Page 58 of Black Wave

“Yes.” She narrows her eyes on me. “He doesn’t just dress up. It’s part of the lore,” she replies, annoyed at my lack of Ghost band knowledge. “Why do you ask?”

I can tell she thinks I’m going to make fun of her, but I’m asking because Emma loves that band so much. She is obsessedwith the Ghouls and even wears little bracelets made of beads with letters spelling out ‘little sunshine.’

“Emma loves that band, and I want to take her to the concert.” Obsessed might not even cut it with the way she sings all the songs and has the two little stuffed dolls of the lead singer. The little doll is creepy as fuck too.

“Hmm.” She seems hesitant to give me more information. “Well, I doubt there are more pit tickets, but you can at least get her some VIP experience tickets to the ritual.”

“The ritual?”

She just shakes her head. “Never mind.” There are still a bunch of options. “There.” She starts typing into the computer screen. “Here are the seats left. See? Take a look for yourself,” she says as she turns the screen my way.

Ultimately, I purchase two VIP tickets that allow us early access to the venue, a better parking option up close, and free merch. I think she’ll like it. Needing reassurance, I decide to ask a fan. I really do want to make her happy.

“Do you think she’ll like it, Helena?”

I see her tilt her head to look at me, and what she sees makes her eyes soften and she smiles. “I think she is going to love it. I bet she will be super excited to go.” She gives me a little side hug. “You did good, Boss.” She squeezes my shoulders once more and walks off.

I feel good about the surprise and hope my plan to keep her safe won’t backfire.

I finish at the gym and walk out the door a little earlier to pick up Emma at our home. She works later tonight, and we now have a routine going. I never thought I’d be a guy who likes themundane routine of domesticity, but I do. I might be enjoying it a little too much. Maybe it is just because it is with Emma.

I pick her up and we head through the Starbies drive thru line per Emma’s request. I order her an iced matcha latte, and espresso for me. As we pull out into traffic, I hear her favorite band play on Spotify and laugh when she asks about attending the concert. Little does she know that she’ll be getting the full VIP experience soon.

I hate to admit that I always like having her with me, and dropping her off at work is always hard. Seeing her walk away through the doors and the possibility that it could be the last time I ever see her again guts me. This threat with Julian has to stop, and I won’t let these thoughts take up space in my head any longer. I am becoming that clingy motherfucker that everyone laughs about. I laugh, thinking about the time during our family’s last Christmas conversation when Jasmine, my future sister-in-law, explained her favorite romance trope–omegaverse–to us. The alpha obsessed with his omega.

I have a little skip in my step thinking about Emma and how she will lose her shit, and I can’t wait to tell her about it. I place my messenger bag on the table, along with the food she wanted to get before work tonight, when I hear her phone ring. She sees who is calling and answers it, talking with Liv on speakerphone.

“Hey, girl, how are you feeling?''

She has her back to me and hasn’t noticed that I am standing there listening. I would usually go about my business, but something has me standing there. Her bubbly demeanor radiates sparkles and rainbows down the line. And I am captivated by it. This is the happy woman I always wanted to see.

“I am feeling better. This is just my first obstetrician appointment.”

Emma rubs at her temples, and I imagine her trying to ward off an impending headache.

“So, it’s true then, Liv? You’re pregnant?”

I nod, even though I’m not part of this conversation, but after the way she acted at the club, it was pretty apparent that was the case.

Her words echo back Emma’s. “I am pregnant with Dax's baby.” She lets that sink in before replying to Liv’s answer.

“Are you happy, Liv?” She looks sad, and I watch her wanting to come over and hug her. Tell her she isn’t alone, and I will always hold her when she needs me to, for better or worse.

Liv answers with more conviction, and I believe her when she says that she is indeed happy about the news and about her and Dax starting a family. She continues, “I know it’s weird to say, but I feel I was destined to be his since I met him. The way he makes me feel and the way he touches me. It seems familiar, like I was already his, and he was mine.”

Emma stays silent for a moment and then breathes before speaking. She grabs at the necklace I gave her, and my heart stops. “Yeah, I understand that. Sometimes, you can’t fight who you end up with. Sometimes, it’s just the way things are meant to be.”

They end the call, and Emma turns around, releasing a slew of expletives as she clutches her chest. “You scared the crap out of me, babe.” She walks over to me and kisses me on the lips. Before she can let go, I pull her in with my hand firmly planted on her ass as I let her feel the effect she has on me. My cock is rock-hard, but that will have to wait.

“I have a surprise for you,” I say as I pepper kisses lightly down her neck.

“I hate to break it to you, babe, but your monster cock is no surprise.” She laughs, her eyes alight with humor as she grabs my dick.

I laugh and grab her hand. “You keep grabbing me like that and the surprise I got you will have to wait.”

She removes her hand reluctantly. “So the surprise isn’t you feeding me your cock?” She raises her eyebrows, and I groan.

Now she has me all worked up. Maybe we could fuck, and then I’ll give her her present. I decide on the latter and take my phone out of my pocket. She eyes me suspiciously, and I can’t help the smile that forms on my lips, despite trying to remain stoic. I can see her getting agitated that I am on my phone and pushing her hand away from my cock. She thinks I am blowing her off as if I would prefer anything on my phone than to her touching me.

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