Page 30 of Best Friends

“Surprise it is,” Dr. Harrison says cheerfully, moving the wand away from any potentially revealing angles. “Let me just take a few measurements and then we’ll get you cleaned up.”

He spends the next few minutes taking pictures and measurements, the machine beeping softly as he works. I watch our baby move on the screen, occasionally bringing a hand up toward their face or shifting position. It’s mesmerizing.

“Everything looks great,” he announces, adjusting the view one last time. “The baby’s measuring right on schedule—about twenty-four weeks and a couple of days, which lines up perfectly with your due date.”

He hits a button that prints out several ultrasound photos, still warm from the machine.

He hands me a towel to wipe off the gel, and I reluctantly sit up as the screen goes dark. The loss of that window into my body feels surprisingly depressing.

“So everything’s norm—okay?” Malcolm asks one more time. “No concerns at all?”

“None whatsoever,” Dr. Harrison confirms, pulling off his gloves.

“Carrick’s doing beautifully, the baby’s thriving, and you’re both going to be excellent parents.

” He hands us the printed photos, still warm from the machine.

“Your next appointment will be in four weeks, and then we’ll start seeing you every two weeks as we get closer to your due date. ”

I stare down at the photos, at the grainy black and white image of our child. In one picture, you can see the baby’s profile clearly, peaceful and perfect. In another, they appear to be sucking their thumb.

“Thank you,” I tell Dr. Harrison, my voice thick with emotion.

“My pleasure,” he says warmly. “Take care of yourselves, and I’ll see you in a month.”

After he leaves, Malcolm helps me down from the examination table, his hands gentle on my waist. I can feel his excitement radiating off him in waves, mixing with the lingering scent of his earlier nervousness.

I slip on my shirt, running my fingers through my hair. “That was amazing,” I say. “It all feels so real now.”

“It was pretty real before.” He laughs.

“Yeah, but you know what I mean. There’s knowing I’m pregnant and seeing the baby looking all… baby like.”

He smiles. Yeah.” He puts his hand on my stomach. “Just think, C., three more months and we’ll actually be holding them.”

“God. I… I know,” I agree, leaning into his warmth. “Scared?”

“Terrified,” he admits. “But also so fucking excited I can’t see straight.”

“Same.” I laugh, tucking the ultrasound photos carefully into my wallet.

As we leave the doctor’s office and walk toward the parking garage, Malcolm’s arm around my shoulders, I can’t stop thinking about that image on the screen. How real it all looked. How much the baby has grown since our last appointment.

“You know what this means, right?” Malcolm says as we reach the car.

“What?”

“We really need to finish the nursery. And figure out the whole car seat situation.”

I groan dramatically. “I told you we have time for all that. Though I guess we should probably register for the baby shower soon.”

“Mom’s been asking about that for weeks,” he points out, opening my car door for me. “She wants to start planning.”

“I know, I know,” I say, settling into the passenger seat.

He slides in behind the wheel and starts the truck. “What would you think about some ice cream to celebrate how amazingly normal our baby is?” He grins.

I chuckle. “Like I’d turn down ice cream for any reason?”

“True.” He pulls out onto the street and his hand finds mine. “Life will change once the baby is here, but I want you to know you’ll always be my priority, C. Okay?”

My heart warms. “Same.” I hesitate. “Was there some reason you brought that up?”

He sighs. “A bunch of the alphas at work who have kids keep telling me that you and I will drift apart once the baby arrives.”

“What? Why would that happen?”

“They say alphas lose interest in the omega after breeding. I told them they’re full of shit. Nothing will ever make me lose interest in you, C.” He sighs. “But they said it wouldn’t be up to me. That you’ll lose interest in me first. The baby will be all you care about.”

“That’s just plain nonsense.”

“I said the same thing, but they all think I’m a fool for not listening to them.”

Scowling, I ask, “Who are these alphas?”

“Harry and Robert.”

I frown. “They don’t know what they’re talking about.

First of all, we’ve always been best friends.

We respect and actually like each other.

Harry and Robert put their omegas down all the time.

Last Christmas party at the station, Harry was hitting on Teresa from accounting right in front of his wife.

Why would we listen to dicks like them?”

“I guess their bullshit got to me because I can’t stand the thought of you pulling away from me, C. I mean, I get that a baby will be tiring and we’ll have to get into a routine. But to say we’d drift apart, after sharing the most amazing experience together, that just doesn’t track for me.”

“It shouldn’t either. There’s no way anything can come between what we have, Malc. It’s not possible.”

“I hoped you’d say that.”

“Of course I’m saying that. Don’t let unhappy people get in your head. They’re not like us. Frankly, I think they’re jealous of what we have.”

“You’re right. Why would I let bitter assholes get in my head?

They don’t know what they’re talking about.

They don’t even help their omegas with the babies.

They insist it’s not their problem, that everything is the omega’s responsibility.

They dump all the feedings, diaper changes, and house work on their omegas, and then wonder why the omega has no time to kiss their ass when they get home,” he rumbles.

I smile at his indignation. “See, just the fact that you say that makes me realize we have nothing to worry about. You’ll always be my favorite person in the world, Malc.

It doesn’t matter if I adore our baby, which of course I will.

You’re always going to hold a special place because, well, you’re my best friend and soulmate.

You don’t turn your back on your best friend and soulmate. ”

He grins. “I think it’s a felony to do that.”

“Well, I’m very law abiding, so we have nothing to worry about.” I smirk. “Although, this conversation about breaking the law etc does remind me that you promised I could handcuff you next time we had sex.”

His face flushes. “I did say that, didn’t I?”

“You certainly did.” I bite my bottom lip. “I’ve been dreaming about cuffing you to the headboard and riding your cock.”

He swallows loudly. “Damn, C. You’re making it kind of hard to drive.”

“So you like the idea of me cuffing you to the bed while you fuck my brains out?”

“Yeah, I like it a lot.” He leans over and smooths his hand possessively over my bulging belly. “You kind of have a one track mind lately, C., and I’m digging it.”

“I’d say it’s the pregnancy hormones, but it’s not. I just really like having sex with my best friend.” I smirk, guiding his hand down between my thighs so he can feel my erection.

“Fuck it.” He lets out a lusty rumble and puts his foot down harder on the accelerator. “We’ll get ice cream some other day. I’m taking you home.”