Page 22 of Unforgettable Omega

Okay, so he was mixing metaphors, but Shay looked tense as fuck.

Something was going on here, and he would figure it out. If Shay was reacting like this all these years later, it couldn't simply be that the omega was just not into him, could it?

“This isn’t over,” Drew said, before turning back to the large photo on the opposite wall from where the TV was. It was a picture of Shay and their son, and even though the pictures on the mantle were mainly of their son, this one was clearly a family photo, and Drew’s anger returned, because that photo should have had him in it too.

Drew looked around the room they were in. There was a corner that had a little table and chair, and a box overflowing with toys. It was also cozy and homey, and Drew wasn’t sure where he fit, because Shay hadn’t given him a chance to fit.

Drew couldn’t fathom why Shay would have his child and not think to find a way to inform him. All the way over that had played over and over in his mind…

Why?

He wasn’t hard to find. He had a public profile, and a large building with his family name on it. If Shay had wanted to track him down, he could have.

He also had the benefit of knowing Nic’s address, and Nic had not moved from his home. Granted it was more kid-friendly than it had been when they’d had the party, but his friend was there. Drew was certain that if Shay had shown up over there, Nic would have told him, especially because his friend knew what Shay’s desertion had done to him.

Drew asked the question he’d asked Shay at Grayson's, because even though he knew it was the case, he needed to hear the omega admit it.

“Is he mine?”

Shay lifted his eyes to meet Drew’s from across the room, then looked away again.

“I think you already know the answer to that question.”

“I believe I would like to hear you say the words.”

“Why?” Shay frowned.

“It may be clear as day for anyone to see that,” Drew swallowed, before continuing, “that I fathered your child, our child, but I would like to hear it out of your mouth, I think I deserve that.”

Shay made a jerky movement that Drew assumed was supposed to be a nod. He watched as the man licked his lips before speaking.

“He’s yours. Andy is yours.”

Drew knew the child was his. He’d never doubted the fact for even a second, not after getting a good look at the boy… his son. But hearing Shay utter those words still had the ability to cut him off at the knees.

Drew dropped into the sofa behind him, emotions twisting in his gut. Anger at Shay for excluding him. Gratitude too for keeping his child, because Drew knew that Shay didn’t have to. There was also overwhelming curiosity to know this person that was half of him, and love like he didn’t think possible overwhelmed him.

But, right now the anger was fueling him, because with all those emotions came an overwhelming sense of loss.

“Did you think I wouldn’t want to know? Is that why you… kept him away?”

Shay shrugged again, and the move had Drew wanting to walk over and shake him. He wanted to scream his frustration at the other man, ask him why… why he would do this to him.

Drew wasn’t a monster. He didn't think he had done anything to deserve this. All he wanted to know waswhy?

Just why…?

“Did you think I would get mad, or force you to do something you didn’t want to do…? Because I wouldn’t have, I would never.”

The more he spoke, the more tense Shay became. Drew was getting frustrated. This felt like banging his head against a wall—a wall that refused to give him answers.

Didn’t Shay see that he was trying, trying to be civil, trying to keep his temper in check?

“Do you understand what it feels like for me? What it feels like to have a child, that doesn’t know me, and I don’t know. To realize that if not for some twist of fate, I would never know…” Drew sighed, “At least tell me this, did you plan on informing me? Did you plan on ever letting me know I have a son?”

Shay met his eyes and looked away, the guilt in them piercing him, as he realized that Shay hadn’t planned on even letting him know at any point that he had a child.

“What about when he asks about me, were you going to lie and tell him I was dead? Because, it feels like in your mind, I don’t exist… or maybe you would have gone with immaculate conception. The return of the Christ child…” Drew couldn't hide the bitterness in his tone, his breathing heavy, emotions getting the best of him.