The Alpha’s Fated Choice (Alpha's Fated Encounter Trilogy #1)

Perhaps it’s because I’m upset, but I sound low even to my own ears. “Hi.”

I’m sure he’s not in the mood to talk to me, so I take out my keys, only for him to stop me. “Are you okay, Sophia?”

Why does everybody keep asking me that? I wonder dimly.

I jerk my head in a nod, not trusting myself to speak right now. The key goes into the lock as he says, “Want a drink? It’s not good quality, but it doesn’t taste like piss, either.”

I’m about to decline when it hits me that there’s nobody inside for me to talk to. The fact that I’m going home to an empty, lonely apartment hits heavy today for some reason. I hesitate, looking down at my key. I retract it and put it back in my pocket before turning to look at Drew. “Sure. I think I need a drink.”

He smiles at me.

*** **

While I do babysit Tim at least once a week, it’s always at my place. I’ve never actually been inside Drew’s apartment. It’s a clean and tidy space with Tim’s drawings and participation certificates from his school littering most of the walls. The furniture is sparse, the entire place emitting a dull feel to it. It’s almost as if Drew never even tried to make this apartment a home. It’s almost as if Drew is simply living for his son. I already knew that, but I was beginning to hope that perhaps he had started living for himself. I guess I was wrong.

“I’ll get us some glasses,” he says.

I sit down in one of the arm chairs and look around. “So, what happened with that date?”

I hear some dishes clattering, and then Drew walks out with two wine glasses, shrugging. “It’s not like I wanted to go on a date to begin with. After Katie, I’m not really interested in being with anybody else.”

“So, you stood her up?” I ask, watching him pour the wine.

“I did leave her a message apologizing, but she never got back to me.”

He hands me my glass before sinking onto the three-seater couch and staring at the television in front of him. “It’s for the best.”

I look down at my drink and take a sip. It really is awful, but wine is wine, and I don’t care. I just wanted some company.

“I’m not in your shoes, Drew, and it’s not my place to say, but perhaps having a woman in Tim’s life might be good for him.”

I glance at him, and he gives me a half-smile, lifting his glass in my direction. “That’s why I agreed to the date. But at the end of the day, is it really fair to a woman for me to build up her expectations just so I can have a mother figure for my son? I know I will never look at anyone else romantically again. And I don’t think it’s right to destroy another person’s life for selfish reasons.”

He has a point. I don’t really know what to say.

Drew takes another sip of his wine. “Besides, Tim has you. You’re good enough to be a female influence on him.”

I stare at him. “Somehow that seems like a backhanded compliment.”

He chuckles. “You’re a good person, Sophia. He likes spending time with you. I can’t fill Katie’s shoes, but I’m going to try to do right by our son to the best of my abilities.”

“I think you’re doing a good job already.” I lift my glass to toast him.

“Cheers.” Drew gives me that half-smile again.

We spend the next minute in silence, each wrapped up in our own thoughts.

“So,” he says, leaning back on the couch and looking at me, “What’s got you down in the dumps?”

I don’t even know where to begin. I remember Rita’s warning, but this is Drew, and maybe I need a man’s perspective.

“There’s this guy…”

Drew chuckles. “I knew it.”

“It’s not like that!” I flush. “I don’t like him.”

“Then what’s the problem?” he asks, raising a brow.