Page 138 of The Omega Exchange: Omnibus (The Exchange)

Oliver

Mallory Eleven Weeks Old

“Want to tell me what you’re doing?” Mel asks, laughing behind her hand.

“We’re having tummy time.” I shove my glasses up as I study her beautiful smiling face. I roll, leaning my head on my hand to make it easier to see her.

“Yeah, I got that part,” Melody says, coming to sit cross-legged at my side. She stretches a hand over, running it down Mallory’s back.

It’s wild when I think too much about how fast she’s growing up.

“Oh, what are you confused about then?” I ask.

Mallory grunts, kicking and flailing her tiny arms. She turns her head to follow the sound of my voice, or perhaps she recognizes my face. She’s obviously a genius in the making. She’s not even three months old yet, and she’s already mastered most of the three-month milestones.

Okay, fine. She has around a sixty percent success rate with them, but I’m biased.

“What’s this?” Mel asks, running her fingers over the book I was reading Mallory. “The basics of quantum mechanics?”

I nod. “She’s going to need to know how atomic particles exist and interact with one another one day.”

Melody snorts, shaking her head. Long blondish-brown hair falls around her arms as she laughs. “Okay, so that’s absolutely adorable and kind of ridiculous.”

We all take turns with the kid books at night, but I’m ensuring she recognizes my voice.

“It’s good for boring her to sleep when she’s fussy. It knocked me out like nothing else when I was in college.” I laugh, Mallory gnaws on her little fist as she kicks.

“Looks like she’s hungry,” Mel says, nodding to Mallory.

“Here let me help you up.” I push myself up until I’m standing and offer Mel a hand. I pull her into my chest and lean down for a tender kiss. “I love you.” My cheek nuzzles hers.

“Love you too, Oli,” Mel says before bending down to pick up the baby. She heads over to the couch to nurse as I tidy up.

Once I’m done, I aim to grab her cup and fill it. Nursing makes Mel thirsty.

I mean she’s thirsty. All. The. Time.

I take the seat next to her and she immediately stops leaning against the arm of the couch to instead rest against my chest as she sucks at her straw.

The grunty little lady gobbles greedily, and I’m completely entranced by the show.

Maybe it’s strange.

I’m not sure, but I am fascinated by the way Mel’s body produces everything Mallory needs to survive nutrition-wise at this point.

Melody snuggles deeper into my shoulder, and I can’t help but grin.

I’m pretty sure this is what pure contentment feels like.