Expecting You by Claire Cullen

Author:Claire Cullen
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2020-05-23T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

William was already waiting at the table when Beckett arrived.

“Am I late?” he asked, glancing at his watch.

“No, just me being early, as usual,” William said, tucking his phone away.

Beckett took a seat and barely glanced at the menu. They’d been there often enough that he knew what he liked.

“How’s the Archus project looking?”

“I’ve almost finished the first draft. It was a struggle.”

Beckett was surprised to hear William admit it. He’d been so enthusiastic about it during the initial planning stages.

“What’s the problem?”

“Lacking inspiration, I guess.”

Beckett could sympathize. Some alphas’ creativity ebbed and waned, especially if they were single for long stretches. As far as he knew, William hadn’t dated in almost three years. His last breakup had been rough.

“You ever think about getting out and meeting someone?”

“Work is my life, you know that. I don’t have time for dating.”

“Well, how about casting your net a little wider? There are other options if you’re looking for inspiration.”

William raised an eyebrow. “Never thought I’d hear you recommending an escort service.”

“And you still haven’t. I wasn’t thinking about companionship in that way. I was thinking about a muse. There are agencies for that these days. All aboveboard.”

“Sounds like people peddling nonsense to me.”

“Maybe. Some people swear by it, though.”

Beckett signaled to the waiter, who came and took their order. Once he’d gone, William very deliberately changed the topic of conversation.

“How’s Luca?”

“He had a rough night last night, temperature of one-oh-one.”

“You were up with him?”

“I took the first shift; Zac took the second. Breakfast was a nightmare. Luca threw more food than he ate.”

“Thank god for the nanny, huh?”

William grinned at him, and Beckett tried to smile back.

“Yeah.”

“Uh-oh. Trouble brewing? I thought you said Zac was a keeper.”

Beckett groaned, shaking his head. “He is. He should be. I’m the one fucking this up.”

“How’s that?”

“I kissed him.”

William’s eyes went wide. “You kissed the nanny?”

“Not so loud,” he grit out, glancing around. There were people a little too close for comfort, and gossip like that would spread like wildfire.

William lowered his voice. “Did he kiss you back?”

“That’s not the point, William. And it wasn’t just a kiss.” He glanced away, more angry with himself than anything.

“You’d better tell me.”

“The night Luca shifted, we sort of slept together. Just, you know, actual sleep. All three of us, conked out on the floor. We woke up cuddled together the next morning, stark naked, with Luca babbling away beside us.”

Beckett could see William was trying very hard not to smile.

“It isn’t funny.”

“I think it’s hilarious. And you would too if there wasn’t something more going on. So, tell me.”

“There’s nothing to tell. Zac’s awesome. He’s great for Luca, he’s great for me. It’s easy to talk to him, he has a sense of humor when it’s most wanted, and he always seems to know when I need a listening ear. But I’ve started leaning too heavily on him.” The night when he’d told him about the surrogate being a case in point. Zac had all but fled from the room.

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