Page 66 of The Omega's Fake Mate

I laughed, and for the next ten minutes, we exchanged more meaningless banter. And then it was nearly midnight.

“Any resolutions for the new year?” I asked my boyfriend.

“I don't really believe in those.”

“C'mon, that's no fun. Let's make resolutions and we can check in with each other.”

“Okay then.” Zander sighed, though I could tell he wasn'tactuallyannoyed. “I'm not sure what mine should be.”

“Oh, I have an idea. How about I choose something for you and you choose something for me? It can be a challenge!”

“A challenge?” Zander ran a hand through his hair. “I suppose that might be interesting. How about I challenge you to read a book a month?”

“That's easy! I can do that!” Iprobablycould, if I really wanted to.

“And you're not allowed to spill soup or other foods or liquids on them.”

“Now you're ramping up the difficulty.”

“You gonna back down?” One of Zander's eyebrows arched up.

“Never.”

“I guess that means you accept my challenge then. I can give you a list of books if you want.”

“Oh, I'm sure you'dloveto make a list for me. Maybe I should challenge you not to make any more lists,” I teased.

“Careful there. You're gonna get your name on my list of people I have to exact revenge on.”

Knowing Zander, I had no doubt that this list actually existed—and it was so very tempting to go through with this challenge now, but I had a better idea. “I challenge you to do something new at least once a month.”

“Something new?”

“Yeah, you can't just spend your whole life in your store. I want you to go out and like... eat at a restaurant you've never eaten at before. Walk your dog in a different part of town and strike up a conversation with a friendly stranger. Just no flirting,” I added with a wink.

“That sounds manageable. Though I can't believe you actually thought I'd flirt with strangers.”

“No, you're right. I didn't really think that. I know you suck at flirting, but that's okay, because I do too.” I glanced at the clock on the lower half of my laptop. Almost time. “Want to do the countdown together?”

“Sure. Oh, one more thing.”

“Yeah?

Zander looked directly into the camera. “I want you to know the one thing I really want from the new year is you. I don't care whatever else happens, I just want to be with you.”

I felt a smile form on my lips as the bubbly joy that flowed through my arteries went straight to my heart. “I want the same thing,” I said, and I meant it. He was right; it didn't matter whatever else happened as long as we were together. No matter what, we would be fine.

No matter what.

“Ready to do the countdown?” Zander asked, pulling me out of my thoughts, and then he started. “Ten—”

“Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five,” we said in unison.

What if it doesn't matter whether or not I'm pregnant?

“Four. Three. Two. One.”

What if I am?