Page 83 of The Omega's Secret Baby

“You packed a picnic? I only have half an hour.”

“That’s enough,” he said, glancing at the forest bordering the shelter. “C’mon. I got takeout from your favorite burger joint.”

“Andrew’s?” I asked, saliva gathering in my mouth. Andrew’s had the best burgersever.

“Not like there’s another burger joint in town,” Matt said with a smile. “So will you join me?” He held his free hand out to me.

“Can’t say no when you’re being this romantic.” I chuckled, and let him lead me a short way into the woods. As it turned out, he’d packed a blanket in his rucksack, and now he spread it out on a patch of grass for us to sit. “You really thought this through,” I noted.

“Yeah.” He sat. “Not the only thing I’ve thought about either.”

He handed me a burger and I sat with him. And I couldn’t resist holding the burger up to my nose and breathing in the smell. Oh God so good.

“Do I need to get jealous of that burger?” Matt joked.

“Sorry, still ravenous.” I tore the wrapping off my food and took a large bite. “I’m going to get so fat.”

“You look perfect.” Matt kissed the side of my forehead. “Really, you’ve never looked better.”

“I’m going to get bigger.”

“I’m looking forward to it.” He kissed my lips and I let out a little sigh. Why couldn’t things always be this easy? But he’d said he’d thought about things so maybe…

“Was there something you needed to tell me?” I asked. “Is that why you came?” I just hoped he wasn’t trying to prepare me for some bad news with the good food.

“Actually, I have something for you.” He reached for his Rucksack again.

“Did you hide more burgers in there?”

“Not more burgers, I’m afraid. But I thought you might like this too.” He spread a bunch of thick books out on the blanket in front of me. On closer inspection, they were all medical books.

“What…”

“I called up the college and asked them what books you were going to need.”

“The college?” What was he talking about? “But I’m not going. I told you that.” And yet I couldn’t stop myself from reaching for one of the books and paging through it.Ah, the smell of new books.

So much knowledge between these pages. Knowledge that could help me realize my dream, if only… I sighed.

“I want you to go,” Matt said, face serious.

“I won’t have time when the baby comes.” I put the book down again.

“Yeah, you will.”

“I thought I’d told you I don’t want a full-time nanny.”

“And we’re not going to hire one.” He grabbed my hands. “I’ll do it.”

I blinked. “You’ll what?” Was I dreaming all of this?

“I’ll take care of the baby while you’re studying.”

“But you have your job.” I was tempted to touch his forehead and see if he was running a fever or something. Where was this coming from?

His lips curled up in a grin so wide it rivaled the Cheshire Cat’s. “I quit.”

“You what?” My eyes must have been as wide as saucers. Matt quitting his job?