Page 16

Every muscle was pleasantly sore as I awoke. I wondered why for a few seconds before my memories returned.

I smiled and turned to run my nose through my—our—omega’s hair where he was tucked in beside me.

Ollie’s natural scent was tinged with the acrid tangs of sweat and sex—a reminder of how well Tripp and I had claimed and bred him the night before.

I lifted my head as I thought of the other alpha, and could just make out his shape in the dim light of a bedside clock. Then the numbers swam into focus, and fear gripped me.

I reached over Ollie and gently shook Tripp awake.

“Hnnngh?” Tripp groaned. “Wha?”

“You’re gonna be late for work,” I whispered. “It’s past six.”

Tripp jerked, then calmed again a second later. “Day off…” he mumbled as he scooted closer to Ollie and draped an arm over him.

I let out a chuckle, then started shaking with the quietest laughter I could manage.

“Whasso funny?” Tripp asked.

“Fate,” I replied. “I’m off today too.”

Tripp yawned. “Good. I wanna eat Ollie’s ass after you’ve come in him.”

Well that was one way to get my cock instantly alert.

A light snore came from Tripp, and I realized that he’d fallen back asleep.

I smiled and settled in again. My cock could wait a few hours for everybody to be awake. Ollie’s heat hadn’t broken when we went to bed, so we probably had several more rounds to look forward to.

It was the best Christmas present I could have asked for: a life with Tripp and Ollie.

∞∞∞

~January~

“Got any good news for me?” Tammy asked as we finished discussing my shift.

I blinked. “Good news?”

“Men…” She shook her head. “It’s been a couple weeks since your mate went into heat, hasn’t it?”

“Oh!” I chuckled and scratched the back of my neck. “I didn’t realize you’d remembered that.”

She snorted. “I try to keep track of things that’ll affect your work. Knowing if paternity leave is in your future is a big one to plan for.”

I smiled. “Makes sense.”

“So?” she prodded.

I sighed. “Ollie hoped that it would show up early, but nothing as of two days ago. He and Tripp were both pretty down, but he’s going to test again tonight.”

She laughed and shook her head. “Two fated mates, and one of them is a ShipUS driver. That’s sleeping with the enemy.”

I grinned. “To be fair, he’s good in bed.”

“I didn’t need to know that,” she deadpanned. Then she nodded. “Let me know if I’ll need to plan paternity leave for you.”

“Will do,” I replied as she started to walk off to talk to another driver.

Tammy stopped, turned, and gave me one of her rare smiles. “Good luck tonight. Hope it’s the result you want.”

I smiled. “Thank you.”

She was already talking with the other driver as the words left my lips, but I just chuckled and turned to leave.

My phone rang as I crossed the parking lot, and I smiled when Tripp’s goofy grin appeared on the screen. “Hey T, what’s up?”

“You’re not close, are you?”

“Just leaving work.”

“Good. Can you swing by the store and grab a half gallon of Rocky Road?”

My stomach knotted. “Bad news?”

He let out a strained chuckle. “No, we’re waiting for you. But I thought it might be a good idea… just in case.”

“Got it. Do I need to pick up dinner too?”

“I can put in an order at that Chinese place Ollie likes.”

“Perfect. Call now, and it should be ready when I get there.”

“Will do,” Tripp chirped. “See you soon.”

“See you soon.”

A few minutes later, I had Ollie’s favorite brand of ice cream in hand, shortly after that, dinner was acquired, and I pulled into the driveway.

It still felt strange to call Ollie’s house home, but right. And despite having lived in my old apartment for years, I hadn’t been able to get out of it fast enough.

I needed to be with my men, it was that simple.

“Where’s Ollie?” I asked as I walked through the door, and only saw Tripp.

He shrugged. “In his office. Drawing, I think. He said the nerves were eating him alive.”

I nodded. “I’ll let him know I’m home.”

Tripp laughed, strode over, and pulled me into a kiss. “Forgetting something?”

I smiled. “Can’t think of anything.”

He shook his head, swatted my ass, then took the bags from me. “Ass.”

I leaned in and kissed his cheek. “You like it.”

He smiled, his eyes softening in that way that was reserved for Ollie and I. “I do.”

I kissed him again, then headed to Ollie’s office. I knocked gently before opening the door. “I’m home.”

Ollie turned, and even across the room, I could see a red tinge to his eyes. His editing program filled his computer screen. The image he was working on appeared to be a kangaroo with a joey poking its head from the pouch.

I crossed to him in a few steps, then knelt in front of him. I took his hands in mine. “You know that test the other day means nothing. Even you said that it was probably too soon. But you’re safely within the testing window now.”

He nodded. “I know.”

“Do you think fate would do you dirty after all those months of waiting for Tripp and I to figure it out?”

He shook his head.

I shifted to kiss him. “Me neither. I think it’ll be positive this time.”

He gave me a weak smile. “Tripp said the same thing.”

I squeezed his hands. “We all want this. But even if it’s negative, that just means we get to try again your next heat.”

A stronger smile that time. “I guess you’re right.”

I stood, leaned in, and kissed his forehead. “Tripp had me pick up dinner, so it’s ready whenever you are.”

“Should I…” he glanced over, and I saw a pregnancy test box sitting in his line of sight.

I slid my hand under his chin and guided him back to look at me. “Before dinner or after is up to you. I won’t rush you, and I’m willing to bet Tripp would say the same.”

He nodded, closed his eyes, then let out a long breath. “I think I’m going to get it over with.”

“Ok. Where do you want Tripp and I?”

“The couch?” he suggested.

“Cuddle puddle while we wait, got it.”

I offered Ollie a hand up, which he accepted. Then he pushed up his glasses, grabbed the box with the test, and strode out of the room.

I smiled, then walked out and to the kitchen. I grabbed Tripp around the middle and tugged him to the couch.

“I take it Ollie’s pissing on a stick?” Tripp laughed as he sat.

“Yep,” I replied as I dropped onto a cushion.

Tripp leaned against me. “I have a good feeling.”

“Me too, but he’s nervous.”

“We’re here, no matter what.”

I smiled. “Yeah. I’m not giving either of you up.”

Tripp chuckled, then the sound of footsteps in the hall. We both turned to see Ollie coming toward us, test in hand.

“I’ll set the timer,” I announced, grabbing my phone.

“Thank you,” Ollie replied.

Tripp scooted over, making room for our omega between us. He patted the empty space. “Come here, Baby.”

Ollie shuffled over and eased onto the couch.

Tripp leaned in and kissed Ollie’s temple. “So, have you decided which room is going to be the nursery?”

Ollie let out a nervous laugh. “Not-not exactly.”

Tripp chuckled. “There’s time, but keep it in mind, that way Axel and I have time to decorate it.”

“But I’m the artist,” Ollie protested.

“Decorative paint only,” I stated. “You tell us what base colors to paint, then you can add your touches. That way you’re not in as many fumes.”

Ollie considered, then nodded. “Compromise accepted.”

“What are you thinking for the theme?” Tripp asked. “Cute jungle? Dinosaurs?”

Ollie hummed. “I think that’ll depend on what we’re having.”

I reached over and ran my hand across his stomach. “And how many.”

Ollie blanched. “I hope only one!” He paused. “I mean, I want you each to have fathered a baby, but one at a time. I don’t think I can handle twins.”

I slid my hand down and squeezed his thigh. “One at a time it is, assuming your body agrees.”

Ollie turned and gave me a dirty look, then the alarm sounded.

I turned it off while our omega reached for the test. He kept it face down and took a deep breath.

“We’re here,” Tripp said softly. “Go ahead.”

Ollie nodded and turned the test over.

He burst into tears, and sadness gripped me for half a second until I got a look at the test.

Two lines. Pregnant.

I wrapped my arms around him and kissed his hair. “You’re going to be a papa.”

Tripp pulled us both into a hug. “We’re going to have a baby!”

∞∞∞

~March~

I peered over Ollie’s shoulder, where he had his tablet propped on his knees and was drawing.

“A Christmas… pink thing?” I asked. “Isn’t it a bit early for Christmas?”

Ollie laughed and uncurled. “It’s an axolotl. And not really, especially since I’m due right when I’d normally be getting in my Christmas stock. That means I need to get everything ordered early so that I only need to worry about fulfillment.”

“I guess that makes sense,” I said, then kissed the top of his head. “It’s time to go.”

“Already?”

“Yep. Tripp just called and said he’ll meet us there.”

Ollie nodded and put the tablet to sleep. He stood and stretched—his shirt riding up and giving me a good look at his tiny baby bump.

I couldn’t help myself as I ran my fingers across it.

Ollie laughed and swatted my hand away. “Don’t get started. You’re the one who said it’s time to go.”

“I love that bump, though.”

He leaned in and kissed me. “And you spend way too long rubbing it once you get your hands on it.”

I pouted.

He laughed. “Fifteen minutes once we’re back home.”

“Deal.”

Ollie walked past me and plucked his car keys from a bowl by the door. “You coming?” he teased.

I chuckled and rushed to catch up to him as he got into his station wagon. A few minutes later, he parked at his obstetrician’s office.

Tripp jogged over from where he’d parked his green delivery truck and pulled Ollie into a kiss. “You ready to find out if Nugget is a boy or girl?”

Ollie grinned. “I’m betting girl.”

Tripp shook his head. “Naw. I’m thinking boy.”

Ollie turned to me. “Ax?”

I shrugged. “My guess is that it doesn’t matter and we’ll still call them Nugget after they’re born.”

Tripp burst into laughter. “Easiest guess of them all.”

We settled a bit before walking inside. Glowing people in various stages of pregnancy sat with their partners.

We were ushered back a few minutes later. Ollie donned a gown and was quickly given an ultrasound. Then we waited for the doctor in another room.

Ollie’s OB strode in a few minutes later, a wide grin on her matronly face. “Good afternoon, Dads.”

She took a seat, then glanced at a computer screen. She asked Ollie the standard round of questions: How was he feeling? Did he have any concerns?

Then the moment we’d waited for.

“Everything looks good,” she stated. “Baby is right on target. And…”

She paused for dramatic effect—a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

“You’re having a little girl.”

Tripp threw his arms around Ollie. “You were right! It’s a girl!”

Ollie laughed. “I thought you wanted a boy.”

Tripp snorted. “I said I thought it was a boy. I don’t care what parts they have! That’s our baby, and we’re going to love her no matter what.”

I nodded and embraced both my men. “Our baby will know a house full of love.”

∞∞∞

~June~

Ollie stared at the wall of paint swatches, going back and forth between the brands and formulas.

“The color saturation is better in this one,” he muttered, holding up one swatch. “But this one is labeled as easy-clean. And I just know crayoned walls are in our future.”

“Why not get chalkboard paint for the lower half of the walls?” Tripp asked. “Plan in advance.”

Ollie hummed. “That’s not a bad idea. Maybe that whole wall between the door and the closet can be a chalkboard.”

“I thought you wanted pastels,” I pointed out.

Ollie laughed. “Chalkboard paint comes in pastel.”

“Axel? Tripp?” asked a familiar voice.

I turned to see Bryce standing a few feet away.

“Hey Bryce,” I said. “Funny seeing you on a day off.”

“Hi, Bryce!” Tripp chirped.

Ollie turned and gave a shy wave to the other omega.

Bryce pointed between the three of us for a couple seconds, then seemed to focus on Tripp and I. “Y-you two?”

I blinked. “Yeah? I thought you knew. Tripp said he told you.”

“I did!” Tripp protested.

“I thought you were joking!” Bryce cried. “Who takes a couple days off, then comes back as fated mates with somebody they’ve known for years?”

Tripp blinked. “Why would I joke about that?”

“Why did you keep flirting with me?”

Tripp cocked his head to one side. “Why not? Ollie and Axel both know I’m a flirt. But I go home to them at night, and that’s what matters.”

Bryce let out a long sigh, which made me laugh.

Ollie walked over, hand outstretched. “Hi, I’m Ollie.”

Bryce returned the handshake automatically. “Bryce.”

“You work at a law office, right?”

Bryce turned and nodded. “How did you know that?”

Ollie grinned. “They talk about work a lot.”

Bryce blanched, looked down at Ollie’s baby bump, then turned bright red. “I’m sorry for flirting with your mates! I-I didn’t know!”

Ollie laughed. “You’re forgiven.”

Bryce relaxed. “How far along are you?”

Ollie patted his bump. “Twenty-eight weeks.”

“Congrats. You’re getting close.”

“I’m due in September.”

Bryce sighed. “Lucky.”

Ollie blinked. “I thought the guys said you were seeing somebody.”

Bryce leaned to one side. “You two do talk, don’t you?”

I laughed. “It’s not as bad as it sounds.”

“It is,” Ollie disagreed as he turned back to Bryce. “They spent close to an hour last night comparing notes on who has Fourth of July decor out already.”

Bryce chuckled, then started laughing.

“You gonna be here a bit?” Ollie asked.

“I don’t have plans,” Bryce replied.

Ollie looped an arm over the other man’s shoulders. “Come on. I was looking at drawer pulls earlier, and these two have a hard time thinking cute. I think another omega’s opinion is just what I need.”

“Sure,” Bryce replied as they wandered out of the aisle.

I exchanged a glance with Tripp. “So…”

Tripp stared at the wall of swatches. “Easy-clean. I don’t want to have to repaint every time Nugget gets it in her head to be an artist like her Papa.”

I nodded and took position a few feet down where another brand was displayed. “Ok… now we just need to narrow down which brand has the most color saturation in their easy-clean line. Whatever that means.”

“Don’t ask me,” Tripp laughed. “I’m here for the grunt work.”

He and I exchanged a glance.

“Go look at rollers and trays?” I suggested.

He nodded. “Go look at rollers and trays.”

We’d leave the art stuff for the artist.

∞∞∞

~September~

“Could you hand me a…” Ollie winced, “a… a… number three sticker assortment?”

“Got it,” I replied, ignoring the wince. I grabbed a cellophane bag with a collection of stickers from the bin and passed it over.

Ollie had been in labor for several hours and was doing a horrible job at hiding it.

I quickly updated my labor tracking app with the time and how long I guessed the contraction to be. Just because Ollie wanted to ignore it didn’t mean I had to.

Though… I also understood why he was pretending our baby wasn’t actively trying to make an appearance. He’d put his shop in vacation mode two days prior and was attempting to get everything shipped.

“How many more?” I asked as he slid a bubble-mailer across to me. I checked the label and dropped it in the ShipUS basket.

“Five more,” Ollie replied with a tired tone.

I glanced over, but he didn’t appear to be in the middle of a contraction.

“I’ll send Tripp to get lunch,” I stated. “Then I want you to relax.”

He gave me a weak smile. “Thank you.”

I walked over and kissed his forehead. “Are you sure you don’t want me to do it? I can ask if I have questions.”

He pushed his glasses up, then shook his head. “No, this is my job, and this is the last thing I have to do before Nugget makes her escape.”

Which will be in a few hours…

“Ok,” I said. “I’ll be right back. How about you get ready to tell me what to pull, rather than grabbing things yourself.”

He smiled in a way that told me he knew that I knew that he was in labor.

I placed my phone in front of him, open to the labor tracker. He sighed, but nodded.

He wasn’t going to say it aloud until he was done packing orders, but it was an agreement to at least note if he had another contraction while I was out of the room.

I walked to the living room to see Tripp pacing.

“Well?” he asked as soon as he spotted me.

I shook my head. “He’s insisting on packing the final orders himself, though he’s let me pull items for him.”

“The contractions?”

“About seven minutes apart.”

“Is it time to go to the hospital?”

“Not yet. I told him I’d send you to get food.”

“Can he eat?”

I walked over and pulled Tripp into my arms. It took a few seconds for him to settle.

“Get him that fruit and yogurt parfait he likes,” I murmured. “The doctor said that was fine since he’s low-risk. If they have a brothy vegetable soup, that should be good too. Then something for you and me. I trust your judgement.”

He nodded against my collar. “Ok.”

I kissed the side of his head. “You’re safe to drive, right? Not too nervous?”

He laughed. “That’s a stupid question. I drive for a living, remember?”

“You’re normally not shaking with nerves.”

He took a deep breath. “We’re about to be dads.”

“And that’s why you need to drive safe.”

He pulled back and gave me a determined look. “Yogurt parfait, and a brothy vegetable soup if they have it.”

I smiled and nodded.

“I’ll be back soon.”

I grabbed his arm and pulled him back for a kiss. “I love you.”

Tripp melted against me. “I love you, too.”

We stayed together for a few more seconds before he composed himself and managed to get out the door.

Those three little words were still new. The emotion had been there for a while before I’d felt confident enough to say them, and it had been Tripp who’d ultimately said them first. He’d been half-asleep and awkwardly trying to cuddle both Ollie and I when they slipped out.

It had been enough. The dam had burst, and we’d taken to reminding each other of that connection on a regular basis.

I headed back to the office to find Ollie breathing through a contraction. I rushed over and knelt in front of him. I took his hands and squeezed.

“I’m here, Baby,” I murmured.

He smiled as it ended, hit the icon on the app, then slumped in the chair.

I shifted to where there was a small gap at the back of his chair and started rubbing his back. “Our strong, handsome omega. You’ve got this.”

He relaxed into my touch and sighed. “Will you pull the final orders?”

“Of course.”

He motioned to the packaging table. “I made a list.”

I grabbed the slip of paper and moved to Ollie’s inventory setup. I had everything pulled just in time for him to have another contraction. But he was able to pack everything himself before Tripp returned, and the satisfaction was clear on his face.

“Ready for your paternity leave?” I asked as I put the packages in their respective shipping baskets.

“I’m ready,” Ollie replied. “And just in time. I’ve been having contractions for hours.”

I smiled. “Well, let’s get some food in you, then we can relax until it’s time to go to the hospital.”

“Ok.”

I helped him up and into the living room, where I got him settled on the couch. Tripp returned a few minutes later.

We spent the next few hours cuddling and enjoying our last bit of time before becoming parents.

∞∞∞

It was well past midnight. Ollie was asleep on his hospital bed, and Tripp was dozing in the sleeping chair by the window.

But me? I couldn’t take my eyes off our daughter, Annette. She was tiny and perfect.

It had been a textbook delivery: hard on Ollie, but no complications. The active labor phase had been on the shorter side—only a few hours—which was a blessing as Tripp had become increasingly nervous the worse Ollie’s contractions were.

I would never forget the moment Annette’s tiny wails filled the delivery room. It was imprinted on my heart as deeply as when I realized that both Tripp and Ollie were my mates—the kind of event that leaves a man permanently changed for the better.

Annette scrunched her face and started to make the sounds that told me she was waking up. I gave her a minute, then picked her up when she started crying. Ollie had nursed a couple hours prior, but her diaper didn’t feel like it needed to be changed.

I decided she just wanted to be held, and was rewarded when she quickly settled in my arms.

I noted her features in the dim light. Her soft brown hair was a perfect blend of Ollie’s and Tripp’s, but her nose was the real giveaway that Tripp was the one who’d fathered her. Even a few hours old, I could clearly see many of his features in her.

That meant I only had a few years to figure out the best ways to protect her from the hordes of suitors who’d find her stunning.

“Hey,” came a soft whisper.

I turned to see Ollie smiling at me from his bed. I walked over, leaned in to kiss his forehead, then placed Annette into his waiting arms.

He got her settled, then freed one arm to pat a space beside him. I took the hint, climbed onto the bed, and tugged him into my arms.

“Beautiful Ollie,” I murmured. “You’re a papa now.”

He smiled down at our daughter. “She’s perfect.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Izzit cuddle time?” Tripp mumbled sleepily as he shuffled over. He climbed onto the other side of the bed and draped an arm over us before nuzzling against Ollie’s neck.

I chuckled. “Who’d have guessed Tripp would be the biggest cuddler of us all?”

“Love ya, too, Asshole,” he yawned, reverting to my old nickname in his half-sleep.

Ollie sniffled, catching my attention.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

He shook his head. “I’m just so happy. A year ago, I’d just moved here, didn’t know anybody, and had no idea if it was the right thing to do. Now I have you two and our baby.”

I smiled, leaned in, and kissed his temple. “I love you, omega ours.”

A single tear rolled down his cheek. “I love you, too, and Tripp. I can’t imagine my life without either of you.”

“Don’ havta,” Tripp mumbled. “Here forever.”

I chuckled. “He’s right. You don’t have to imagine it, because we’re here with you. We get to raise a family and grow old together.”

It would be the three of us… forever.