Page 48 of The Omega's Surprise Baby
“I can imagine.” Ron had been exhausted too, after giving birth. Exhausted but happy. More than happy.Serene.Sharon looked the same way. “You've done an amazing job.”
She glanced at her babies with an expression that said she agreed with me. “You're right, they're amazing. But I'm afraid the real work only starts now.”
My lips quirked. “You have a point there. But you know you don't have to do it alone, right? We're family.” Whatever happened, I'd always be there for my little sister, and I wasn't the only one in this town who cared about her. “Who knows? Maybe you'll even find yourself a new boyfriend. Someone better than the jerk who left you.” My voice turned bitter; I couldn't help it. I was still mad at the asshole who got my sister pregnant and then left her hanging.
“Maybe.” She shook her head. “I'm not in a hurry.”
“You don't need to be,” I assured her. “But I promise not all of us alphas are as bad as the one who ditched you.”
“Oh, I know. I had some bad luck, I guess.” She snorted. “Seriously, though, what did he expect? I'm a female omega, he should have known how fertile I am when he started dating me. It's ridiculous.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Not everyone pays attention in school... and some people I guess aren't interested in learning anything about omegas at all. It's a damn shame.” Anger flared up in me. Honestly, some people made me feel ashamed to call myself alpha.
“I suppose. Things are changing, but it's slow. I wonder what the world will look like when these two darlings are our age.” She looked down at her babies, then back up at me. “So since we've established I'm not in any hurry to get back up on the horse, what about you, brother?”
“What about me?”
“Don't play dumb,” she scolded me. “I was only wondering if you were thinking about dating again or if we'll both be single parents forever.”
“Not forever.” There were times when I'd thought so, but no. No matter how much I still loved Ron, no matter how much I always would, I couldn't stay single forever. I wasn't built for it. I realized that now. I missed sharing my life with another person. The company my children provided me wasn't the same. Being with Kade made me see that, however short our time together had been. I longed for a deeper connection. I missed waking up to another warm body in my bed.
I was lonely, and I didn't want to be this way forever.
My sister regarded me with a curious expression. “You got your sights set on someone?”
“Maybe,” I said, lips quirking up as I remembered the conversation Kade and I had had over the phone. Would my sister freak if I told her I was thinking about dating a celebrity who lived in LA? Probably. The thought made me grin wider. My life was weird, but I didn't give a shit anymore. I wanted Kade. I couldn't wait for him to get back here so I could wrap him in my arms and lock the bedroom door behind us.
“Maybe?” Sharon tilted her head.
“Sorry, that's all the information you're getting for now.”
She scowled. “If I had my hands free, I would whack you, brother. But I'm happy to hear there's someone you like.” Her features smoothed over. “I don't think you should be alone.”
“Yeah,” I agreed. “Me neither.”
* * *
By the timewe got back home, Mary was asleep in her booster seat. Careful not to wake her, I lifted her out of the car and carried her into the house, Conner walking quietly beside me. He even got the dog to hush when I opened the front door. I had to smile at that. My children didn't play together much, but Conner did care about his sister the same way I cared about mine. It was good to see.
“Go brush your teeth,” I whispered to him before I went upstairs to put Mary down in her bed. When I was done with that and went to check up on Conner, he'd already changed into his pajamas, toothbrush in mouth. I wasn't surprised, though I knew I should count myself lucky that my boy never gave me any grief. At least not intentionally. The worst he ever did was read past his bedtime.
I waited for him to finish brushing, and then I went into his room with him to say goodnight.
“What do you think of your new cousins?” I asked as I tucked him in.
“I don't know.” He shrugged. “They're tiny.”
I suppressed a laugh at that accurate description. “Cute, though, right?”
“I guess.” He didn't seem enthusiastic now, but I'd seen the look of adoration on his face earlier. “Aren't all babies supposed to be cute?” he asked.
“Some are cuter than others,” I said, keeping my response deliberately vague rather than describing some of the butt-ugly babies I'd seen in my time.
“Was I cute?” Conner asked, eyes slightly narrowed as if he couldn't imagine such a thing.
“Super cute,” I assured him. “Though you looked a little bittoo muchlike me.” I leaned in to ruffle his hair. It was that moment I caught a foreign fragrance in the air that made me pause, even though I couldn't immediately place it. It was faint smell, barely there. Still, it tugged on my memory as if demanding to be recognized.
Where was it coming from and where had I sensed it before?
