My Alpha and Beta

Ch. 26 - Walk of Shame

Riley POV

I fiddle around my apartment for hours, dreading what it would be like to see them today. I couldn't hide, especially since their company was paying the rent. I put on my long black pencil skirt with blue and pink dress shirt. It was professional, but said I could have fun too.

I quickly devoured my breakfast, still feeling a bit hungry. I didn't have time to make anything else. I grabbed an apple and granola bar for the road then headed out.

"Hi pretty lady. Want some company?" Brandon was waiting at the door, I think waiting for me.

"Always. Thank you." I gave him a big cheesy smile leading him down the sidewalk.

"Did you skip breakfast? We can stop at the cafe on the way." He pointed to my hands, one holding a half eaten apple and one with an open granola bar.

"No, I'm fine. I ate already, just still hungry I guess. Oh, I think I ate too much." I quickly rushed to an alley way bending over and hurling my brains out.

"Shit! Are you ok?" Brandon held my hair back then grabbed a napkin from his pocket to wipe my face. He was dam Mary Poppins with those pockets.

"Yeah, fine." I pushed passed him, but he grabbed me, pulling me to the wall.

My eyes widened in fear. What was he doing? I then realized we were alone in a dark alley. It was morning, but the over cast clouds let little light shine through the two buildings.

"I would never hurt you, Riley. Please don't ever look at me like that again." I swear he whined at me.

"Sorry, but you are manhandling me." My eyes darted to his hands, each with a tight grip on my arms.

"Shit! I didn't mean it like that. I want to protect you. No, I need to protect you. Please, just tell me what is going on? Let me help you." He pleaded with me and I swear my heart was breaking for him. Our conversations were getting weirder every day.

"I'm fine Brandon. I promise. I'm a nervous eater, that's all. My father is going into surgery today and he won't be able to speak to me for two weeks. I don't know what to do with myself, so I eat, like constantly, when I'm like this."

"I'm so sorry, Ri. Why aren't you with him? I can take you to him. I know Jax won't care if we take a few days off."

"No, it's fine. Besides, he won't let me come. I don't even know where he is. All I get is his moody voodoo doctor promising that she will text me his status every so often."

Brandon pulled me into a hug and before I could protest I sank into him. There was this unspoken loyalty between us that I loved. I knew I could trust him with my life and he knew the same from me.

"Come on, let's get you a smoothie or something to help settle your stomach." He pulled me out of the alley and headed to a little shop not far out of the way from work.

"This is pure magic, I promise." He lifted his eyebrow with a playful smile as he handed me a bright pink drink.

"Thank you!"

"What is that?" He pointed to my two bulging pockets of my jacket.

"Uh, nothing." I quickly turned to head back towards work. I didn't want him to know I bought thirty chocolate truffles while he got me a smoothie to settle my stomach.

He didn't press further, just silently walked by my side. "This is delicious, mmmm." I definitely moaned loudly slurping down the pink heaven.

"Slow down, killer. Geez, you really are a nervous eater. I never seen anything like this before." He looked at me suspiciously as I shoved a truffle down my throat. I gave him a apologetic smile not really feeling all that bad.