Page 77 of Traded

“Yep.” Someone calls his name from the back of the plane, and he’s gone before I can say anything else. As he passes Lauren, their eyes meet before she ducks her head with a small smile.

I slide into my own seat. Carter is a few rows away from my allocated spot, his hoody yanked up and headphones in. His eyes are closed.

“Liam!” The alpha in question pauses beside me as Martin calls down the aisle. “Need you up here. Got some things to run through.”

His eyes sweep over me, indecisive. He taps his hands on the back of my chair.

“Did I fucking stutter?” Martin upgrades his yell to a roar. “Move your ass, Kessler!”

“Fucks’ sake,” Liam mutters. He gives me a warning glance. “Keep your one single hair on, coach. I’m coming.”

Behind him, Ryker snickers. He grins at me. “You feeling better, Ro? We’ve missed you in the locker room. It’s not the same when Benji wears your jersey to scent-mark everyone.”

Benji slaps the back of his head. “Her jersey wouldn’t fit my foot. Keep going, Todd. I want to talk to Rosie.”

“ButI’mtalking to—”

“Move. Now.” Ryker smartly decides to shift, saluting me before moving on. Benji drops into the empty seat opposite me and folds his arms.

“Todd?” I ask, when he doesn’t say anything.

He grunts. “Short for Toddler. Because all he does is eat, shit and throw tantrums.”

“I heard that,” Ryker calls back. “I do other things as well.”

“Yeah, but nobody wants to hear about you tugging your tiny wiener.” Benji shakes his head in disgust, but his eyes are glinting. “Can’t wait for him to turn eighteen and move out.”

“Liar. You love him really.” There’s humor somewhere in my chest. But it doesn’t reachme.It’s a strange feeling, as if it’s locked away in a compartment I can’t reach. “What did you want to talk about?”

The pilot’s voice echoes. “Prepare for take-off.”

I focus intently on the flight attendant’s safety demonstration, trying to ignore Benji’s eyes. Heat curls up my face as the plane taxis the runway. “Take a picture, Benj. It lasts longer.”

He doesn’t look amused when I peek at him. I watch Carter as we take off, but he doesn’t react at all. I think he’s asleep. “You want to talk about Cart?”

“No.”

Benji waits for the attendant to move the trolley past, but I flag her, in need of some added fortitude for this conversation. “Could I have a glass of wine, please? Red, if you have it.”

“Sure, hon.” The motherly-looking beta pours me the tiniest measure of merlot with a beaming smile. “Anything else?”

“A little more?” I try not to look as horrified as I feel.

Benji snorts as she moves off. I wrap my fingers around the glass and brace myself. “So…”

He taps his fingers against the armrest to an invisible beat. “Newbie seems nice. Lauren, is it?”

I choke on my wine. “Uh. I guess so.”

He nods, glancing out the window. “Yeah. A lot of people seem to like her.”

Ugh.I grimace. “She’s fine.”

For once, my words aren’t pulled directly from Liam’s mouth. “I’m not a dating hotline, Benj.”

He recoils. “Not where I was going with this. Anddon’task me about the wild one.”

This smile feels more natural. “Stop flexing your sexy goalie hips especially for Katie, then. Word is Ethan’s bought you matching pack bros t-shirt for when you finally get on board.”