Page 58 of Surprise Mother Pucker

Charlie pulled out his phone without hesitation and started tapping away at the screen. “One moment.”

“Wait. That place is expensive,” I said, wincing. I was going to have to explain my abysmal financial situation at some point, but I got the impression that Charlie would have an inkling, considering the state of my decrepit apartment.

The alpha simply shrugged. “Don’t worry, I’m happy to get it. You haven’t eaten yet, and I’m guessing by the growling of your stomach, you didn’t eat much before coming to see us?”

I nodded. “Morning sickness was kicking my ass.”

Charlie sighed and took a step forward, gently gripping my upper arms and meeting my gaze. “Look, I know this entire situation is beyond insane, but I really want to get to know you. You seem sweet, and kind, and I'm in. You're going to have children with two of my pack members.”

“I’ve never dated a pack. What if it doesn’t work out with one of you?”

“Honestly, I’m not sure. We've always said that, when it came to our final plans, we were a package deal, but given the situation with Storm, I'm not so sure. But no matter what happens, you are officially a member of my family now. Family takes care of family, so go give this sweet little munchkin a fresh diaper, and I will procure some food, and then we can sit on the sofa, be lazy, and watch TV. How does that sound?”

“Amazing,” I admitted. “But if I'm not dating anyone in the pack, surely I'm not part of the pack?”

“You’re dating Eli,” he pointed out.

I snorted lightly. “Maybe. I doubt he will want to hang around now.”

Charlie shook his head. “Nope. Like it or not, you gained a pack the moment you got pregnant with this little darling. The one that you're currently growing only solidifies that. You are pack and you are family, and nothing is going to change that. Dating is irrelevant. So, you better get used to being cared for. Eli is fucking obsessed with you, though. He’s going nowhere.”

Tears started to well up and Charlie’s eyes widened. “Oh shit, I’ve upset you! What did I say?”

I shook my head. “They’re good tears, I think. Maybe overwhelmed tears. It's been so long since I've had a family…I guess I just didn't want to believe it.”

Charlie pulled me in for a hug. I got the impression he would have held on to me tighter, if not been for the baby on my hip. “I want to be completely honest with you. I want to call you. I want to go on a date with you and see if the fact that I'm really attracted to you leads anywhere. But if it doesn't, we are still family, and I’m sure the rest of my pack feels the same.”

“I’m not so sure about Storm.” I sniffed. “I don’t even know how I feel about him.”

“Oh, he’s about to get a volatile reality check. And before you say anything—because I can see the look on your face—he fully deserves this reality check, and I'm pretty sure you had a similar one when you learned you were pregnant. Storm’s is just a bit delayed.”

“It was a pretty brutal time,” I admitted.

“So, give Storm a little time to come to terms with things. He will step up, though. You’re not alone anymore, Kennedy.”

I nodded. “I’ll go change her,” I said, turning and fleeing out of the room. If he kept talking, I was going to break down into ugly, blubbering sobs.

Seeing Charlotte’s father again had thrown me for a loop, but now it was dawning on me just how much my position in their pack was solidified. Between Char and the baby I was pregnant with, I had been knocked up by half of the pack.

I knew I had amazing chemistry with Eli. He was the perfect alpha, and I had been head over heels for him and his kind gestures for weeks. On the other hand, I had chemistry with Storm in a sexual manner, but not in a personality way. The night we had made Charlotte had been some truly mind-blowing sex… But did he think that? After all, he had snuck out in the middle of the night, so maybe he’d found me lacking.

Charlotte's diaper took next to no time, since I had the routine down pat. Even the part where I had to lightly hold her down, so she wouldn’t roll over and wiggle away.

When I stepped back into the living room, the space looked different. Charlie had moved the sofa slightly, placing footrests in front of it, so I could sprawl out, and gathered all the blankets from around the apartment, without touching my bed. He was clearly a smart alpha and knew not to mess with that.

“I'm sorry if it's not great. I just wanted to do something to make you a little more comfortable,” he said with a sheepish shrug.

“It’s perfect,” I said, sitting down on the sofa and adjusting Charlotte, so she was in my lap. Charlie followed my lead and sat down next to me.

“Food should be here in about ten minutes. What would you like to watch?”

“Something easy,” I said.

“There are always those cheesy low-budget romantic movies. I think there are even a few fall-themed ones.”

I snorted. “Let me guess—the stylish girl from the city, who has a fancy corporate job, meets the small-town, scruffy guy who makes her reassess everything?”

Charlie snorted. “Somehow, you've just managed to describe the plot of like thirty of those movies. Well, if we're not feeling romance, how about we watch something supernatural? Maybe one of those TV shows about witches? Those aren't too gruesome.”

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