Chapter 38
Thirty-Eight
KAI
One great thing about our new omega is she didn’t make me out to be a horrible person for retreating to the library. She simply smiled and told me she’d miss me. Daria is more than comfortable as she watches a movie with Vic and Lincoln. I can only watch so many movies before I get bored. Books give more depth than most films can, and it’s easier for me to get lost in the pages.
After my dad died, my mom struggled to do everything alone, so I took on being in charge of bedtime routines. While two of my sisters were too old for bedtime stories, they still climbed into my youngest sister’s bed to listen to me read Dad’s favorite children’s book.
It’s been a while since I’ve talked to my sisters. When a text comes through on our group chat while I’m in the middle of my favorite comfort read, I grudgingly set the book aside and grab my phone.
Tiff
Do you think he forgot about us?
My oldest sister is always the instigator.
Alicia
Probably. That, or he doesn’t love us anymore.
The middle sister, dramatic as always.
Gabbie
Kai. Where have you been?
The youngest and most reasonable.
Shaking my head, I type out a quick reply.
Sorry, I have a life. Maybe you should try getting one.
Tiff
Oh, Kai has jokes.
Alicia
I mean...is he wrong, though? When was the last time you went out?
Tiff
Some of us are introverted. People suck.
Alicia
How will you ever find a pack with that attitude?
My nose wrinkles. I’m a grown man, but the last thing I want to do is talk about how my sisters go about finding their packs.
Gabbie
Maybe she wants to stay single forever.
Tiff
How did this turn around on me? We’re supposed to be giving Kai shit.
What did I do to deserve this?
Alicia
You usually text us once a week, but it’s been two. You’re lucky we didn’t drive over to see you.
I chuckle to myself. Gabbie and Tiff share a home, and Alicia lives with her pack. Mom lives by herself, but she’s always been good at keeping herself occupied—going to the gym with friends, happy hour get-togethers, shopping, movies, and of course, holiday dinners. The thought causes a niggle of guilt. Not only have I been quiet with my sisters, I haven’t been calling my mom as much as usual.
Sorry. Things have been busy.
My mom deserves to hear about Daria first.
Tiff
Well, we wanted to talk about Christmas. Dinner at Mom’s. You’re bringing the turkey and wine.
I always bring the turkey and wine.
Alicia
Yeah, because none of us know how to cook it as well as you do.
That’s a lie, but Dad always used to be in charge of the turkey, and the girls have all given me that responsibility. Though I could never take his place, if they need an alpha to bake and carve the turkey to make their holiday special, I’ll do it.
Fine. Any other demands? Gabbie?
Sometimes, Alicia and Tiff can overpower her, so I want to make sure she feels heard.
Gabbie
Can you bring some scotch?
My eyebrows rise.
Since when do you drink scotch?
Gabbie sends a gif of someone rolling their eyes.
Gabbie
Since now. Can you bring it or not?
As soon as you tell me the name of the pack you’re dating.
Tiff
Ha!
Gabbie
Tiff! Don’t confirm it!
Tiff
I didn’t, I just said ha.
Alicia
She’s right. You’re the one who confirmed it.
We’ll be discussing this at Christmas.
I won’t be the older brother who gives dating prospects hell, and who knows, in a few months, she may have moved on. Or things with this prospective pack will have gotten serious. My sisters bicker back and forth in the chat, so I take that as my cue to leave and set the phone aside.
The library reminds me a lot of my dad. I remember him in little things. The crease on the spine of a book. The smell of fresh pages and ink. Picking up my book—Dad’s favorite adventure fantasy story—I try to fall back into reading, but all I can think about is the possibility of Gabbie having a pack.
My baby sister.
Dad’s youngest daughter.
He’s missed so much, but I know he’d be proud of us. He might not approve of everything we’ve ever done—especially not my skydiving adventure—but he’d support us. He’d be happy for us.
“Hey,” Daria says softly, sitting on the couch and tucking her legs beneath her.
Holding the closed book in my lap, I study her, imagining introducing her to my dad. He’d probably love Daria.
“Am I interrupting?” she asks after a few moments of me watching her. “I totally understand not wanting to be bothered when you’re reading.” Daria starts to stand, but I reach out and grab her wrist, holding her in place.
“Stay.”
A warm grin tugs at the edges of her lips. “Okay.”
My phone buzzes and her gaze slides to it. “My sisters,” I tell her with a shake of my head. “They’re arguing in a group chat.”
“How many siblings do you have?”
“Three. They’re a handful.” I smooth my hand over the back of my neck as I explain the situation. “My dad passed away a long time ago, and I’ve sort of been their father figure. They were making plans for Christmas.” Pausing, I consider her. “Would you be comfortable going to meet my family for the holiday?”
“Of course, I would. I mean, as long as you don’t think the age difference would make things weird?”
“Nah. They’ll all be happy for me. They might be annoying sometimes, but they love me.”
She smiles. “I get it. I love my brother Marco the same way.”
“What are the guys doing?”
She shrugs. “Playing some video game.”
“Ah, yeah. They do that.”
“What are you reading?”
I glance at the book in my lap. The cover is worn, and the spine of the paperback has seen better days. “ The Epic Adventures of Rafa .”
“Sci-fi?”
“It was my dad’s favorite.” I run my finger down the spine. “He used to read it to me, and after he passed, I read it to my sisters. I’ve read it so many times, and even though I know exactly what happens, it’s still my favorite.”
“I understand. I have comfort reads, though they’re usually romance.”
“I like romance too,” I admit. “Romantasy is my favorite because there’s usually an epic storyline.”
“I prefer contemporary,” she says. “Fantasy is nice, but sometimes I only want to read about how the relationship comes together.”
“Fair enough.”
She chews on her cheek, her gaze straying to the book in my hands. “Will you read to me?”
“Can you handle sci-fi?”
“It’s your favorite.” She grabs a blanket from the arm of the couch and places it over her lap. “I’m ready.”
I wonder if I should grab one of my romantasy books, but there’s a determined glint in her gaze. Who am I to deny my omega? “All right.” I open the book and clear my throat. “Chapter one.”
Daria listens intently as I read my dad’s favorite story to her, and inch by inch, she scoots toward me until her head rests on my shoulder. I wrap my arm around her and share this piece of my history, oddly comforted by the fact that she doesn’t fall asleep.
She hangs on every word, and that simple attention warms my heart. Yeah. I think my dad would’ve loved this omega.