Page 8 of Admiring His Omega (Hobson Hills Omegas #12)

“I am very lucky that money isn’t an issue,” Cain agreed. “My brothers and I each have a trust fund, even though Carter refuses to use his. He says he’s saving it for the kids, and I can’t fault him for that. I’ll use most of mine for my future family too.”

“I think that’s a good idea, just remember that you are still young and will be bored out of your mind if you don’t have something to do when you move here.”

“Dad is going to take me fishing.”

“You can only fish for so many hours in the day.” Mal paused. “Wait, I can take you foraging too. Okay, you should forget about opening a law office with your dad and become my assistant.”

Cain gave him a considering look. “What kind of perks are there?”

“Good meals and free kisses.”

“I’m in.”

Mal grinned. “I didn’t say who the kisses would come from.”

Cain eyed the pet bed where Betty and Truffle slept. “I should know better than to jump into an ambiguous contract.”

Mal chuckled, a lightness spreading through him. Cain wanted him . “Don’t worry. I’ll give you kisses too.”

Cain leaned forward, face solemn. “Are you alright with this.” He waved a hand between them. “With us? I don’t do things half-way Mal.”

“Are you alright with this?” Mal asked instead of answering. “Until last night, I wasn’t sure that you were even attracted to me. You’re in love with Jasper.”

“I’m not in love with Jasper. I thought I could possibly fall in love with him.” Cain scowled. “There’s a difference.”

“Do you not think so anymore?” Mal tilted his head, curious about Cain’s use of past tense. Trust a lawyer to pick and choose his words carefully.

Cain’s lips curved upward, his eyes shining with humor. “I think my tastes have drastically changed over the course of a week. I’m more interested in eccentric omegas now. One who is still admirable but is also completely unique.”

Mal grinned and pointed to his chest. “I’ve been called eccentric. Okay, maybe I’ve been called weird, but same thing, right?”

Cain nodded. “They are basically synonyms of one another.”

“I’m sure someone out there admires me,” Mal continued. “My confidential informant really likes all the pranks I pull on the Wilsons. He’s nice enough that he will say he admires me if I ask him to.”

“I think more people admire you than you realize.” Cain took his hand. “Are you alright with this?” he asked again. “You said you were ready to move on, but this is fast.”

Mal couldn’t help but laugh. “My family’s motto is basically ‘fall fast and love completely.’”

“Now you really have to explain that.” Cain laughed. “Are you secretly a Wilson? That seems to be their family motto too.”

Mal winced and promptly ignored Cain’s question. “Let me tell you a story. It all began with my paternal grandparents, David Reed and Vivian Marks.”

“Should we get comfortable? Is this a long story?” Cain smiled, brown eyes sparkling.

“Absolutely.” Mal stood and sat on the sofa. He patted the cushion beside him. “Come along.”

Cain sat down and pulled Mal into his arms, adjusting them until they were comfortable.

Mal soaked up the warmth of the man’s embrace, savoring the smell of Cain and rain.

“Grandpa was born out of wedlock in a time when society was not very accepting of things like that. His mom had a one-night stand with an omega that lived a few towns over. Her parents were horrified, especially when they found out the omega had already met and married an alpha. They refused to let their daughter ruin a proper relationship, so they convinced her to not even tell the omega she was pregnant.”

“That is not the warm and fuzzy story I thought was coming.” Cain kissed Mal’s cheek. “I’m sorry that happened.”

“Me too.” Mal sighed. “Shortly after he was born, Grandpa’s mom died.

His grandparents raised him, and they never let him forget that he was evidence of his mom’s sin .

Their words, not mine. It had a profound effect on Grandpa.

He felt he had to act a certain way to keep his grandparents’ love, so he set out to be the perfect beta man. ”

“What about his father? Did he ever reach out to him? Surely, he would be happier with him than with grandparents like that.”

Mal shook his head. “Nope. His dad had a husband and kids of his own. His grandparents didn’t want him messing that up, and he agreed with them.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

“It really is.” Mal sighed. “Grandpa would have been a lot happier growing up if he had went to his father. But he didn’t. He dated the girls his grandparents introduced him to and ignored the fact that he was only attracted to other boys.”

“No,” Cain groaned. “That never works.”

“It really doesn’t.” Mal snorted a laugh.

“Lucky for him he met a girl named Vivian that was in the situation. She only liked girls, but her parents would never accept that. They agreed to date and eventually married. Their families were overjoyed, but they were just happy to have each other as best friends who understood and cared for one another.”

“I’m happy for them?” Cain paused a moment. “I think.”

“They struggled on, pretending to be the perfect heterosexual couple,” Mal continued.

“Somehow, they even managed to have two kids. I don’t like to think of it, but some of my cousins speculated on the use of a turkey baster until Aunt Wanda heard them and threatened to tell their parents what they were talking about.

That isn’t important though. What’s important is that they finally couldn’t take their overbearing families anymore and moved across the country to Thorn Creek, Washington. ”

“Good for them.” Cain hugged him. “They didn’t have a conventional love, but it’s still beautiful. I like this story.”

“Oh, I’m not done yet.” Mal settled his head on Cain’s shoulder.

“A few years down the road, my dad was about six, I think, Grandma Vivi worked at a local newspaper. She had a set routine. She would have breakfast with Grandpa and the kids, go to work, eat lunch at a diner nearby, go back to work, then head home. One day, that all changed.”

Mal let the silence permeate.

He waited and waited.

“The suspense,” Cain finally complained. “Why are you like this?”

“I enjoy the pain of others.” Mal shrugged. “Anyway, one day, a new waitress started at the diner. She was a single mother of three, newly divorced and struggling to find what was missing in her life. Guess what was missing?”

“Hmm.” Cain’s voice rumbled through Mal. “A Grandma Vivi-shaped something?”

“Yes.” Mal practically crowed. “They met and fell in love at first sight. First freakin’ sight, Cain!

Grandpa was beyond happy for them and fully supported the relationship.

Adelaide’s ex-husband was slower to come around, but he’s a decent man, so eventually, with Grandpa’s help, he came to terms with things.

He traveled a lot for work, that’s why their marriage failed, but he loved his family.

He’s Uncle Ron to everyone now. Grandma Vivi, Grandma Addy, and Uncle Ron. ”

“Okay.” Cain sounded impressed. “Now, that is a beautiful story. I can see why your family isn’t afraid of jumping into relationships. This bodes well for me, so I fully support the family motto.”

“The story isn’t done, silly.” Mal patted Cain’s cheek. “A couple of years later, Grandpa took the kids camping. All five of them, because where one kid went, all the others had to go. Uncle Ron learned this the hard way.”

“Five? That’s a lot.”

“I agree.” Mal nodded. “While he was there, he met a young widower – an omega that had lost his alpha a few years prior. The man had two kids of his own, both under four. Why he was out camping with them, I don’t even know. But guess what?”

“Grandpa David fell in love at first sight?”

Mal laughed. “Correct. Then it was Grandpa David and Grandpa Lucas. Five kids became seven. Then, they became eight when Grandpa Lucas got pregnant again.”

“Poor Uncle Ron,” Cain whispered. “He was probably struggling with only three at first. Then five. Then eight.”

Mal’s body shook with laughter. “Seriously. The man had to bring home presents for everyone each time he visited. He didn’t hesitate, though.

Took to being an uncle really well. Even for us grandkids.

” Mal smiled softly. “He brought me cookbooks from all over the world. They’re in storage now, but I treasure them.

He’s retired and lives in Thorn Creek but still manages to find the best books for me for my birthday. ”

“No love at first sight for Uncle Ron?” Cain asked, sounding sad.

“Uncle Ron says his true love was traveling the world and having his family to come home to.”

“Alright. That explains why you said your family tree was a forest instead of one tree.” Cain smiled. “It really is a lovely story. What about your mom’s parents? Do they have a story?”

“Grandpa Paul and Grandma Kat. They’re completely normal.” Mal shook his head. “Met in college, got married after a few years of dating. So very normal.”

“I suppose one side of your family should be.”

“Agreed.” Mal leaned up and brushed a soft kiss against Cain’s chin. “So, you see, I’m not afraid of a little risk. I think you’re worth it.”

Cain leaned down and kissed him. Mal melted into the alpha’s taste, savoring every feeling bubbling inside him. The anticipation and excitement of something new. The eagerness to know everything about his alpha.

Loving Rick had never been like this. Maybe because Mal knew Rick never felt romantic toward him. It had been misery and joy all at once.

Cain pulled back, breathing heavily. “We’re agreed? We will see where this goes?”

“Agreed.” Mal pulled Cain down for another kiss. There was no fear or hesitation. Wherever their connection went, Mal knew he’d never be the same.