Page 75 of When She Needs Them Most

“It’s no problem. It reminds me of something my mom would have done. You know, it’s a gift that you even have a mom who cares enough to stop by.” She wraps her arm around my lower back. “I’d like to meet her, as long as you think she’ll like me. She does know that I’m pregnant, right?”

Arden chuckles. “Even Kase isn’t absentminded enough to forget to mention that.”

“She knows.” I stare straight into Chelsea’s big blue eyes as I speak. “And she’s excited to meet you.”

“I’m going to check in with Easton and the others. Possibly give them a tour of the office and around town, since they’re here.” Arden steps over, pulling Chelsea in for a tender kiss.

I’m a little surprised he hasn’t bitten her yet, but he always has had impressive self-control. They’ll bond in their own time.

Right now, I have bigger things to stress about. Like making sure Chelsea loves my mom.

“Man, I can’t decide if you’re constipated or you’re about to shit your pants.” Linc kicks my foot as we sit side by side on the love seat.

“Neither,” I grunt, slamming my shoulder into his.

I do feel like I could puke, though.

Things seem to be going well, but I can never tell. Not with any certainty. I misread things a lot, and it leaves me feeling unsettled until I know for sure which way something is going to go.

Chelsea ate the breakfast my mom cooked. Lincoln ran plates over to Easton and that woman, but Calder and Keir went with Arden to check out some store they needed to find in Blacksburg. I’m still confused what the deal is with East and that omega, but Chelsea and Mom sit next to one another on the couch as Chelsea opens the gifts my mom brought her.

The first was a box for the baby filled with everything from swaddlers to a thermometer and a bunch of other shit I already bought.

Still. It’s not bad to have backups.

“Everything is fine. Why the hell are you about to hyperventilate?” Linc asks, snapping pictures of Mom and Chelsea.

I think maybe I’m picking up on some of Chelsea’s discomfort in the bond?

Or…I don’t know.

It’s hard to tell.

I’ve never been great at picking up my own emotions, let alone someone else’s.

“This is a gift basket just for you,” Mom says, helping Chelsea tug the basket free of the giant box Mom had it wrapped in. “It’s things you might not think of, like toiletries, deodorant, lip balm, and hair ties. Then we’ve got ugly underpants that you won’t miss if they get destroyed in those first few weeks while you’re healing. Cordelia helped me with the sizes, but we got a variety just in case. Then a pack of disposable underwear, so you don’t have to feel like you’re wearing a diaper. A few nursing bras, I tried to find the ones that are adjustable to fit different sizes for if you go that route. Nipple cream.”

I grimace, but Chelsea doesn’t seem fazed.

“Thank you so much,” my omega says, digging through to check out all the goodies.

Mom chuckles. “We aren’t done just yet. A set of comfortable pajamas and a pajama dress that has a wrap style to make it easier for nursing or just skin-to-skin contact.” She stretches over, grabbing a white round tub. “Then, there are a few things that you probably don’t need to bring to the hospital, because they’ll provide it, but you could if you’d like to. There’s a rinsing bottle and witch hazel wipes. You’ll want to pat, not wipe, especially if you have stitches. Don’t let the name deceive you?—”

Chelsea twists, dropping the basket on the cushion next to her and turns back, throwing herself at my mom. “How in the world did you know to get all this stuff?”

For a second, I’m wondering if it’s the oversharing thing Mom was doing or something else. Our family has always had a problem knowing when to shut up.

“Oh, sweetheart. A little from experience after having two kids, but most of that came in a kit that some of my friends recommended, and then I added to it.” Mom wraps her arms around Chelsea, giving her one of her famous hugs.

Linc drapes an arm around my shoulder. “See. I told you everything was fine.”

This is fine?

Well, good.

I couldn’t tell for a second.

Once my mom leaves, I’m going to ask Chelsea what that emotion is that’s spilling into the bond. It’s one I can’t place. And I want to get better about anticipating her needs and being able to decipher her emotions.

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