Page 263 of The Omega Exchange: Omnibus
My eyes ache as I push back enough to look up at him. He squints as he studies me. My hands rest on his purring chest. I give him a shaky nod. Iwantto trust him, and I think part of me does.
An even bigger part of me has been abandoned and disappointed by every man I’ve ever loved.
“My dads walked out on me and my mom,” I say, squeezing my eyes shut. “I know she’s hard to deal with, but they didn’t even try to take me with them.”
His huge hand cups my cheek. “I learned in the military that there are some men who buckle under pressure. There’s another type who thrive under it. I’m somewhere in the middle. Like I said, I guess I’m pretty easy to please because all I’ve wanted for a long damn time is a family of my own. I know we’ve got along way to go before you can trust me completely, but that’s the thing. Look at me, sweet girl.” My eyes pop open and he smiles softly. “I’ve never been afraid of hard work.”
“You’re an asshole,” Nik snarls. It’s muffled by the door, but it’s clear he’s furious.
“Yeah? You’ll get over it,” Carver says, chuckling.
“Are they fighting?” I ask, glancing over my shoulder.
“I think Carver is keeping them from busting in,” Miller says.
“You can come in,” I call out, wiping my nose. I can’t cause fights between them. I don’t know how I’m going to handle the discomfort of this conversation, but I’ll survive it like I survive everything else.
The door bursts open, and I steel myself for the world’s most uncomfortable conversation.
“Are you okay?” Oliver asks, barreling inside. He hits his knees on the floor next to me.
I burst into tears again because he looks so worried.
“Let me in,” Nik snarls.
“Fuck you,boss.” Carver’s voice is colder than I’ve ever heard it. “You and I are taking a walk around the building.”
There’s more shouting, but when the door closes, I can’t make out exactly what’s said.
“Are you okay?” Oliver asks, leaning in close.
“Medically she’s fine,” Miller says, giving Oliver’s shoulder a squeeze.
“Thank God,” Oliver says, nodding. “Why are you crying?”
“I’m pregnant,” I whisper. My head shakes involuntarily. I open my mouth to continue, but all that comes out is a whine.
“It’s okay,” Oliver says, nuzzling his face to mine. “Whatever you’re upset about, we’ll figure it out together.”
“I was pregnant before I got here,” I choke out.
Miller goes on to explain everything Farrah said. He makes it clear there’s no way I could have known. But that really isn’ttrue, is it? If I’d taken another test before leaving Texas, maybe I could have caught it then. I definitely could’ve based on how far along I am.
My arms wrap protectively around my middle.
“Okay,” Oliver says, pushing his glasses up. “You and the baby are okay, though?”
“As far as we know,” Miller says. “Farrah is setting up a visit with an obstetrician on the mainland.”
“Okay,” Oliver saysagainas he stands. My eyes fly up to his, and he gives me a tight smile that I don’t understand. He leans over, kissing my temple and runs his hand over the back of my head.
And then . . .
He walks out without another word.
Chapter Twenty-One
Carver
