Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

#Chapter 308 – How Dare You?

Ella

My guests surprise me by staying almost until noon. Well, at least, some of them – mostly those who started hitting the mimosas hard when we got back to the house and then moved to whiskey.

After the baby wakes up and has a little lunch, I come yawning back into the front of the house, where I smile to see that Sinclair has loosened his tie and is enjoying a little banter with Roger and some of the other Alphas.

–

Isabel and James have gone, back to their hotel to let little Sadie sleep in peace, but Cora is still here, curled

up on a couch and half dozing as Henry – I laugh to see him a little tipsy as well – tells her stories of his youth. I move over to them, tired but happy to see everyone enjoying themselves.

“How are you, Ella,” Henry asks, smiling at me warmly and peeking at the baby, who looks at him curiously when I hand him over.

“I am good, happy,” I say, grinning at both of them. “Though I wouldn’t say no to sometime soon –”

“Oh my,” Henry says, glancing up at the clock. “We’ve overstayed our welcome –”

my bed

“No,” I say, appalled at myself for such a rude comment, “It wasn’t a hint – I’m sorry, stay

“No, Ella,” Cora says, laughing and standing up. “Henry is right, and so are you – it is late. Or early or…” she screws up her face in concentration, “whatever. Time to go home!”

We both give Henry a kiss goodbye before he hands my baby back to me and wheels towards the door. Cora leans in to give me a kiss goodbye as well, but I hold her close and whisper in her ear before she can pull away, the baby fussing a little to be smushed, just a bit, between us. “Cora, why didn’t Doctor Hank come today?”

She frowns at me, a little chagrined, as she stands straight again. “Well, did you invite him?”

“Of course I invited him,” I say, narrowing my eyes at her. But then I hesitate. “Or…” I slap my hand to my mouth, realizing… “Cora! I thought you were going to bring him! I didn’t send him an invitation because I assumed he would come as your plus one!”

little offended. “Ella, Hank is

scrape a frustrated hand down my face, confused.

hope that no one’s listening. I note that her eyes linger on Roger and put

“Hank

with you

did

because you’re holding a space open for

you wanted

interrupt, my voice raised in frustration. My words echo around the room a little bit and I blush, realizing that our little tiff is…well, not exactly private anymore. I take my sister by the shoulder

life, and my business – and you’re getting in my head! Telling me you want me to be happy, and then telling me you want me to be with Roger, and then kind of yelling at me for not bringing Hank into a literal pack of wolves for a magical moonlight baptism!” Exasperated, Cora runs her hand through her hair. “I don’t even know what I want anymore, Ella, because you’re too busy telling me

just want the best for you, Cora,” I say back to her, a little mad. “And I thought that you decided that that was Hank! But if you’re still keeping space for Roger…” I turn my glare on the back

–

shoulders and giving me a little shake, though I can see a blush on her cheeks.

still

to leave it this way. It was a great night – really …special.

“I’m sorry, Cora, you’re right. I’m – I must just be over–tired. It’s been a big night.”

and heading for the door, stopping to say

still mad.

1

I know exactly who to take it out

whom he’s been talking, heading to the little bar we set up

say, stepping in front

tonight” – that’s a lie, but he doesn’t know that and I think you’re being rotten to her,

–

me, completely shocked.

་་

–

against my chest as I take