Chapter 61
ADAM
Fletcher was oddly quiet all evening at work, lost in thought. Uh-oh. I knew that look. That was usually reserved for when he was thinking Big Thoughts. He was probably going to drop a bomb on me later, but as for what? I hadn’t the slightest idea.
“Everything okay?” I asked him while chopping vegetables.
“Hmm, what?” He blinked a couple of times, then smiled sheepishly up at me. “Oh. Yeah. Just in my head, sorry. I’m fine.”
We went home to shower—but not together. Fletcher insisted I go first while he wound down with a little video gaming. So while he booted up the Switch, I grabbed a fresh set of pajamas and headed to the bathroom.
I felt…uncertain. In fact, that uncertainty had been growing since the day the blond-haired Omega started showing up on our patio and Fletcher began doting on him.
Was I jealous? Of an Omega? Maybe a little bit, because Fletcher seemed to be so damn invested in Sky DuPree—the Omega half of the Alpha-Omega twins that Gracie had warned me about.
Sky had a dark past, one that I was terrified would sweep Fletcher up in the tides. I wanted—needed—to protect my mate, and myself, from any more trauma. I wanted to warn Sky off, threaten him if need be, and tell him to stay far away from my mate.
The problem was, I knew Fletcher would be very upset with me if I did that.
Damn it all. I’d have to figure something else out.
That night, Fletcher cuddled close to me on the couch as we watched some sitcom on TV. He smelled freshly of cucumber-melon shampoo. I wanted nothing more to bury my nose in the curls at the nape of his neck and breathe him in.
I was about to do just that, when he pulled away, twisting around in his seat to look at me. The TV light flickered and cast a glow across his face. “Hey, Adam?”
Uh-oh. Here it comes…
“Yes?” I mused, trying to keep my tone light.
“What do you think about maybe hiring Sky as our new dishwasher since Amanda is leaving us Friday?”
Instantly, it felt like Fletcher had thrown a bucket of ice cold water over me, dousing me in a bitter chill. Anger surged to the surface before I could tamp it back.
“No.” The word was bitten out.
Fletcher’s face fell. “Why not?”
“Because,” I snapped back. “He’s dangerous, Fletcher—”
“Yeah, you keep saying that, but I don’t see it,” he argued.
“I talk to him almost every day. He seems lonely and maybe a little weird, but not dangerous. I don’t get bad vibes.
Baby, he really needs something to occupy his time.
Wouldn’t giving him something to do mean he has less time to do these ‘nefarious things’ you seem to think he gets up to? ”
“No is no.” I held my ground, setting my jaw.
Fletcher stood up, his fists clenched at his sides. Anger was written in the frown lines of his face. “So that’s it? No?” He barked a harsh laugh. “Bixby’s is half mine, but I don’t get a say? Is it because I’m the Omega?”
How quickly he twisted words when he was angry. I pinched the bridge of my nose and breathed in deeply. “Damn it, Fletcher, would you just listen?”
“Listen to what?” he snapped. “You took a chance on me when I was homeless and alone. I had nothing. Sky has nothing.”
“He has shelter and food. He can get a job elsewhere. Don’t compare apples to oranges,” I replied as calmly as I could.
“He reminds me of me. I want to help him. Why won’t you let me help him?”
Something inside of me snapped. I leapt to my feet, looming over my mate as I roared, “BECAUSE I’M TRYING TO PROTECT YOU!”
Fletcher flinched back, his eyes flashing wide in surprise. We were face to face now, but I didn’t stop.
“Don’t you get it?” I uttered. “Gracie says he’s a wild card, that he could snap at any moment, and all I can think about is Tank. I can’t lose you again, Fletcher. I refuse. If he flips out and attacks you…”
Fletcher’s green eyes softened. He reached out and gently touched my face, stroking my cheekbone with the backs of his knuckles.
“I understand, but I really don’t think he will,” he murmured. “He’s misunderstood and sure, he probably needs therapy, but he doesn’t seem like a killer to me. Can we at least try? If he shows a single hint of being unhinged, I’ll be the one to fire him. Please? Let me do this for him.”
I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath. Held it. Let it out slowly. I could tell my mate so desperately wanted this. It was personal.
So I relented. “Okay. We’ll try, but one tiny hint of insanity and he’s gone.”
Fletcher’s smile brightened the storm clouds threatening to shroud my heart in clamor. “Thank you.” He threw his arms around my chest and hugged me tightly. “We’ll keep a close eye on him. I really do think he just needs a friend.”
I had to bite back my growl. Yeah, but who says it has to be you? Instead, I said, “Yeah. Maybe.”
But there was one thing for certain: If Sky DuPree fucked with my mate, I would be the last thing he ever saw.