I downed the rest of my beer and regarded my friend. I imagined Todd and I going to a hundred, a thousand more barbecues like this one. Our kids could play with Todd and Dusty’s triplets.
Our kids would always have playmates. They’d never be lonely.
“Soon,” I said with a smile.
A dark-haired Omega in his early fifties approached us. He was short, perhaps five-foot-six, and slender as a reed. The Omega’s height and size didn’t make him any less formidable.
“Uncle Heath,” Todd said quickly.
My friend spared me a pitying look. Clark looked a little taken aback when Heath beamed at me. The older Omega pulled me close to a hug.
“Thank you for assisting me the other day, sir,” I told Heath.
“You guys met already?” Todd asked, dumbfounded.
“Of course. I wanted to one-up Aaron and Todd,” I said.
There were a couple of times I was baffled by the practical jokes Todd, Aaron and their cousins played on me. I didn’t mind it so much, because I loved seeing Todd in his element. Todd really enjoyed his brother and cousins’ company. This time, it was my game Todd was playing.
Earlier this week, I reached out to Heath.
Todd’s Omega dad was downright scary at the start. Todd and Aaron weren’t joking about Heath being a force of nature to be reckoned with.
Once we got over the initial awkwardness, Heath warmed up to me quickly. I told Heath how much I loved Todd. Heath also seemed delighted when I told him I was going to marry Todd and we planned to have plenty of babies.
“Marco’s been such a sweetie,” Heath said, patting my arm. “He took me out to lunch the other day and we went shopping.”
“Sweetie? Shopping?” Clark raised an eyebrow.
“Pa!” Todd bounced his way to us.
Heath and I quickly parted and pretended to be strangers who just met. Todd stopped short of us. My Omega eyed me suspiciously.
“Todd, honey. Marco was just introducing himself to me. I don’t think this will work,” Heath said. “You shouldn’t have invited a strange Alpha to the family barbecue.”
If Heath and I hadn’t concocted this evil plan earlier, I would’ve been downright terrified of him. Heath truly delivered those words with such icy precision that numerous heads turned towards us. Todd stared at his Pa, shocked. He quickly recovered.
“Pa, I’m a grown adult. I can date whoever I want. Marco’s my mate. I’m not interested in anyone else,” he said.
Heath crossed his arms. Aaron joined us.
“Yeah, Pa. Why don’t you give the guy a shot? Marco’s a great guy and he saved Todd from a crazy stalker,” Aaron said.
“You think I’m a great guy?” I asked Aaron. I had a hard time keeping my face straight. I wasn’t sure how long I could continue playing this gig.
“And you.” Todd turned his heel and looked me in the eye. “Aren’t you going to say anything to convince my Pa that you’re a keeper?”
Heath and I shared a look. This game had gone long enough. Besides, I couldn’t bear to keep lying to my Omega. Aaron understood what was happening first because he groaned.
“Oh my God, Todd. Pa’s just pulling your leg,” Aaron said. “He’s not mad at Marco. Marco’s in on this joke.”
Todd crossed his arms and glared at me.
“This is real though,” I told Todd.
I took a knee and pulled out the black velvet box from the back pocket of my jeans. Todd gasped, covering his mouth with his hand. Aaron widened his eyes. Heath looked at me with approval. I opened the box, revealing the two gold bands inside.
“Todd Benjamin Bright, will you marry me?” I asked.
“This isn’t a joke?” Todd asked me in a whisper.
Todd’s family members were cheering us on but I could barely hear them. The world had narrowed down its scope to just the two of us. Tears welled in Todd’s eyes.
“Dude, those rings don’t look fake,” Aaron said.
Todd knelt in front of me and hugged me tightly. “Yes, yes a thousand times,” he answered.
Grinning, I took out one of the rings and slipped it over his finger. A perfect fit. Heath knew his stuff.
“When you went out the other day to have lunch with Clark, you actually met my Pa, didn’t you?” Todd asked. He took the other ring from the box and slipped it into my finger.
“That’s right.” I stood up and pulled Todd back to his feet. Not caring who was watching, I tugged my Omega close for a long and searing kiss. I couldn’t wait to marry this man.
Epilogue
One Year Later
“Marco, will you sit down and relax?” Clark chided.
I shot my friend a glare, then resumed my pacing. Clark sighed.
I kept sneaking glances at the NICU, where my Omega was giving birth. The nurses had thrown me out after I kept fussing and worrying over my mate.
My fault, I knew, but I couldn’t help myself. Todd was at his most vulnerable at this stage.
“I have triplets,” Clark said. “Believe me, I’ve gone through this. Pacing won’t help you one bit. So sit.”
Clark nodded to the empty plastic chair next to him. I sat, realizing he had a point. I couldn’t wear myself out so soon.
I was acting like a crazy Alpha and I knew it. Todd and I had prepared for this moment a dozen times.
We never missed a baby class and we’ve read through a ton of baby books. Todd and I even babysat Clark and Dusty’s triplets a couple of times.
Let me tell you they were a lot of work. Thank God, Todd and I were only having one kid. For now. Todd expressed having more in the future.
Todd already made arrangements with his agent and the directors. He was going to halt working for a couple of months to spend more time with our babies.
The writers of the show had rewritten some of his storylines. Dave Hill was going to be in a coma but he’d resurface again in three months.
As for me? I’ve started working for a private security firm.
My hours were flexible. I’ve told the CEO outright that my husband and I were expecting. Being a husband and father himself, the CEO agreed to my terms.
Daniel was still rotting behind bars and it didn’t look like he was getting out anytime soon. Gary was fine and was still Todd’s assistant.
Over the past three months, Todd and I baby-proofed the entire apartment. His place was large enough to raise a couple of kids and the neighborhood was safe so it was only logical we kept it.
I must’ve dozed off for a little while, because the next time I woke, Clark was shaking me. I blinked because the waiting room was suddenly crowded.
I spotted Aaron, Nester, and Everett in one corner. Heath and Vince were also there, along with Todd’s other cousins and aunts.
“Hey,” Clark said. “The nurse said you can see Todd now. There were no complications. They delivered your baby safe and sound. I’ll keep the rest of the family away for a little bit, so you guys can have a private moment.”
Hearing the delivery went smoothly calmed me immensely.
“Thanks.”
I entered Todd’s room and shut the door behind me. A nurse was monitoring his vitals. Todd had our son in his arms.