Two sets of Shoyu Ramen, one without onions. One set of Seafood Stir-fried Noodles, no vegetables. Two sides of eggs. What did I forget? There was something else. Damn it!
Wyatt slipped his hand over his belly, needing to protect his baby. Max had seen that, too. Max knew he was pregnant. And that made Wyatt want to cringe, take a hot shower. Wash that dirty stare off his skin. Max didn’t need to know the slightest thing about him.
Raph strode to his side, tall, broad, strong. “Breathe,” he murmured, sliding his arm around Wyatt’s waist. His body was wound tight, too, coiled with tension. “What do I do?”
“I don’t know,” Wyatt mumbled. There was no way out of this dining segment, except to go forward, where Max waited by the front door. Wyatt had no reason to kick him out. He dreaded even speaking to Max.
“I’ll send him away,” Raph said. “Be back soon.” He squeezed Wyatt’s waist, and left him in the aisle.
Wyatt tried to follow; he really did. He managed all of three steps, before he shook so hard that he had to stop.
You’re a sick little omega, soaking up punishment like that, Max had whispered years ago. Hard when I slap you.
Wyatt’s face burned. He looked at the smooth floorboards, wishing he had the strength to move forward, to stride past Max like nothing could break him.
Four yards away, Raph said, “I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to leave, sir.”
“Who are you?” Max asked, his voice commanding. Wyatt remembered that about him, too. He wished he didn’t.
“The manager of Wy’s Drive-In,” Raph said.
Max narrowed his eyes, glancing at Raph’s chest, where a badge should be. “You don’t seem to be. Where is the real manager?”
He glanced at Wyatt, and Raph growled, stepping between them. “We reserve the right to refuse service.” Raph extended his hand toward the door. “Please.”
At the back of his mind, Wyatt remembered a younger Raph, who would’ve punched the people he didn’t like, and apologize later. Raph had grown and matured for the better. But Wyatt? He was still a coward, still broken.
Max stepped around Raph, jerking his chin at Wyatt. “He’s my omega.”
“He isn’t anymore.” Raph moved to shield Wyatt again, jaw clenched.
“Is he yours, then?”
And the voices carried to the few patrons who had looked over, watching their exchange. Wyatt closed his eyes, wishing he could hide his face. Raph shouldn’t be there. Especially when the news could spread, and Raph could lose his job.
Raph didn’t answer Max. And maybe that silence was far too incriminating.
“He has a sick little soul,” Max said, eyes glittering, lips curling into a smirk. “Let’s hope that baby doesn’t turn out the same.”
Raph’s knuckles whitened. He looked as though he might murder Max right there; Wyatt wouldn’t have minded. It would land them both in jail, though, and there wouldn’t be anyone to care for Hazel.
He breathed in deep, trying to shove all his thoughts away. When Wyatt cracked his eyes open, Max threw him a smirk, turned, and stepped out of the restaurant.
It was only when Max had gotten into his car and driven off, that Raph turned away from the front door. Wyatt sucked in a breath, his hands trembling.
Raph returned to his side. “You okay?”
“I will be.” Wyatt cleared his throat. “I just—just have to get this order in.”
Except he could only remember half the order now, and the details were slipping through his fingers like water. What kind of boss was he? He couldn’t even get an order right.
Raph set his hand on the small of Wyatt’s back, guiding him to the order screen. The colorful buttons swam in his vision. He couldn’t remember the order at all, now. All he could remember was Max’s smirk. “I can’t do it.”
“That’s fine,” Raph said. “Which table was it? I’ll get Mina to take the order again.”
Wyatt groaned. “24. They won’t be happy if you do that. We’re supposed to be providing good service, Raph.”
“Better than fucking up their food.” Raph steered him away from the screen, and Wyatt followed bonelessly, his heart pounding too hard. He needed to get away from here. Scrub off Max’s oily stare. Burrow himself in Raph’s chest and not think at all.
He needed to cry, let his tears wash everything else away.
He pasted on a smile when Hazel’s booth came into sight. She was peering past the side of the seat, half-hiding. Penny was on the other side of the booth, leaning forward with a frown.
Wyatt sagged. Meeting Max had sapped the last of his energy; he didn’t have the strength to explain anything to them.
“You need to go home, Dad,” Hazel said, her brow crinkling with worry. “I can go with you.”
His heart kicked. Would Raph or Penny judge him because Hazel knew? Children weren’t supposed to be exposed to their parents’ breakdowns.
But Raph shook his head. “I’ll take him home. Pen, can you send Hazel home tonight? In about an hour.”
“Sure,” Penny said, frowning. “What happened?”
Wyatt shook his head, so Hazel explained, “Dad had a mood.”
Raph left him at the booth to search out Mina. Wyatt leaned his hip against the table, his throat tight. He didn’t want to think any more about Max. But seeing his ex had reminded him of all the reasons he’d stayed through that abuse—the guilt, and the disgust at himself. He’d tried to seduce his stepbrother.
Tonight, he’d failed to get that order right. He couldn’t face Max, or even move. Raph had to do it for him. And Wyatt was painfully aware of his shortcomings, and Grandma’s snide whispers. Bad children like you are punished. You’ll only be good if you hurt.
“Will you be okay?” Hazel asked, the corners of her lips turning down.
“I will,” Wyatt said, smoothing her hair back. His hands still shook a little. “Aunt Penny will take care of you. I have to go home first tonight, okay? Remember to sleep early.”
“What about you?” Hazel looked
