Catching Him (How to Catch an Alpha 1)

“Do you like football?” Dad asks, and I kind of zone out as they talk about their favorite teams and players.

“Why don’t you come help me in the kitchen while the guys watch the game?” Mom suggests. It’s not an actual suggestion. I know, because she wraps her hand tightly around my upper arm and starts to pull me with her. “Do you want a drink, Tyler?” Mom asks over her shoulder.

“I’m good for now. Thank you, though.”

“Honey, you want anything?” she asks Dad.

“I’m okay.” He doesn’t pull his eyes from the TV.

“We’ll be in the kitchen then.” She marches me forward. I look back over my shoulder, and Tyler gives me a smile as he settles on the couch with my dad. “You did not tell me your new neighbor is hot,” Mom whispers when we’re out of earshot of the guys.

“I didn’t think I needed to announce that during my phone call with you.” I don’t roll my eyes, because I’m not in the mood to be smacked upside the head—something I’ve seen my mom do to my brothers, even now that they are grown men.

“Honey, I’m your mom. I love your father to death, but you still need to give a woman some warning when you’re going to show up for Sunday dinner with a man who is even hotter than Chris Hemsworth.”

“No guy in real life is hotter than Chris Hemsworth,” I scoff. Okay, Tyler is definitely up there with Chris on the hotness scale, but Chris as Thor totally knocks him out of the running. Seriously, Tyler doesn’t even rank with Thor—no man alive ranks with Thor.

“Are you blind?” she asks, going to the oven and opening the door to check on the huge turkey she’s cooking in the middle of October. Where did she find a turkey? I thought those were seasonal.

“Mom—”

“Just your neighbor,” she mocks, shutting the door with her hip and raising a brow.

“He’s my friend,” I say, and she starts to laugh. “What’s funny?”

“I cannot wait until your grandma gets here and gets a load of this guy.”

“Grams is coming to dinner?” She doesn’t normally come. She has a standing date with a “friend” every Sunday. And we call him her friend because the truth is just too gross to think about. Gag.

“She’ll be here soon,” she confirms.

“Chrissie is coming as well.” I shrug. “The more the merrier.”

She smiles at me, then asks softly, “Is he really just a friend?”

“You know I don’t like disappointing you, but yes. I like him. He’s easy to spend time with, but we’re just friends.”

Her expression fills with disappointment, then brightens. “He was holding your hand.”

I don’t have a good excuse for that. He is always holding my hand. Maybe he holds hands with everyone. Who the heck knows?

“What do you want me to help with?” I change the subject while looking around for something to do.

She’s silent for a long moment before letting out a breath. “Nothing right now. When the boys get here, they can set the table. Dinner is already finished.” She turns toward the fridge and pulls out a tray of deviled eggs.

“Is it Thanksgiving already?” I joke, and she gives me her don’t-mess-with-me look. “Just asking.”

I hear the commotion in the living room and slowly walk through the house. When I reach the hall, my brother Noah; his wife, Angie; and my nephews, Owen and Isaac, are taking off their coats and kicking off their shoes. Isaac sees me first and runs full speed in my direction, coming to a halt with his hands grasping my hips and his head tipped way back. “Dad told us on the way over here that we get to spend next weekend with you.”

“You do.” I slide my fingers through his soft brown hair and bend down to kiss his forehead. “We’re going to eat so much junk food,” I whisper, then lean back just in time to catch his grin. “It’s our secret, though, so you have to keep it on the DL.”

“What’s the DL?” he whispers back, looking confused and completely adorable.

“The down low.”

“Oh.” His smile takes over his whole face. “I can do that.”

“Good.” I kiss the top of his head, then meet Owen’s eyes. “Come here, dude.”

He comes toward me much slower than his brother, because he’s starting to become too cool for his aunt’s hugs and kisses. I still wrap him up in a hug and lift him off the ground, even though he must weigh close to sixty pounds by now.

“I’ve missed you, kid.” I pepper kisses on his cute face, laughing as he tries to dodge them. “Are you excited about next weekend?” I look into his happy eyes as he nods. “Good, I cannot wait to play Fortnite with you.” I haven’t ever played Fortnite, but I know it’s the game all the kids are playing right now, so I bought it last week.