Page 81 of Labor of Love

Life has a funny way of fucking with me when I have proper plans in place.

A month later, I book myself a doctor’s visit. I feel sick all the time, my heart aches near constantly, I’m having hot flashes and cold sweats. I don’t feel like myself and on top of that, the pining and longing for Dario are only getting worse. I know for a fact that it’s no longer the heat hormones wreaking havoc on me. Instead, it’s a different cocktail of hormones.

Pregnancy hormones.

Fuck.

4

DARIO

Istare out the window, watching as the rain continues to pour. The weather somehow matches my emotions lately.

Never in my life have I gotten caught up in feelings for one of the omegas I worked with. I know there’s always a period afterwards where we both feel bonded and close because of the cocktail of pheromones and hormones that are exchanged during a heat. Those usually fade within a few days.

With Allen? I still feel like I’m silently pining. I dream about him most nights. On the nights I can’t sleep, I lie awake, aching for him. I’ve quit the agency I was working with because the thought of helping another omega through their heat makes me feel sick to my stomach.

Gods, I miss him.

So why the fuck haven’t I tried to contact him again? I’m so stuck in my head about the whole thing. I might be feeling this way, but would it be fair to check up on Allen? He hired me for a job, and now I’m asking for more than that. Plus, it’s likely that all of these feelings are one-sided. I don’t want to put Allen in an awkward position like this.

But at the same time, is it really better to not even try? To completely give up on someone who I have such an instant connection with?

My thoughts are interrupted by my phone ringing which is probably for the better. Anything to distract me from the turmoil rolling around inside of me.

“Hello?” I answer without even looking who’s calling.

“Hi,” a soft voice says back, “is this Dario?”

My heart stutters inside of me and my breath catches in my chest. It’s Allen. His voice washes over me, soothing a broken part of my heart without doing anything other than speaking to me.

“Allen,” I breathe out, relief clear even to my own ears. “It’s so great to hear from you.”

“It is?” Allen asks in surprise.

“Yes. Of course.” I find myself grinning. I don’t even know why he’s calling but I don’t care. I’m talking to him and that’s all that matters. “What’s going on? Is everything alright?”

“Umm, yes?” He doesn’t sound sure. I don’t push him, giving him a moment to collect himself and find the right words. “This would be much easier to explain if we were together. Would you mind coming over for lunch?”

“I can’t think of a single thing I’d rather do. Is it okay if I come right now?”

“That would be perfect. Thank you, Dario.”

I hang up, marveling at how relieved Allen sounded at the end of the call. Hope blooms inside of my chest. Could it be that he’s been feeling the same way as me? Could all this pining be going both ways instead of one-sided? Has he missed me as much as I’ve missed him?

It’s only been about a month and a half, but somehow that feels like a lifetime.

It doesn’t take long for me to drive to the little town where Allen lives. The neighborhood is just as adorable now as it was the first time I took this road. After pulling into his driveway, I take a quick second to breathe, check my hair and that I don’t have anything in my teeth, before getting out and heading to the front door.

I raise my hand to knock but the door flies open, revealing Allen already there, waiting for me. My chest bursts with affection. I’m practically giddy with how happy I am to see him. He looks well. I’d even go so far as to say he’s glowing.

Allen’s face breaks into a wide grin, one that I easily match. I might have only known this omega for a short amount of time, but the feelings inside of me are overwhelming and real. I want him. I want himdesperately. I can’t imagine going back to my life where I’m moping around, thinking about him all the time.

“Thank you for coming, Dario.” Allen bites his lip for a moment, his cheeks turning deliciously red. “Would it be okay if I hugged you?”

“More than okay. Come here, little omega,” I say, pulling him into my arms right there in the doorway.

Having Allen in my arms again feels like coming home. I feel like I can breathe again instead of having my head stuck under water. He smells just as good as I remember, maybe even better somehow. His body is soft and fits against me just right. Gods, I’ve missed this. I’ve missed him.

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