But did Micah want Kai’s love, with how antsy he’d been in the college lately? Uncertain, Kai glanced at his mom. “Yeah, I’ll get him.”
What would Spike think about this?
Briefly, Kai breathed in Micah’s gardenia scent, holding him close. Micah sagged, burying his face against Kai’s shoulder, his breath warm through Kai’s shirt. “Thanks,” Micah whispered, his body fitting perfectly in Kai’s arms. “Just a moment. I’ll let you go.”
“I lo—” Kai said.
His phone buzzed. Kai pulled it out, just in case Spike needed to tell him something instead of yelling it through the door.
Invitation to Tryout for NBA G-League, said the title of the email.
Kai froze, reading it again. Aside from applying to a few other colleges for a basketball scholarship, he’d requested to try out for the NBA’s minor league, the G-league. It wasn’t as prestigious as the major league and it didn’t pay as well, but... it was income. He’d stand a chance to be noticed by the major league, and maybe he might be drafted into the big teams.
“Kai?” Micah glanced at Kai’s phone. “Did something happen?”
Kai didn’t know what to say. He tapped on the email, opening it.
Micah sucked in a sharp breath. “Are you going?”
“It’s just tryouts,” Kai said, his heart thumping.
He knew he’d ace it. When he got into the G-league... he’d be spending weeks away from Meadowfall, training with his team. He wouldn’t be able to see Micah, or Spike. Do I really want this?
Dad’s bedroom door slammed open. Spike wrestled with Dad, snapping, “It doesn’t matter who I’m seeing. I’m happy with my life.”
“And that omega’s gonna make you happy?” Dad retorted. “He’s gonna drag you down, Spike. He’s gonna make you regret.”
Micah stiffened, blood draining from his face. Anger shot back through Kai’s chest. Why the fuck are you still spouting that shit?
Except Dad added, “I’ve seen a bunch of omegas. Don’t waste your life with a bad one.”
Like Zac? The man who had grabbed Kai by the hair and hissed in his ear, You’ll end up just like your dad. You’ll fail at shit and people will trample all over you.
Dad was unshaven. He reeked of booze, and he didn’t even have a job. Kai stared at Terence Ventura, the cogs in his mind slowly clicking into place. I’m not that alpha. I won’t end up like him.
He refused to be a liability. He couldn’t hang around forever, playing college basketball and hoping one of the big teams picked him up. If he had an invitation to the tryouts, he needed to grab that opportunity. Maybe it would end up with him leaving Meadowfall.
Micah leaned away from Kai. Kai let him go, missing his warmth. Thought again about saying I love you. But if Kai might leave, if Kai might break a promise... I can’t tell him. I can’t break his heart.
It was difficult, locking those three words inside his chest.
Spike shoved their dad back into the bedroom, slamming the door shut. “We’re leaving,” he said, his eyes flashing. “I’m not listening to that crap about Micah.”
Mom stopped next to Micah, tentatively pulling him into a hug. “I’m sorry Terence is behaving this way,” she said apologetically. “I just... sometimes, I don’t know what to do with him.”
“You could get a divorce,” Kai said flatly. “We’ll help pay for it.”
Mom bit her lip—she was considering it. Good enough. Kai gave her a one-armed hug, ushering Micah to the door. He wasn’t having Micah here for another second longer, if he could help it.
“I’m sorry we have to leave this soon,” Micah said, kissing Kai’s mom on the cheek. “But I really appreciate you having us over.”
“Anytime,” Mom said, her eyes lighting up. “I’m just—so happy that the three of you are happy.”
Spike gave her a quick kiss, wrapping his arm around Micah’s waist. “I’ll be back with Kai,” Spike said. “Maybe we’ll bring Micah along some other time.”
Mom waved, and then they were back downstairs, in the car, Kai’s decision heavy in his heart.
“About the tryouts,” Micah said, glancing at Kai.
“Tryouts?” Spike frowned.
“I got invited to the G-league tryouts,” Kai said, watching as understanding dawned in Spike’s eyes, then dismay.
“So you’re going,” Spike said quietly.
“It’s just a tryout.”
“No, it isn’t. You’re gonna leave us, Kai.” Spike looked away, his throat working. “You promised me.”
“I can’t stay, okay? Meadowfall isn’t my future.”
“I wanted another two years with you.” Spike blinked hard, looking out the passenger window. “I love you. You know that.”
“Then you’d let me leave.” It was a low blow, and Kai felt like the shittiest person for saying it. Spike glared. Kai’s heart hurt. “We’ll see. For all you know, they’re gonna reject me anyway.”
Spike’s laugh was mirthless. “They won’t. They’ll see you for what you are, Kai. You’re good. You’re the best player on our team. They’ll scoop you up and you’ll never return to Meadowfall again.”
Kai growled. “I’m not leaving you forever. I’ll be back during the off-seasons.”
“But it isn’t enough.” Spike glowered. “What about the baby?”
Kai hadn’t thought that far. “I’ll make enough to pay for it.”
“You’ll regret that, you know,” Spike said. “You can’t be a dad from afar.”
Could Kai? He didn’t know. He wasn’t even ready to be one. Maybe ever.
In the rearview mirror, he met Micah’s gaze. Micah’s eyes were dark, his lips pressed thin. Kai shouldn’t have brought him home when Dad was around. Micah hadn’t deserved to hear that kind of crap.
Hell, Kai wished Micah didn’t hear what Dad had said about him and Spike. Kai was tired of being a liability, he was tired of struggling with school and scraping together money. He needed to do better. It was in his power to.
And yet the thought of leaving... that felt the wrongest of them all.
29
Spike
Kai was leaving. His bags were packed, his things were cleared off their shared desk, and his car keys were tucked into Spike’s pocket.
“You can’t,” Spike said, his chest so tight he could
