Escape | ✓

16

"Look who learned how to pick up a phone!" Kai teased the moment the video call connected.

I rolled my eyes as I stared at the slightly blurry forms of my family on the computer screen.

"I didn't forget, I just didn't see any need to call," I retorted.

Even now, I didn't. Any information I needed to share could easily be done over text. However, Mom and Dad clearly didn't share the same sentiments. They had practically forced me to get on a video call.

"I've missed your attitude, Reu," Easton said while Kai shook his head.

"I don't."

I knew he did. As much as he liked to say otherwise, Kai was arguably the brother I was closest with besides Tyson. Even though we were very different in terms of personality, we were still close. Mom always said that we balanced each other out.

"How's your trip going?" Dad asked me.

"Good," I replied, but it was anything but at the moment. I couldn't stop thinking about Eli. Part of me wanted to go talk to him, but I hesitated.

On one hand, I wanted to fix the issue between us. On the other, a small part of me believed that it could be a potentially good thing. Getting him to back off was the original goal after all, but now that we were here, I was divided.

"Are you sure? Your face says otherwise," Jenson said.

"I'm fine," I repeated, but my words lacked conviction.

My family shared a look, but none of them bothered to call me out on the obvious lie which I was grateful for.

"Where's Tyson?" I asked when I saw that the omega wasn't present.

Easton's smile morphed into a scowl at the question. "Out with his mate."

"Mate?" I repeated, questioningly.

Tyson had found his mate?

"That was our reaction too," Kai snorted. "Ignore the look on Easton's face. The guy actually isn't that bad."

"I disagree," Easton muttered.

"It's a good thing nobody asked you then, right? What matters is he makes Ty happy."

The two shared a look, but before a potential argument could break out, Mom shot them a look that caused them to shut up. I wanted to ask more, but I also didn't to get involved in the drama.

"Speaking of mates, have you found anyone on your travels that interests you, Reu?" Kai wiggled his brows.

A certain grinning beta came to mind, but I pushed the thought away. "No—"

"Reuben!" Arlo's voice echoed through the house, causing me to jump slightly. His loud footsteps echoed through the hallway. "You've been in here for too long it's time—"

Arlo paused when he opened the door and saw the camera. There was a brief moment when neither of us reacted, but that stopped when I heard Kai start to talk. Before he could finish his sentence, I slammed the computer shut just as Arlo quickly backed out the door, throwing apologies out as well.

"It's fine," I calmed the idiotic omega down.

I was sure that right about now, my brothers were either in shock or laughing their asses off. I knew that they'd blow up my phones with questions at some point, but I could deal with that later.

"What did you need?" I asked Arlo.

"Well now I feel like shit," he said as he dropped onto the bed. "Are you sure you don't want to call them back? I can go and learn how to knock next time."

"What's done is done," I told him and truthfully, I didn't want to deal with their reactions right now. "What did you want?"

A light crimson color broke out on his face. "I was just going to ask if you wanted to go get some food."

I couldn't stop the wave of amusement from overtaking me. He had accidentally interrupted my video call for food.

"Sure, let's go."

"Reu, come on it'll be—wait, what?"

"Let's go," I repeated.

Arlo stared at me as if I had two heads. He moved toward me and pressed the back of his hand against my forehead. "Are you feeling okay?"

"I can always say no," I offered and he shook his head.

"Not going to question it. Let's go!"

On any other day, I would've rejected the offer, but after yesterday, I wanted to get out and clear my head. If I got food in the process then that would be a win I suppose.

I changed and the two of us headed out. I wasn't sure where we were going and I doubted Arlo did either, but it didn't seem to matter. Arlo talked the while we walked around aimlessly. I nodded my head every once in a while, partially listening to what he said and also not.

"Do you want Tony's?" Arlo asked me.

I hesitated to answer. Tony's was the place I'd taken Eli to.

I started to answer no, but I paused. I wasn't going to be the type of person who refused to go places just because of some problem they had with someone else.

"Sure," I answered instead.

So we continued the short walk toward the burger restaurant. We briefly talked about my family, more specifically, the call he had interrupted, and my brothers. Normally, we stayed away from topics like that, but neither of us seemed to mind today.

Tony's came into view and we entered. However, I immediately regretted my decision to enter. Sitting in the corner of the restaurant was Eli with a smile on his face, but that wasn't the issue. The issue was that he wasn't alone.

Sitting beside Eli was Cronan who was smiling as well.