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We piled into my car, and I was suddenlyverythankful that the guys had opted to get me a large SUV because I could fit plenty of blankets in there. Financially, I had the pack card, and the guys had made it clear that the nest room was to be decorated and to not worry about the cost.

My lack of employment would be a problem for future Bethany. For now, Joey deserved to be spoiled, and my nest could most certainly use a refresh.

Joey stared down at the blankets with a comically serious look. We were standing in the middle of the largest nesting store around and both Joey and I were in heaven. Everywhere we turned, there were throw blankets and sheets. Anything warm, cozy, and soft.

“What’s going through that brain?” I asked gently.

“I like both of these,” she admitted. “But I don’t know which one to get.”

I chuckled to myself. “We can get both, then,” I said fondly. “Throw them in the cart!”

Joey beamed at me as she did just that. I recognized the glee in her face all too well. As an omega, when I could procure plentyof nesting materials, I had a special kind of excitement that rushed through me; it was almost primal.

“Now, I think they have throw pillows in the back shaped like different animals!”

“Even dinosaurs?” she asked with wide eyes.

I nodded seriously. “Even dinosaurs.”

In a nesting store, no one could expect an omega to be a voice of reason.

By the time Cullen joined us at the store, the cart was piled sky-high. As he strode over to us, wearing a pair of dark slacks and a white T-shirt, smiling happily, my insides couldn’t help but tingle.

I wanted to kiss that five-o’clock shadow so badly.

“Hey,” I greeted him, pulling him in for a quick kiss.

“Where is our little terror?” he asked, looking around the store.

I snorted and pointed to the absolutely gigantic bin of throw pillows. “She’s in there, looking for just the right one. She picked out most of this stuff herself.” I gestured toward the cart that was overflowing.

Cullen’s gaze was comical as he looked at the sheer size of the pillow palace. “We have a little omega on our hands, don’t we?” he whispered.

I nodded. “Good luck, Dad.”

Joey took a moment to hug Cullen when she surfaced from the mountain of squish, but quickly returned to her adventure, leaving us to trail after her.

We were in the curtain department when a wave of nausea hit me. Joey was in her own little world, but Cullen noticed.

“Hey, here,” he said softly, pressing a small packet of crackers into my hand. He must have stashed them in his pocket. His other hand rested on my lower back, rubbing in that comforting way. He was so close, all I could smell was him.

“Thank you.” I took the crackers gratefully, ripping the package open and nibbling on the corner of one as we walked around.

“I thought the nausea was supposed to ease as you entered the second trimester?” Cullen asked.

“It is, but it doesn’t go away entirely.” I paused to pick up some soft muslin sheets in dusky blue that appealed to me, tossing them into the cart.

“I’ll make sure I keep a stash of the crackers in all the cars, then.”

“Thank you!” I gave him a little side hug, subtly huffing some more of that bourbon scent. Those crackers had been a savior a number of times.

“If you’re feeling too icky, we can always go back home and lounge around on the couch for the rest of the day,” Cullen offered.

I shook my head. “No way. You really want to end Joey’s fun? I think she’s going to buy out the whole store!”

“I’m sure you’re keeping pace with her,” he said, taking the cart from me and resuming pushing as I puttered around the store, touching any fabrics that appealed to me.

“Well, you did insist I take the nest room. The nest there is so big, and I don’t have anywhere near enough nesting supplies to fill the space.”