“Here we are,” Torem announced from the front seat. They pulled into an all-night store, and Sidney practically hopped over Torem to get out. “In a hurry?”
“Yeah, butt’s numb.” Sidney rubbed it on his way in. He immediately went to the cooler section and grabbed six cans of Red Bull, wondering if he should get a few more for their road trip back to Torem’s. Torem and Chey walked into the store, standing over by the counter.
“Don’t let him, Torem,” Chey warned as he pointed at Sidney. “Believe me when I say you’ll regret it.”
Sidney watched as Torem pulled Chey to the side. “How did you survive?”
Chey worried his hands as he glanced at Torem. “I was told that a nice couple found me. I guess Mom knew the men from Jackson’s pack were coming and hid me.”
Sidney watched as Torem’s face shifted from suspicion to tenderness, his voice dropping to a softer tone. “How was your life?”
Sidney felt terrible for listening in, but couldn’t pull himself away. He had grown up with Chey, but the guy never talked about his parents and hardly talked about his big, brave brother. Sidney was five when his mom and dad took Chey in. They were practically inseparable, and he considered the Omega his brother.
“Good. The family treated me well. It was Sidney’s family who raised me. I honestly didn’t contact you to get me out of this.” A tear slid down Chey’s face. “Well, not just for that.”
Sidney swallowed past the lump as Torem pulled his baby brother into his arms and held him. He couldn’t imagine what it would be like to find out a dead brother was alive. The feelings Torem must be battling. And Chey, his best friend, looked the happiest Sidney had ever seen him.
“You’ll stay with me. I want to get to know you.” Torem chucked Chey under his chin. “I’ll protect you, I promise.”
“Thanks.” Chey wiped his eyes with the palms of his hands and laughed. “Enough of this emotional stuff.”
“I got everything I need.” Sidney held up the cans. He felt compelled to bail Chey out of the emotional situation.
Chey smiled and shook his head. “Red Bull junkie,” he teased.
Sidney held his breath when Torem approached him. The large man leaned toward him and whispered in his ear, his breath tickling his skin and making Sidney shiver. “I know you have figured it out…mate.” His lips grazed Sidney’s lobe, and he wanted to drop his cans and jump on Torem’s body.
“I wasn’t sure,” he whispered back. “So we are mates?”
“Yes.” Torem brushed his lips over Sidney’s and then backed away, leaving him feeling the empty space immediately.
“Uh, okay. I um, you know.” Sidney felt like the world’s biggest gobber as he stood in the middle of the store begging his brain to get back online. This was so damn embarrassing.
“Enough with the uh-umings. Pay for your drug so we can go.” Chey pushed Sidney toward the counter. “We can’t stay in one spot for too long. We’re not far enough away yet.”
Torem pulled out his wallet and paid for Sidney’s purchase. He thanked Torem and grabbed the bag from the counter, snagging one of the cans and popping the lid. Sidney guzzled it down.
He handed the empty can to the cashier. “Could you please throw this away for me?”
The cashier grabbed the can and tossed it in the trash. “No problem and y’all have a nice trip.”
Sidney waved and walked out of the store, feeling Torem’s hand on the small of his back. He climbed behind the driver’s seat and laid the bag on the floor between his feet. Sidney looked out of the broken window to make sure they weren’t being followed as everyone else got in.
“Just exactly what is your friend’s name?” Chey asked.
Torem chuckled. “His name is Bryck.”
“No shit.” Sidney laughed, bouncing in his seat. Chey shot a warning glare at him, but Sidney, as usual, ignored him. Torem pulled out of the lot and back onto the highway.
Sidney began to beat out a rhythm on the back of Torem’s seat with his hands.
“I warned you,” Chey said to Torem. “It’s only going to get worse if you don’t take those cans from him.”
Bryck reached behind the seat to grab his bag, and Sidney growled.
“It’s that serious?” Bryck asked as he pulled his arm back, looking from Sidney to Torem.
“Yeah, it is. So back off,” Sidney warned.
After an hour of total boredom, Sidney removed his seat belt and leaned between the two front seats. Bryck and Chey were fast asleep. So Sidney took the opportunity to talk to his mate.