A Bundle of Mannies Read online

  “Just one.” I watched the seconds move on my phone until finally an eon passed and it was two minutes. “We can look.”

  “On the count of three,” he said. “One, two, ohmigod!”

  “You peeked!” I protested. “You looked on two!”

  He turned his face toward me, and I didn’t need to look at a stick to know the answer. Instead, I let out a whoop of my own.

  Almost immediately followed by a quick mouthwash rinse for him and then the longest, deepest kiss yet. When we finally came up for air, he was smiling at me. “So, I’m not dying.”

  “No.” Thank all ’that was holy, no.

  He nibbled on his lower lip. “Do you think that my feeling so different might mean this one is a boy?”

  “Do you want it to be, my omega?” I watched his face carefully.

  “We have two beautiful girls,” he said, neither smiling nor frowning now, looking thoughtful. “But maybe we could pull off a good boy, too. Do you have a preference?”

  I was smiling so wide I thought my face would crack. I wanted to get a megaphone and go up on the roof and shout my joy. At the same time, I wanted to keep it quiet and not jinx it all. In my experience, things rarely went smoothly. Still… “I have everything I could ever have dreamed of. Another girl would be amazing. A boy...also amazing. Let’s have whatever you would like.”

  “You know it doesn’t work that way, right?” He was struggling not to laugh.

  “Omega, with everything you’ve achieved so far, if you told me you could build a house with a spoon and a stick, I’d believe it.”

  A pounding on the door preceded Maggie’s voice. “Mae’s awake and she smells awful.” A pause. “And I’m hungry.”

  We’d just eaten cookies...but Maggie used this ploy to get attention.

  “Coming, sweetie,” Ronnie called, then in a lower voice, “Should we tell her?”

  “Up to you.” Now, where did I leave that megaphone?

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Ronnie

  We opted not to tell Maggie about the baby right away. More accurately, I opted not to tell her. I wanted to tell her grandparents first, and I needed to see my babe, to get a look at the ultrasound to know that they had all their fingers and toes and in all the right places.

  Cognitively, I knew the chances of two of my children having such a defect were slim to none. From everything the doctors had said, there were no genetic components, it was just shit luck. Still, I needed to see with my own eyes before I could believe it. And seeing it...that could only happen at fourteen weeks pregnant, and, by our best guesses, that meant I still had three weeks to wait. Three weeks to worry. Three weeks to drive my poor fiancé bonkers.

  And that was the other thing. I’d agreed to marry Zave. I loved him and wanted him in my life more than anything. But—and there was always a but popping up when I thought on things too long—when he asked me, I had two children, and now, all of a sudden, we had another one on the way. He appeared over-the-moon happy about it, sure. And I had no reason to doubt his sincerity in that. Except, he was taking classes. He had goals, goals that included graduating and using his degree, and here I was plopping another responsibility on his lap.

  “Ronnie, Mr. Stevenson just called to cancel your meeting.” Paul stood in my doorway. “If it’s all right with you, I think I’ll take off for the day.”

  “That is such a brilliant idea, I think I will, too.” I started to shut down my computer. The only thing left on my docket for the day was the Stevenson meeting, and if it had been canceled, there was no reason not to. “Did Stevenson reschedule?”

  We briefly discussed the details of the reschedule, and, by three o’clock, I was done. If I timed things correctly, I could be home just as Maggie got back from school, and we could go to the park or something like that.

  I shot Zave a quick text and headed out the door. Or at least my head made it out the door as I passed out...cold. The next thing I remembered was Paul telling me he’d called for help. At first, I thought I’d possibly tripped, but as he assisted me to a seated position and my head stayed foggy, I put two and two together. I’d passed out.

  Just like Lauren.

  “Call Zave.” I leaned my head against the wall, my eyes closing as the sounds of the ambulance sirens came closer and then vanished.

  “I did, Ronnie. I did.” The rest of it was a blur.

  The EMTs rushed in. There were questions being thrown at me and numbers being spoken over my head as they strapped me to the gurney. I wanted to protest. To make sure Zave was there first, but the words wouldn’t come, and I allowed sleep to swallow me.

  ***

  “Mr. Jones, do you hear me?”

  I forced my eyes open, and a nurse, or possibly a doctor was looking down at me, a forced smile upon their face.

  “I hear you.” And the words sounded normal, not far away like they had earlier. “I feel more like me,” I confessed.

  “Glad to hear it. I’m Dr. Kasper, and try not to worry. Everything is going to be fine. Your assistant said you are with child?”

  “I am.” And was so thankful I’d thought to tell Paul. There were so many things they did in the medical field that were great for most people, but really not okay when you were pregnant, and I was worried enough about the little one that I didn’t need more piled onto it.

  “So, we did a bunch of tests while you were out and discovered you are having some thyroid issues that led to a pretty extensive bout of orthostatic hypotension.”

  “Not a brain tumor?” I asked my worst fears.

  “Not at all. A combination of wonky thyroid levels and not getting enough water I’d imagine.”

  “So, the baby?” I stammered, the words choking me.

  “Is fine. If you would like to see, we can arrange it.”

  I nodded, needing the visual reassurance. “And Zave?”

  “Is right here.” The sound of his words made so many things right. “The girls are with Sally. Figured she owed us.”

  “You are the other father?”

  “I am.” The pride in his voice shone through. “The nurse who showed me in said everything looks fine—or will be once he gets some medication?”

  “Pretty much. And I was just telling your husband we can see your baby if you would like.”

  The doctor made some calls, and next thing we knew, there was a machine being wheeled in, cold gel rubbed on my belly, and a picture of a tiny little blob on a black-and-white screen. Our baby.

  “Everything here looks great,” the doctor proclaimed.

  “No gastroschisis?” I squinted to make heads or tails of the blob before us.

  “It is probably too soon to know for sure, but I see no signs of it, no.” The doctor clicked some buttons. “You are measuring elevenish weeks, so I suggest you follow up with your doctor in another month, but I wouldn’t be worried if this were my babe.”

  “I am really good at worrying.”

  “My omega tells the truth.” Zave squeezed my hand as he gently teased me. “Can I bring him home?”

  “Let’s get him set up with a prescription, but I don’t see why not.”

  Setting me up with a prescription turned out to be a much bigger ordeal than I’d imagined, and two hours later, I was still waiting to be discharged.

  “You had me so worried, omega mine.” Zave sat on the edge of my hospital bed. “You are not allowed to do that.”

  “It was far from intentional. That’s how it started, you know, with Lauren. She passed out.” I leaned into him. “I was so scared I was going to leave you and the girls.”

  “That’s not going to happen. You are going to be a great grandpa one day.”

  “And if I’m not? Let’s get married sooner than later, and maybe—if you want—we could look into adoption?” I squeezed my eyes shut, fearful I’d pushed too much too soon.

  “I think three is going to be handful enough for a while.” He lay down beside me, half of him hanging off the edge of
the bed.

  “I meant…what about you adopting Maggie and Mae? Will you be their father?”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Zave

  Maggie was a beautiful flower girl, as was her little sister who made her grand entrance to the office of the justice of the peace in a blossom-bedecked stroller and onesie. Our only guests were Ronnie’s former in-laws, but their support had been incredible both for us and the girls that we couldn’t imagine not including them. We were also in the process of my adopting Maggie and Mae, and even in that, Nana and Papi cheered us on.

  I’d never met Lauren, but as I got to know her parents, I could imagine why Ronnie fell in love with their daughter. They were kind, had apologized so many times for stepping back after Mae’s birth, but had long since been forgiven. The relief on their faces when we told them the doctors had given our baby a clean bill of health had been so telling. I couldn’t begin to imagine—and didn’t want to try—what it would be like to lose one of our girls. I found no blame in my heart for their depth of grief, and neither did Ronnie.

  I’d been so afraid they’d think we were rushing things. Funny thing was they thought we’d been dawdling, and it wasn’t until we explained the challenges of combining a wedding with adoption proceedings that they let go of that notion. And a few months was hardly dawdling in most spheres in the first place.

  They were truly amazing people.

  Ever since that first weekend, the girls were spending one weekend a month with them and sometimes even spending a weekday afternoon at the park, and they were leaving right after the wedding for the children’s museum in the city so we could have a romantic wedding night.

  Ronnie looked incredible in the tan suit he wore, and I’d been convinced to buy a new one as well, charcoal gray. With our frilly-dressed ladies-in-waiting, I thought we made a good-looking family. Hopefully, the pictures the grandparents were snapping would reflect that. My omega had been worried I’d be sad not to have a big wedding since it was my first, but as I stood next to him in that office, I couldn’t imagine a better wedding.

  And when I slid the ring on his finger and he slid one on mine, the tears were real. With all the adults deep in the moment, and Mae had just done something that made her squirm and whimper, the only dry eyes in the house belonged to Miss Maggie. Even the justice of the peace, who was also signing off on the preliminary adoption order, looked a little shiny-eyed.

  And then we kissed, and I felt like I was landing on a new planet, one more beautiful than any I’d ever been on before. His lips moved under mine, our arms tightened around each other, and, by the time we came up for air, Nana had taken Mae out to change her and everyone else stood by the door, waiting.

  And smiling.

  “Before we take the girls on our big adventure, what do you say we all have lunch together?” asked their grandfather. “Since you wouldn’t let us throw you a big party.”

  We linked arms and looked at each other. He gave me a nod. “We’d love to,” I told them. “We are so happy to celebrate with our family.”

  And it was lovely, a fun lunch at a restaurant nice enough for a celebration but casual enough to have crayons with the kids’ menu. And two hours later, the girls rode away with their grandparents and we were alone together, alpha and omega, driving to our home with our hands linked on the console between the seat. For once, the booster and car seat were empty, and, despite myself, I felt a little pang.

  “Do you think they’ll have fun?” I asked my omega. “Maybe we shouldn’t have had them go so far away without us. We could have gone, too…”

  He lifted my hand and kissed the back of the fingers, neatly distracting me from both my worries and driving. Luckily, the light didn’t turn until we were already in the intersection. “You are such a silly alpha sometimes. They adore their nana and papi, and it’s mutual. Honestly, I could use a rest because even though the nausea seems to be gone, I just feel tired all the time. And that is a symptom I remember. I’ve got four months to go, and I don’t know how I’d do it without you to help as much as you do. You never let me lift a finger at home.”

  “Well, you’re supporting all of us, omega. And you’re growing our baby in there. I have to do my share.” It didn’t feel like nearly enough. If you’re too tired to...you know...tonight, I understand.”

  His laughter filled the vehicle, and I thrust out my lower lip. “Now you’re making fun of me.”

  “You know? Is that what the kids are calling it these days?”

  I turned left onto our street, so glad to be almost home. “I wouldn’t know. But now that we’re married, I suddenly feel like I need to be respectable. Pater familia and all that grown-up stuff.”

  “But we’re just a newlywed couple,” he protested. “Just getting started on our life together.”

  I cocked a brow, starting to get into the game. “So, my little mate, are you at all nervous about our first night together as a married couple?”

  “So scared,” he said in a voice that would convince nobody. “I hope you’ll be gentle with me, alpha?”

  I growled a little, as I pulled into the driveway. “No guarantees, omega. You’re too tempting. I am going to toss you over my shoulder and carry you off to my bed.” I turned off the engine and faced him. “Sound like a plan?”

  He gave a little shudder, and I bent close.

  “Best plan ever, alpha.”

  Cupping his chin, I touched my lips to his. He tasted like the strawberries he’d had for dessert, and the scent of his cologne wound around me, subtle and woodsy. The kiss deepened, his arms coming around my neck, and while my cock got as hard as every time he touched me, I felt no need to rush. Making out like teenagers seemed to suit the moment, and with two days to ourselves, if we spent hours kissing in the car, I was so good with that.

  Two of our kids were at the museum, but one was right there inside his body.

  Finally, after the sun set and the street lights came on, we left the car and moved inside. We stopped and kissed every few steps, and I carried him over the threshold. Best wedding day ever, and we still had our wedding night to look forward to.

  Chapter Thirty

  Ronnie

  “I have a present for you,” I mumbled when our lips broke apart as Zave kicked the door closed behind us.

  “And I plan to unwrap it very slowly.” He nibbled on my earlobe and started toward our bedroom. Ours. Officially. It had seemed silly at the time to wait until we got married, especially after it took longer than we had planned in order to arrange for the preliminary adoption papers to be signed the same day, but now? Now I was so glad we had that special thing that changed with our vows.

  “Not that kind of present,” I sassed, curling into his arms. I’d enlisted the help of a couple of my coworkers when they asked if we had a registry. We, of course, did not. We had everything we could need and more. But assistance in making our special day possibly a bit more special—that I readily accepted. So, as we were getting married, filling out tons of paperwork, and dining with Nana and Papi, they went to work. Or at least that had been the plan. I’d find out soon enough.

  “Then show me after. Right now, I have all the present I need here in my arms.” As we reached the threshold, he let go of me long enough to twist the door knob and push the door open, stepping inside before freezing.

  “Happy Wedding Day, love.” I kissed his cheek and squirmed so that he’d let me down. He just stood there, staring at the changes to the bedroom.

  “The walls are not the same,” he noted. And they weren’t.

  I’d wanted to have the entire room painted. There just wasn’t time for that, so, instead, Paul mentioned that his brother did something like this at his rental.” It had turned out beautifully. I had no idea vinyl could look so—well, not cheesy, but the stripes they added to the once barren walls were stunning.

  “Paul had that idea. I wanted to have it painted, but time marches on and all of that.” I came up behind him, wrapping my a
rms around his middle. “And the new furniture? Do you like the waterfall stuff?” He’d mentioned that design a few times when we’d absently watched some home shows, but liking something for a space on television and liking it for your own space were two very different things.

  “It is my favorite. It reminds me of summers at my grandparents when I was a young boy.” He turned around in my arms until we were face to face. “You did all this for me.”

  “I had help, and not all of it is done.” He cocked his head in confusion. “I didn’t have them move your clothing into the dressers. I wouldn’t want them seeing your intimates.”

  “Intimates?” His hands slid down to my ass, cupping it, but not quite squeezing it.

  “You know, your socks, your pajamas...that kind of thing.” I gave him a wink for good measure.

  “I see.” He leaned in, nibbling my bottom lip. “But did they see inside your dressers?” Which was a fair enough question since mine were the ones no longer there, but that wasn’t what he was hinting at. No, my sexy alpha—my husband was hinting about something far more fun.

  “Are you asking me if the guys from work saw my toys?” I put on my best innocent look. I sucked at it.

  He growled.

  Maybe I was half good at it.

  “I don’t need to ask.” He took a step back and pushed my suit jacket from my shoulders and down off my arms. It fell to the floor with a swoosh. “Even if they saw them, I am the one who gets to use them with you, so it doesn’t matter.” He loosened my tie. “They are for me and not them. So, let them get jealous.” He slipped the end of my tie from its knot and pulled the length of silk from my collar. It joined my jacket on the floor.

  “And you know that the germaphobe in me would never allow it.” I rolled my eyes as if to strengthen my stance on the matter.

  He slowly worked the buttons on my shirt, not even dignifying my taunt with a reply. Piece by piece, he removed my clothing until I stood there—naked, my cock showing him how very much I wanted him.