the roast beef sub in front of me. Were these random bouts of exhaustion a normal pregnancy—no, virus—a normal virus thing?
"Just eat, Brooklyn," Dylan said, sounding weary himself, before he retook his seat.
I eyed the absolute ton of food in front of me and reached for a ham and cheese sandwich. That seemed like something my churning stomach might keep down. The first bite tasted like dust, but it didn't immediately projectile-vomit out of me, so I just kept going, chewing each piece like it was the most important work I had to do today.
Anything was better than trying to break this awkward-as-fuck silence simmering in the air between Dylan and me. He went back to working, but there was still plenty of time for him to keep an eye on me, his brows drawing together every time I wasn't actively eating.
In the end, I managed to finish an entire sandwich, a few pieces of apple, and a couple of chocolate chip cookies. When he was satisfied I’d had enough, Dylan wolfed down the rest of the food, and it didn't escape my notice that he hadn't touched one thing on the tray until I was completely done.
There was an honorable man inside of him, even if it was hidden under layers of scary alpha. Whoever finally claimed the full heart of this man was going to be one lucky lady. I hoped she would know that and never take it for granted. Pun intended.
The noise of a throaty engine broke the silence some time later, and Dylan's gaze shot to the door. "Riley’s here."
He knew the sound of her car—totally normal for someone you're not in love with.
This was going to be one fucked up afternoon, I already knew it.
17
We sat in silence as two doors slammed, and the sound of arguing reaching us before the people did.
"Beck, seriously. If you don't get off my fucking ass, I'm going to shoot you. In the dick."
There was a low, deep chuckle, the sound so deliciously masculine. I felt a jolt of excitement that I was going to meet Sebastian Beckett as well today. I mean, from what I'd seen on television and read in the news, he was even scarier than Dylan, and almost as handsome, but mostly I was curious to observe the dynamic between the three of them.
"Come on, Butterfly," Beck replied when they were close to the door. "You love my dick too fucking much to shoot it."
She let out a strangled laugh. "Yes, that is mostly true, and I also happen to love your stupid ass, but you really didn't need to cancel everything and follow me up here today."
There was a pause, and I could have sworn that Riley let out a little huff of air. Dylan sighed as he got to his feet. "Ready for this hot mess?" he not that quietly asked me.
"We fucking heard that, asshole," Beck snapped from the other side of the door before he went back to whatever he was doing to Riley that made her sound so breathless.
Thankfully before I had to let my imagination roam free, the door flew open, and a chick walked in. She was pink cheeked, puffy lipped, and her breathing was definitely more rapid than normal.
She was also stunningly beautiful.
The television didn't do Riley Deboise justice, with her gorgeous long hair, big blue eyes, and the sort of tanned skin that fake-tan companies spent millions trying to recreate. She was dressed “billionaire chic,” in a power suit, designer heels, and her makeup perfect. She even made the little snowman earrings in her lobes look high class instead of cheesy.
She looked like she had her shit together more than any person I'd ever met, and since she was all of twenty-one, that was saying a lot.
"Dylan!" Riley exclaimed, hurrying forward so she could throw her arms around him.
My heart ached as he jerked her up into his body, holding her tight, as genuine affection softened his face. "Riles! I missed you."
Looking briefly down at the table, I tried not to barf up everything I'd just eaten. No matter what Dylan insisted, there was something between them.
Beck was right behind his girl, not removing his possessive stare from her, and I had to swallow at how dominating his presence was. Just like Riley—and Dylan—there was an otherworldly beauty and strength about him. If someone told me these three had popped straight out of a fantasy novel, I wouldn't have been surprised.