Page 13 of Curtis & Jae (Mate Match #1)

Thirteen

Jae

The email was a culmination of years of hard work and weeks of redrafting.

My few pages of edits I’d submitted were a hit with the publishers!

They wanted to give me a contract for the book and a sequel!

The best part was that they’d found a gap in their schedule for me, meaning my book would be published in a matter of months.

Just before the baby was born if everything went to plan.

To say Curtis was excited was an understatement.

He was over the moon for me. Having a partner so ready to celebrate my success was a new experience for me.

Curtis was happy to stand in my shadow to bask in my light.

He came home early from work the day I got the email, with a cake and another plant for my office.

It really was my space now that my things were taking up all the available room.

It was just as well my boyfriend was a contractor because we were going to run out of space in this house quickly with all my stuff added to his, plus things for the baby.

With how busy things were for his company, Curtis was having to work on a Saturday.

I was well ahead of the revisions thanks to a peaceful office to draft in.

Percy was obsessed with the catio Curtis had bought for him, and spent most of his day out there in a shady spot where he could watch the birds on a feeder, which gave me some much needed peace to concentrate.

It was harder in the morning when my sickness was at its worst. I’d read it was due to low blood sugar and kept snacks for me to nibble on in the morning.

Once it hit afternoon I felt better, not completely myself, and there were odd spells of nausea, but more able to function than in the morning.

I had the house to myself, and honestly, I was feeling a little cooped up.

Bored too. The house was clean. I was going to drive myself up the wall if I tried to do more work.

What I really needed was to go outside. It was tempting to visit Curtis at work.

We’d discussed me meeting his best friend and the rest of the crew, but I knew they were too busy and I didn’t want to set them back further.

“Why don’t you have lunch with Brady?” Curtis suggested when I called him from the grocery store down the street from his house.

“He’s probably busy.”

“What if he’s not? You don’t know until you ask.”

“Okay, fair. I’ll try.”

Brady answered on the third ring. “Hey, boo!”

“You busy?”

“Never when it comes to you. Want to get lunch?”

I laughed. “That’s what I was calling to ask.”

“Great minds! I know a place we should go to.”

We met at a packed bistro not all that far from the publisher where Brady worked, which was the same place I’d met him. We’d been friends ever since, bonding over heats, being omegas, the book world and troublesome alphas.

He leaped up from his seat to hug me as soon as I entered the place. I returned it, rubbing my wrist over his scent gland on his neck automatically. Brady relaxed just a fraction at the move.

“Missed you!” He sat and pushed a menu towards me. “I know what I want. The food is great here! Ah, I’ve missed your face!”

“It’s only been a few days!” I laughed before scanning the sheet in front of me. So many things sounded amazing. “What’ve you been up to?”

I was waiting, ready for Brady to launch into some steamy tales of dating those two alphas, Gio and Xavier. He’d been on a few more dates with them and fully expected to go through his heat with the pair. Instead, he was quieter. Tense in a way I wasn’t used to.

“Um… there’s something I need to tell you.”

“Everything okay?”

“Yes, and no. I’m fine… just… I think Gio and Xavier have someone else.” Brady bit his lip nervously, waiting for my response.

“Oh,” I said after a moment. “Did you know they were still seeing other people? You were only dating them, right?”

Brady sighed. “Yeah. I was, and not exactly. It hadn’t been discussed, just implied with how they were behaving, being all territorial.”

“So, how do you know there’s someone else?”

He told me about his recent dates with them where he’d seen information for a birthing clinic, women’s underwear, and pregnancy vitamins like the ones I took. There were signs all over their apartment that they had another person in their lives.

“Oh, shit! Sorry, babe, that’s awful. What’re you going to do?”

“Well, I contacted the admins of the group I met them through and they won’t do anything until I’ve got proof. So, that’s where you come in.”

“How?” I asked, mystified.

“Well, you need a decent clinic and I researched the fuck out of this one and it’s perfect for you.

All you have to do is make an appointment at the clinic in about forty minutes, when Gio and Xavier are supposed to be there.

” Brady sat back with a smug look on his pretty face.

These alphas were going to regret hurting him.

He thought they were going to be something, except they were just stringing him along.

“How did you figure out their appointment time?”

His chuckle was hollow. “Gio likes his calendars. He got a reminder which he dipped out of pretty quick. He’s been on edge since. I think he suspects I know about her and the baby.”

“Why didn’t they break things off with you?” It was so maddening to think of these alphas stringing my friend along.

“Xavier just does whatever Gio wants. I don’t think Xavi is as into this woman as Gio probably believes.

Pretty sure he prefers male omegas. I think Gio picked her and Xavier went along with it.

” I could see tears welling up in his eyes.

“Thing is, I thought they wanted a baby with me, so I’ve been making all these plans, and it’s all bullshit!

” Angry tears fell from his forest green eyes, making them red-rimmed.

“How much longer were they going to string me along? Until after my heat? When I was pregnant, too?”

Fuck, I was furious at these two alphas! How dare they treat Brady like that!

“Okay, I’ll do it, but first, cake.”

Brady wanted them to know he knew about their pregnant omega.

He wasn’t there to make a scene, just subtly get his proof, then leave.

I’d get my appointment set up and help out my friend.

Two wins for the day. Once that was done, I’d take him home to my place, okay Curtis’, for the night. I was starting to think of it as home.

Jae

Brady’s upset, can he stay with us tonight?

I sent the message over our lunch of the gooiest chocolate cake, fully not expecting a reply until much later. My alpha seemed to have a sixth sense when it came to me, though, and messaged back quickly.

Curtis

Of course. I can crash in the office and you can have a sleepover. I’ll take home pizza if you like.

My boyfriend was the best. After our confession of our feelings, it felt natural to say it often. I sent him back a text thanking him for being the best alpha and telling him that I loved him, which of course he replied with a little love you gif.

The clinic was clean and welcoming, with soft tones decorating the walls and art of beach scenes adding to the serenity they were going for.

At the desk, a receptionist took my details and found me an appointment.

I checked with Curtis that he could make the time I’d picked for our first checkup, even though I knew he’d move heaven and earth to make it.

“Okay, your appointment is all set up. Thanks for putting your details onto the tablet. They’ll start a file for you, which the midwife will see when you come in.

Don’t forget to bring a urine sample! I’ll give you a pot.

” He went into the back and returned with a sample container just as an examination door opened and three people left, all holding hands with beaming smiles.

Brady, acting quickly, took a photo of the trio. “Aww, what a lovely family!” His acting was on point because I almost believed he was being genuine. I could see how brittle his smile was, though. His eyes were still red from crying.

Truthfully, I didn’t know which one was Gio and which one was Xavier. Nor did I care. Both of them had hurt Brady. If only they’d been honest and not strung him along.

The room went deathly silent, with the trio on one side and me with Brady on the other.

The two alphas stared at Brady without speaking, while the pretty dark-haired omega glanced between them.

She was very pregnant. They’d likely been seeing her and known she was pregnant before Brady entered their lives.

“Do you know him?” the omega asked in a timid voice, picking up on the tension.

“Oh, no! Sorry, I just thought you looked sweet together. A perfect family.” Brady managed another of his fake smiles.

Then he took my hand and practically dragged me from the clinic.

I thought I heard one of the alphas protesting behind us.

Not that I cared what they said or did. Brady was done with them, so I was, too.

We walked the short distance to the parking lot where Brady had left his car. I left him to his feelings, just holding onto him, offering silent comfort.

At the car, he paused. “Can you drive? I don’t think I should.”

“Of course.”

It had been a while since I’d last driven and took me a minute to get used to Brady’s little car.

I used GPS to get back to Curtis’ because I wasn’t used to driving the route, I was always the passenger, either on the bus, in a cab, or when Curtis dropped me off.

Living where we did and with a baby on the way, I really needed to pick out a car. Curtis had suggested it more than once.

Brady didn’t speak the whole time. I could tell he was crying.

There was a sour note in his pheromones.

When we got back to the house, I just led him inside, encouraged him to take off his shoes and pants, and climb into bed with me.

I curled around him, my heart breaking for my friend.

He sobbed in my arms until we both fell asleep.

“Hey baby, I brought dinner. Would you like to eat it in here?” Curtis’ scent and touch was instantly soothing. He rubbed my back gently. When I sat up, I saw Brady sitting next to me, some tissues bunched in his fist.

“We can eat at the table if you want. I’m not that hungry anyway,” Brady offered.

“Nah, let’s just stay here. C’mon,” I patted the spot next to me for Curtis to join us on the bed.

“No, it’s fine. I’ll leave you to your sleepover. Me and Percy have made a nest in the office so you two can have the bed.”

“I’m not kicking you out of your bed!” Brady protested around a mouthful of pizza. I knew the smell of melted cheese would tempt him into eating. “Besides,” he said when he swallowed, “I want Percy cuddles tonight. Just let me have dinner and some Jae cuddles here, then I’ll sleep in the office.”

“If you’re sure. I’m happy to sleep there, though.” Curtis was being completely genuine. It wouldn’t bother him in the slightest to make room for my best friend. It made me love him more.

“Nah. I appreciate it, Curtis. You’re really great. I think I need the space to feel my feelings. Knowing you two are in the next room is enough for me.” I adored how accepting Brady was of my relationship with Curtis.

“Okay.” Curtis settled on the bed and reached for the pizza. “As long as you know, you’re always welcome here. I wouldn’t have minded sleeping apart from Jae for the night if it helped you.”

“I do, and that’s what makes you so special, Curtis. One day, I hope to have what you and Jae have.”

Hours later, in the dark of our bedroom, I whispered words of love into my mate’s skin as I kissed all the way down his chest, over his rounded stomach, and down to that exquisite cock. My hands massaged those meaty thighs I loved so much while I took him deep.

After he came, I snuggled into his arms, sure I’d found a home, a mate, true love, with him.