my thighs together so hard I was surprised I hadn’t cut off circulation. His minty orange blossom scent had been relaxing, but the way he spoke with such care had me wanting to learn more about him too.
That’s because he’s your match, and so is the alpha in front of you. Maybe they found each other for a reason.
Or,I rationed with myself,maybe I was just thirsty from my self imposed drought.
“Dad!” Theo said excitedly. “You came.”
“There’s no place I’d rather be,” Cole said. “I actually got you a little something, bud. If your mom doesn’t mind grabbing the red bag from my hand.”
Cole looked a bit nervous as I took the bag from him. It was clear he’d made an effort tonight and was more than a little anxious.
He was wearing a short sleeve button-down shirt and jeans, both of which looked relatively new. Besides our graduation, I don’t think I’d ever seen him in a button-down, but he sure made it look good. The muscles he’d put on shifted beneath the tight fabric, and I had to look away just as Grandma came to join us.
“Well well well,” Beatty said. “If I haven’t been waiting for this moment for years.”
“Grandma!”
“What?” she said, unabashed. “Y’all are both too stubborn and self-sacrificing for your own good.”
“These are for you,” Cole said, holding out the bouquet to my grandma. My heart melted a bit at that. I’d forgotten how sweet he could be.
“I always did like you, Cole,” she said, leaning in to smell them deep. “Thank you, dearie. I’ll just go put these in some water. Give me those pizza boxes and I’ll take them to the kitchen with me.”
“Mom, look!” Theo exclaimed, having already tore into the red bag. “It’s the truck!”
Sure enough, my son was holding a mini replica of the tow truck he’d been so fascinated with and got to ride in yesterday. The pure joy on his face was amazing.
“What do you say, Theo?”
“Thank you, Dad!” he said, running and flinging himself at Cole.
Cole caught him easily, but I didn’t miss how he shifted his weight off his bad leg, a shot of guilt soaring through me.
