Catching Him (How to Catch an Alpha 1)

“I like him,” I say, and he raises a brow. “He’s easy to hang out with and fun to be around, but we really are just friends.”

“All right, introduce me to this friend of yours.” He slings his arm around my shoulders and leads me through the kitchen to the large dining room, where my dad, Tyler, and Noah are setting up chairs. I make introductions and then make my escape when the guys start to talk about guy stuff that I have no interest in.

I help my mom in the kitchen, then go down to play video games with the kids until Mom shouts down that dinner is ready. When I come upstairs, Grams is in the kitchen, and so is Chrissie. I hug both of them, then ask if they were introduced to Tyler. I don’t even have to hear them say yes; I can tell by the glazed look in their eyes at the mention of his name that they have been.

Chaos ensues as we all sit down at the table and begin to prepare our plates. It’s always loud and crazy, but this Sunday is more insane than usual. Different conversations are happening, the kids are being kids and shouting out what they want to eat so their parents can make their plates, and my mom is ordering everyone around. When we have our plates piled high, we sit and my dad says grace. That’s the only minute of silence we have. As soon as he’s done, everyone goes back to chatting.

I look at Tyler and watch him smile. “My family is a little crazy.”

“I like them, and this reminds me of being home,” he says, and my heart warms. I have never been far from home, and I don’t know that I could adjust to moving out of the town I grew up in.

“I keep leaving you to fend for yourself,” I point out, feeling a little guilty.

“I noticed.” He laughs.

“Sorry about that.”

“Don’t be. I can take care of myself. Besides, I watched you blank out when your dad and I started talking about football. I get it’s not your thing, hanging with the guys.”

My nose scrunches up, and his eyes roam my face before he smiles. “For most of my childhood, we only had one TV. During football season, it was always on a game, and I never got to watch my shows. I won’t say I hate football, but it doesn’t interest me.”

“I’ll remember that.” When he smiles again, my eyes drop to his mouth. Really, he has a great mouth and great lips. The top one has a nice curve to it, and the bottom is full.

Someone clears their throat, and I jerk my eyes off his mouth and look around, wondering if anyone saw me ogling my friend, who is really just that—my friend. Mom and Grams are both looking at me with the same exact look on their faces, a look that says they know I like this guy more than I’m admitting. I start to eat to keep my mouth busy.

Noah tells Tyler about the guys’ upcoming fishing trip. “You should come with us,” he says. “We normally head out Friday evening and get back Sunday afternoon.” This is a trip my brothers and dad have gone on twice a year since I can remember. A trip my mom and I have never, ever been invited on. My brother inviting Tyler says just how much he likes him. Heck, everyone in my family likes him, and I think my best friend might even have a crush. I totally get it, because I have one too.

“Let me see if I can get the time off.” Tyler leans back after he finishes his dessert. He places his arm on the back of my chair and twirls a piece of my hair around his finger. I can feel every eye at the table on me, but I don’t look around. I ignore everyone and eat my apple pie with ice cream.

“Just let us know, and if you can’t make it this time, we’ll go again in the summer,” Dad says.

Tyler responds with a “Sure.” When a foot taps mine under the table, I look to my right at my best friend.

“I need to go to the restroom,” she whispers.

“Okay,” I whisper back.

“Don’t you need to go to the restroom?” she asks, with wide eyes that glance between Tyler and me.

“You know we’re at my parents’ house and not a bar or restaurant, right?” I prompt quietly. She frowns at me, and I sigh. Apparently, I need to use the restroom. I get up with her and head down the hall. She drags me into the small dark room with her, and once she closes the door, she flips on the light.

“Friend?” she hisses, pulling down her pants and taking a seat on the toilet. Okay, so she really did need to use the bathroom. This isn’t the first time we’ve used the bathroom at the same time, so I’m not even a little shocked right now. “That guy is not just your friend.” She points at me, waving a piece of toilet paper around.