Wyatt blinked. His expression was the look of someone who could be hurt, and hurt easily. And a surge of protectiveness roared through Raph’s chest. If Penny hurt him, Raph would get even.
“I wasn’t expecting you,” Wyatt said.
“Aunt Penny!” Hazel beamed. “I haven’t seen you in ages!”
Penny winced, her fingers curling into her purse. “Things came up in the lab. I’m sorry. It’s been hectic on my end.”
“We haven’t seen you for four months,” Raph said, narrowing his eyes. Sure, she might’ve been upset. But he’d tried leaving her messages, and so had Wyatt. In the end, they’d both given up. “You could’ve called.”
“I...” Penny breathed in and sighed, pushing her glasses up her nose. The drive-in wasn’t the best place for a discussion, not with townsfolk chatting and staff bustling around. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have stalked off that day.”
“Good that you realize it,” Raph said. Penny flinched.
“Raph.” Wyatt frowned. “Be nice.”
“And forget how hurt you’ve been?” Raph glared. “I understand this isn’t your cup of tea, Pen. But Wyatt’s made his choice. Respect him for that.”
Penny gulped, meeting his eyes. “Yeah. That’s what I dropped by for. I’m really sorry about that day.”
“What day?” Hazel asked, glancing between all of them, her eyes wide.
“The day I was supposed to stay for breakfast,” Penny said, cringing.
“Don’t forget the cheesy toast.” Hazel wagged her color pencil. “You owe me a cheesy toast. With chocolate sprinkles and icing sugar!”
Wyatt eased into a smile. Raph sighed. The kid really was great, diffusing situations without even meaning to. He’d had to take courses on managing people, and here Hazel was, a natural at it.
“I promise,” Penny said. She reached out toward Wyatt, before pausing. “I’m really sorry, Wy. I’d meant to drop by sooner, but I had to deal with my own doubts first. I’ve been thinking about it. In the end... it’s really your choice. I’d thought that maybe Raph felt the same way about me; we’re both omega. I was kind of creeped out.”
“Huh.” Raph hadn’t considered it from that angle. It would’ve been awkward if the situations were reversed, and Penny had a crush on him. So maybe he could understand why she’d reacted the way she did, and maybe he could forgive her for taking off. “No, it’s never been you.”
“Well, good.” Penny cracked a smile. “Either way, I’m really sorry about things. And for losing touch.”
Raph glanced at Wyatt. Wyatt had relaxed through Penny’s speech; he had always been soft with people, and he was the better person of them both. He looked like he’d already forgiven Penny for her absence.
Penny glanced between them. “I’ll leave if you want me to.”
“No,” Wyatt said. He reached out, pulling Penny into a hug. “Thanks for coming back, sis. I missed you.”
She hugged Wyatt. Over his shoulder, Penny met Raph’s eyes, smiling with some trepidation.
“You’re good,” he said, shrugging. “Just don’t pull that again.”
Relief darted through her face. “Thank you. I really am sorry.”
“Have a seat,” Wyatt said, perking up. “I’ll get you drinks.”
“I’ll ask Sam myself. It’s fine.” Penny smiled. Hazel scooted over to make space for her, and she settled into the booth across from Raph, her cheeks pink.
“I’ve got to return to the tables,” Wyatt said, squeezing Raph’s shoulder. “Be back later.”
“Sure,” Raph said.
Wyatt hurried back to his customers. Raph watched until his blond hair disappeared behind the polished lattice dividers. And Penny watched Raph.
“Can I have two cheesy toasts?” Hazel asked Penny. “I miss the ones you make. Dad makes them too, but they taste different.”
You little bugger. Raph snorted. All you care about is your dad, and food.
Penny pulled Hazel into a hug. “I could drop by sometime soon—we’ll see what your dad says, okay?”
“Okay.” Hazel hummed, coloring the roof of her stone well.
Raph didn’t know what he had to say to his sister; so many months had passed since they’d last talked, and so many things had happened. Penny looked down at the table, fiddling with her purse.
“Mom knows,” Raph said.
Penny jerked her gaze up. “She—she knows?”
“Yeah, I told her. She wasn’t surprised at all.”
“Oh.” Penny frowned, digesting the news. “Was I the only one who didn’t know?”
“No, Dad and Grandma still don’t know. I’d rather keep it that way,” Raph said. “Can you do that?”
She nodded quickly, a crease on her forehead. “Yeah. I promise not to tell.”
She looked so eager to please, right then, that Raph softened. Maybe he could trust her. Maybe she deserved a second chance, just like Wyatt did with his entire life. “Thanks.”
They fell into silence, watching as Hazel colored the crank on the well, then the flowers growing at its base. Around, cutlery clinked, and the murmur of conversation washed over them.
Penny squirmed. “Are you always here during the weekends?”
“Yeah. I head here from Highton—traffic’s pretty light coming in this direction.”
She nodded, her gaze sliding toward Hazel. Raph felt a little sorry for her; it wasn’t her fault that her brothers had hooked up. But she could’ve at least answered a damn text message.
He stood, thinking he’d drop by the kitchen for more water, maybe get Penny a glass of something to drink.
Just beyond the front doors of the diner, someone moved. Raph glanced over. He wouldn’t have spared the new patron a second look, except something about the man caught his attention. Sandy hair, ice-green eyes, broad shoulders.
He hadn’t seen that alpha in person before. But he remembered that face from the photos on Facebook, had glared and gritted his teeth at that bastard. Wyatt had his back turned, and Raph’s heart kicked. Don’t look over.
“Hazel,” he said. “Climb up on the seat for a sec, keep your head down. Tell me who that is.”
Penny turned, but the dividers obstructed her view. Hazel pulled her legs up, scooted carefully over Penny’s lap, and peered over the dividers. She gasped. “That’s Max. Dad says if I ever see him, I need to walk away like
