Page 34 of His Pretty Omega
“She’s…something.”
“She’s not a bad person,” he laughed at the look of disbelief I tossed his way. “I mean, no one truly bad could have a mate as sweet as Regina. It’s just her and I,” he shook his head. “Regina is right; we’re like oil and water, alwayshave been. It got worse when I didn’t go into the family business. When I went to nursing school instead. I don’t know why. She went into the business with Dad and Kyle, so it shouldn’t matter that I didn’t. Dad was upset by my choice, and Mama just said I should do what makes me happy. Gilly was thirteen when I left for nursing school, but I remember she told me I was a disgrace for turning my back on the family business. Those were her exact words. At thirteen!” he grunted. “It’s a lawn care service for fucks sake, not theYellowstone. We aren’t protecting the herd from fucking crabgrass.”
“There’s a lot to unpack there,” I grabbed his hand before he could push one more button on the radio. “I like this song. And that reference would probably make more sense to me if I watchedYellowstone, but I haven’t seen it yet. I get the meaning though.”
He gaped at me. “I’m not sure we can be together when you say things like you haven’t seenYellowstone. Who are you?”
Laughing, I pulled into a drive thru line of a place I knew did great grilled chicken sandwiches.
“Are you still hungry?” Seth asked.
“No, but you are.” I ordered for him, already knowing what he liked, and handed him the bag. He gave me a grateful look, pulling the wrapped sandwich out and digging into it.
“Ohhhh,” he moaned, “this tastes so good. How can I be carrying a baby that won’t let me enjoy red meat? You’re a wolf and I’m a cougar. I should be devouring all the red meat in sight. But nope, we got Mister no cows for me in here.”
“Or miss,” I supplied, thinking about a little girl that looked like Seth.
“You’d be okay if we had a girl?”
Giving him a shocked look, I said, “Why wouldn’t I? I have five older sisters. Girls are pretty much all I know.”
Seth choked on his bite of food, coughing harshly, before rasping, “Five older sisters?”
“Yep,” I laughed, “and they didn’t let me get away with shit. But they also protected me from bullies like they had given birth to me themselves.”
“How did I not know this about you?” he asked in wonder.
“Well, I was going to bring this up earlier, but then…”
“My family happened?”
“They weren’t that bad. Your dad is just worried I’m going to break your heart.”
Seth snorted, giving me a saucy look. “Proves he doesn’t know me at all. He should be worried I’m going to breakyourheart. It’s what I do.”
“I tried to tell him that,” I joked. “Anyway, mymadrecalled earlier and some cousins of mine came in from Mexico. They’re planning a dinner for them, and shewants to do it at my house, because it’s bigger and I have the yard.”
“So…” Seth said slowly, “I’m meeting your family, because your cousins came to the States, and you’re hosting a dinner at your house?”
“Basically,” I told him. “Hosting is a stretch. Mymadre,abuela, andtíaswill do all the work. They’ll invade my house in the morning to start cooking, and I won’t have to do much. Supply some beer and tequila.”
“Sounds fun,” Seth grinned, “so how many cousins?”
“That flew over? I have no idea. There will probably be between fifty and seventy people. Maybe more. People will come in, eat, and leave. Some will stay for music, dancing, drinks, you know.”
Seth shook his head, staring at me in confusion. “No, I don’t know. I have two aunts and two uncles, one on each side. I have a couple of cousins, but I’m really only close to one. He’s younger than me, but almost more like a brother. He’s off in L.A. living his dream of being a popstar, believe it or not.”
My brows rose at that. “Really?”
“For reals. Have you heard of Robbie Rouge?”
“I have.” He was an up and coming pop star that was rising fast.
“That’s my cousin, Robbie. Our families get together on the usual holidays, but that’s about it. So, I get to meet your family tomorrow?”
“I would very much like for you to meet them, yes. And for us to tell them about the baby. It will be a good time, with all the family there.”
He looked pensive, before quietly asking, “What if they don’t like me?”
