Page 53 of Duke's Baby Deal
“On bed rest right until the end.”
“Shit. How’s that going to work?”
“Unless it’s to go to the bathroom or have a bath, he’s not allowed up. So if he wants anything, someone has to bring it to him.”
A pause on the other end, then, “You need to talk to Quin.”
“I can do night shifts while he’s sleeping.”
“And when will you sleep?”
“I’ll nap during the day, once I know he’s got everything he needs.”
“No, that’s ridiculous. You’re not alone in this. Leave it with me—we’ll figure something out.”
CHAPTER FORTY
When Duke went back inside, he found Bram asleep, wrapped around his belly like he was trying to protect it from all the monstrousness of the world. Duke unfolded the blanket that covered the foot of the bed and laid it carefully over the young man before he snuck back out of the room and closed the door.
He was rummaging through the cupboards, trying to figure out what he could make that Bram would like, something that would tempt his still iffy appetite and not upset his stomach, when someone knocked on the door.
Bax was waiting on the step, Taden in his arms. “How is he?” he asked in a low voice.
“Sad,” Duke said, and stepped back to let him in. “Scared too, I think. Right now, he’s asleep.”
“I don’t blame him.” Bax followed him into the apartment. “I’m going to talk to the rest of the omegas—it would be good for the younger ones to have something more to do. They’re starting to get into trouble.” Bax smiled fondly. “They’re not used to the freedom. I’d like to give them some responsibility, and it’ll take some of the weight off you.”
“I can look after him,” Duke said firmly. “It’s not that bad.”
“And if he falls when you’re not here?” Bax shook his head and took a seat at their kitchen table. He sat Taden on his knee, bouncing him casually, and the sight tugged at Duke’s heart. No, the pups weren’t his line, but they were his, all the same.
Duke shook his head.Stay on topic.“He’s supposed to stay in bed.”
“It’s Bram we’re talking about,” Bax said with a wry smile. “What do you think is going to happen?”
Duke sighed and glanced toward the bedroom door. “He’s been getting better. More grown up. You can’t tell he still isn’t eighteen.”
“But he is. And this isn’t an easy thing, for either of you. Accept the help that’s being offered, Duke.” Bax, speaking now as Alpha’s Mate, even though Abel had given that position up. “I’ll gather the crew and make them a schedule.”
“You’re not the boss of me,” Duke told him, making his voice as whiny as possible.
Bax laughed, and Duke joined him, though their laughter held an undertone of strain and disappointment.
“I don’t mean to be bossy,” Bax said when the chuckles finally died away. “Maybe it’s different when you’re not an omega, but we tend to pull together to help each other out. More than packs do, anyway.” He reached out to lay a hand on top of one of Duke’s. “Three months is a long time when you’re trying to do everything. And you’ll be covering the pack credits for both of you until Bram is back to work. Let us help you—it’s what pack is for.”
Duke found some pasta in the cupboard, high protein, and filled a pot of water to cook it. “I appreciate the help. I do. I’m just…” He stood in front of the stove, his mind blank. “He’s mine. I need to look after him.”’
Bax was silent for a moment. Duke went to the refrigerator and found some cheese and a chunk of cheap steak left over from yesterday’s attempt at supper for Bram. He began to slice the steak into tiny pieces that would go down easily and hopefully stay down. Then Bax spoke.
“And how are you doing with this all?”
Duke paused and glanced over at him. “What do you mean?”
“This is going to be stressful for you.” Bax was using that careful tone of voice that Duke had noticed before, as if he wasn’t sure either of Duke or Duke’s response.
Okay.Duke put the knife down and turned right around to face Bax. “I’m fine. Scared. I don’t like to see Bram in this situation. I don’t want to lose the babies, Bram doesn’t want to lose the babies, and if he does, he’s never going to forgive himself.” It hit him then, all the emotions he’d been holding back while he looked after Bram and he had to turn away, leaning over the sink with his hands braced on the edge. “I don’t know what to do,” he whispered.
“You’re already doing it, Duke.” Bax got up and came to stand next to Duke at the sink. His voice was stronger now, less of that careful tiptoeing around an alpha bomb. “And at least you have Adelaide here. In Buffalo Gap, he’d have lost them. Trust me.” He put a hand on Duke’s shoulder and Duke half-expected that odd calm of Jason’s to wrap itself around him, but it didn’t.
