Yeah, Wyatt’s best friend had been giving him dubious looks, ever since Raph began asking to take Hazel home. But if Raph got to wait in Wyatt’s apartment after that, and wrap Wy in his arms when he got home, then Raph didn’t mind.
Someone waved from one of the tables. Wyatt waved back, grinning. He turned back to Raph. “I’d love to talk more, but I don’t have time right now.”
Raph shrugged. “I’ll wait.”
“See you around.”
Their hands brushed as Wyatt strode off. They couldn’t touch in public, and certainly not at the diner. But the skin contact sent a thrill down Raph’s nerves—a quiet whisper of I want to see you again. Raph hid his smile, ducking into the kitchen.
He found Sam by the industrial fridges, pulling out a tray of thinly-sliced beef. Like Wyatt, Sam was omega—slender, pretty, his scent a faint dahlia. He was one of the Brentwood brothers—Raph had seen him in school years back.
Sam turned when Raph approached, his eyes narrowing.
“I spoke to Wyatt,” Raph said. “I’ll send Hazel home tonight. Tomorrow, too.”
“Penny has the night shift tomorrow,” Sam said. “You’d have to talk to her about that.”
Raph tried not to wince. For the past two weeks, he’d been relieving Sam of his babysitting duties—he’d forgotten that Penny was involved. Penny didn’t even know that Raph had been meeting their brother. If she found out... well. She’d flip out. “I’ll do that.”
“Look, I know this isn’t exactly my business,” Sam said, his expression guarded. “But Wy’s told me some of your history. I’d hate for you to hurt him and Hazel.”
It rankled, because Raph had hurt Wyatt. How much did Sam know? “Of course I wouldn’t,” Raph muttered, wanting to growl. “I care for them. They’re my family.”
Sam looked as though he wanted to say more, but held back. “Fine.”
“Sorry,” Raph said. “I didn’t mean to deprive you of your time with them.”
Sam shrugged, turning away. “I see them around.”
It was as good as any conversation between them would go. Raph breathed a sigh, returning to Hazel’s booth.
She blinked owlishly at him. “You’re back?”
“Looks like I am.” Raph slid onto a cushioned seat, looking up at the accent lighting on the ceiling. The conversation with Sam bothered him—of course he knew he’d hurt Wyatt. Maybe everyone would know he’d hurt Wyatt. How did he prove that he wouldn’t again?
Hazel wriggled, drawing a squiggly line down the side of her homework. “You look angry.”
“Just thinking,” Raph said.
“I don’t want to be an adult. It seems difficult.” She added leaves at the bottom of the line, and a daisy head at the top.
Raph froze, wondering what she’d seen Wyatt do. “Does your dad say it’s difficult?”
“It’s not so bad now,” she said, setting her pencil down. “But it used to be. I fell sick once and Dad cried when he saw the hospital bill. He tried to hide it.”
His heart sank. Why didn’t you talk to me, Wy? It wasn’t like Raph was in far better financial straits, himself, but the thought of Wyatt crying... Raph should’ve been there. “Did he talk to your grandma about it?”
Hazel pursed her lips, frowning. “I don’t think so.”
Gods, Wyatt. How much crap have you gone through by yourself? “If your dad is ever that upset again, tell me, okay?”
“Okay. Aunt Penny and Uncle Sam are on that list, too.”
“Good.” Raph relaxed. So maybe Wyatt was in a better place now. He’d found a support group for himself, people who cared about him. He wouldn’t get to the point where he cried over bills anymore. Raph was proud of him for that. “Thanks.”
Hazel smiled. “Lots of people love Dad, you know.”
“I can see that.” Raph reached over the table, ruffling her hair. Over the past three weeks, he’d thought about raising a baby with Wyatt. Taking turns to change the baby’s diapers, taking turns to feed the baby, keep it company.
Before he got together with Wyatt, he’d expected to have an omega at some point, maybe have kids. After he’d paid off his debt.
Instead, Raph had an omega now. They were going to have a baby. And Raph still had a shitload of debt—six figures. He needed another two years with this job. He’d been crunching the numbers, sliding some savings into higher-risk investments.
Most nights, he tried not to think about it, so he could catch some sleep.
Yet as he met Hazel’s bright eyes, he thought he wouldn’t mind adopting her as his own, too.
“What’s something that’ll get your dad really mad?” Raph asked.
“Lying.” Hazel looked over her shoulder, but she couldn’t see Wyatt from where she sat. “Don’t ever lie to Dad.”
Raph held his breath. He could see why—he’d heard about the lies Max had told Wyatt. Same lies that got Wy pregnant.
But if Raph didn’t tell Wyatt about the debt, that didn’t count as a lie... right? Raph didn’t want to tell Wyatt about the hundred grand he had to pay, that was still sitting on his shoulders. They’d grown up around enough debt for Wy to be free of that.
That’s my own crap to deal with, not Wy’s.
On the other side of the aisle, a man stood from his table, a bundled infant in his arms.
“I like his hair,” Hazel whispered.
Discreetly, Raph glanced over. The man was an omega, maybe in his forties, his long auburn hair weaved into intricate French braids. With the narrow glasses perched on his nose, he looked serious, like a professor—not the sort of person who had time to do his hair.
“Need help, Dale?” his companion—an alpha—asked, tucking some bills under a plate. He lifted a baby carrier from his seat, reaching over to straighten the paper crane clips in his omega’s hair.
“Set the carrier on the table,” Dale said. “I don’t want to shake Phil up too much. He’s asleep.”
The alpha was young, maybe twenty years younger than his omega. Not a common relationship in Meadowfall at all. They moved around each other with
