“I’ve missed you guys, too.” Penny hugged him back, her expression uncertain. “So... breakfast as an apology?”
Wyatt grinned. “I wouldn’t say no to that.”
Behind him, Raph had settled at the kitchen table across from Hazel. She was coloring in a pond today, on another of the calendar pages.
“Great job with the coloring,” Raph said.
Hazel beamed. “You think so?”
“Yeah.” Raph ruffled her hair. “Need some help?”
“Sure.” Hazel handed him an emerald pencil. “There, you can have the fern at the bottom. Don’t color outside the lines!”
Raph bent over his corner of the calendar, filling in the fern. He looked so intent doing that, as though he was trying his best for Hazel. And he’d make such a great dad, too.
Wyatt had expected Hazel to pout when Raph stepped into their lives, but she’d been a great sport about it so far. Maybe it was because she still had weeknights with Wyatt, when Raph was back in Highton. If they became a family...
“I think I can kind of see it,” Penny said quietly next to him.
“See what?”
“Why you like him. In a bondmate sort of way.” Penny smiled, her eyes soft. “I didn’t think he’d be great with Hazel.”
“Now you know.” Wyatt cradled his belly, leaning into Penny’s arm.
“What does it feel like? I mean, You don’t have to answer,” Penny said, glancing at his abdomen. “I just... I don’t know. It would feel odd to me.”
“Raph’s child?” Wyatt settled against the counter top. “Don’t get me wrong, I thought it was terrible at first. When you said my scent changed.”
Raph glanced over, raising an eyebrow. Wyatt shrugged; it was the truth. He wasn’t going to hide that.
“But I’ve always loved Raph, Pen. Since we were kids. I don’t think you noticed, but Raph and I were always close. After I presented as omega, he just felt... right.”
Penny flipped the eggs on the stove. “That makes sense. It didn’t happen to me when I presented as omega, though.”
Or maybe Wyatt was twisted. And maybe someday, he’d make peace with that.
“Hazel,” Raph said, pausing in his coloring. Hazel looked up. “Your dad and I have been thinking about getting married.”
Penny’s gaze flew to Wyatt’s. Hazel looked at him, too. Wyatt smiled at his daughter, his pulse racing. It was something he’d discussed with Raph, but maybe he hadn’t been prepared for Penny to hear it.
“When I marry your dad, you’ll get two choices,” Raph said. “I can stay as your uncle, or I can become your second dad. Would you mind if I became your dad?”
Wyatt’s pulse skipped. He didn’t know which Hazel would pick. And maybe he’d been hoping she wanted Raph as her dad, too. Heavens knew she needed a better role model than him.
Hazel thought on it. “Will you still make me lunch?”
“Anything you want, princess.”
“Sure, you can be my second dad.” She picked out a red pencil, starting on a flower.
Wyatt didn’t know if he wanted to laugh, or cry. “That’s your criteria, hon? Whether Raph makes you lunch?”
Hazel nodded. Penny snorted, and Raph grinned.
“This kid is motivated by food,” Raph said. “C’mon, give me a hug, princess.”
He knelt by Hazel. Hazel hopped up, throwing her arms around him. And Wyatt crossed the kitchen, pulling them both against his chest. “Gods, I love you.”
“Love you, too,” Hazel said. After a moment, she squirmed out of their arms, returning to her calendar. Despite how worldly she behaved sometimes, she was still nine, and Wyatt wished she’d always stay the same.
“You expected her to say something different?” Raph asked, his lips quirking in a smile.
“I didn’t know what to think.” Wyatt burrowed into his chest. “Hazel’s full of surprises.”
“Gotta love her,” Raph said.
“So... does this mean we’re getting married?” Wyatt asked.
Raph sighed. “Still not sure that’s a good idea.”
It really wasn’t. Not with Dad’s reputation, and Grandma hovering over Raph at work.
“Will I be invited if you do?” Penny asked.
“Sure,” Raph said.
Penny brightened, scooping the eggs into a serving dish. “I hope you’re planning to tell Mom and Dad about it. I think Dad’s trying to sign us up for another audition.”
Wyatt covered his face. “I’m not sure when we’d have time for that.”
“Before the baby comes along?” Penny laughed. “How much time do we have?”
Wyatt counted off on his fingers. “Another eighteen weeks. So... four months? Before February. Gods, I’d be huge by then. Just imagine—we’d be playing, and my water breaks.”
Raph groaned. “Don’t let that happen.”
“Knowing my luck, it probably will.” Wyatt chuckled, burying his face in Raph’s neck. “When are you moving in?”
Raph swallowed, glancing at Wyatt.
“You’re moving back?” Penny asked.
“Yeah, soon,” Raph said. Except his smile had faded, and he wasn’t looking at Wyatt at all.
Wyatt froze. Through the pregnancy, Raph had said multiple times that he wanted their baby. Wyatt believed him.
But they hadn’t made plans to be together, hadn’t talked about Raph’s job, and what he’d work as when he returned to Meadowfall. With Grandma’s connections, he could get something at an Alpha Associates branch here... but it wouldn’t be anything that paid like a regional manager position.
Wyatt had told Raph that he wasn’t willing to move away from Meadowfall. He couldn’t expect Raph to uproot himself, either.
After the months of Raph visiting every weekend... would it continue, even after the baby was born? Would Wyatt be fine with that? Wyatt thought about lonely nights with two children and no alpha, and his heart sank. “Raph—”
“I’ll make plans to move,” Raph said, sliding his hand down Wyatt’s spine. “Don’t worry about it.”
But he still didn’t meet Wyatt’s eyes, and Wyatt swallowed his nerves, holding on tighter to his alpha.
Things would work out for the best. Right?
23
Wyatt
A quiet lullaby tinkled in the background of the prenatal clinic.
Wyatt held his breath as he stepped in, half-afraid that someone would recognize him and Raph. They’d sprayed on the scent suppressants; Wyatt hated for Raph’s scent to disappear off his skin, but Raph had promised to mark him again after the visit.
Against a background of rainbows and unicorns, the receptionist smiled. “Here for an appointment?”
“Yes, under Wyatt Fleming.”
She tapped on the keyboard. “We’ve got you down for 2 PM—you’re early! While you wait, could you provide us with your updated details?”
Wyatt took the clipboard from her, glancing at the form. He’d changed addresses and phone numbers since his pregnancy with Hazel—a good thing. But it also meant staring at the “Alpha’s name” field, the name he wanted to write too scandalous for words.
With a hand on Wyatt’s back, Raph guided him to the waiting area, nodding for him to sit. To anyone else, they could be friends, or brothers. They certainly didn’t have to be bonded step-siblings. But Wyatt’s heart quickened anyway. Aside from last night at the drive-in, he and Raph hadn’t been affectionate in public at all.
Wyatt filled in the rest of the blanks. Then he looked at the field for his alpha’s name, his heart pattering.
“You don’t have to,” Raph said. “I don’t mind.”
“I’ll just... list you as an emergency contact,” Wyatt said, a bitter taste on his tongue. By not acknowledging Raph, it felt like Wyatt was disappointing him.
Raph caught his hand, giving him a quick squeeze. “You don’t have to prove anything to them,” he said. “You know, and I know. That’s fine.”
It was such a
shame, too, when his alpha was the best person Wyatt could ever hope for. He swallowed his uncertainty, handing the clipboard back to the receptionist. She glanced over the form and smiled. “You’re all set with your registration, Mr. Fleming. Please have a seat.”
“I’ve never asked,” Raph murmured when Wyatt settled next to him. “How’d you raise Hazel by yourself?”
Wyatt smiled wryly. “With sheer determination.”
Raph rolled his eyes. “C’mon, Wy. Not what I was asking.”
“Are you saying I lack determination?”
“Want a slap for talking back?” Raph smirked.
Wyatt’s cock twitched. Gods, this isn’t the right time. His face warmed, and Raph’s eyebrows crawled up his forehead. “Maybe later,” Wyatt said. “Don’t make promises you aren’t keeping.”
“Fine. I won’t.” Raph smiled sheepishly. “But answer my question.”
“I had help,” Wyatt said. “I met Sam before I dropped out of college, so he and Penny knew I was pregnant—”
“Did Pen tell Mom and Dad?”
“Surprisingly, no. I told her it was an accident and I didn’t want to talk about it.”
Raph’s eyes darkened. “You know, they still think Hazel’s an accident.”
Wyatt squirmed. That lie, he didn’t feel bad about. Especially when Mom and Dad talked about Hazel’s pregnancy with Hazel around. “Yeah, I do. I’d rather not have them know about... well, you know.”
It was better to hear about your mystery dad without knowing who he was, than knowing the sort of sick bastard you shared your genes with. At least, Wyatt thought so.
“I understand,” Raph said. His lips were still in a thin line.
“Anyway, they lent me money. I worked a couple jobs and paid them when I could.”
“I should’ve—”
“You need to stop apologizing for that,” Wyatt said, glancing around. The couples in the waiting area were absorbed in their own conversations. “That’s in the past, Raph. I’m stronger for it.”
Raph’s eyes gleamed with a quiet sort of pride, that warmed Wyatt from the inside. Raph looked between Wyatt’s hand, and the other couples. Wyatt understood. There was a risk if they touched too much in public. But no one was watching them right now.
So he took Raph’s hand and gave him a squeeze, savoring his warmth.
It seemed so easy for the other couples, people who weren’t related to each other. Of all the billions of alphas in the world... Wyatt had to fall for his stepbrother. What were the odds of that? Had Meadowfall even seen such a relationship?
“Let’s look at stuffed animals,” he said, shoving those thoughts out of his mind.
Raph grinned, pulling his phone out. “Do you want one for yourself, or the baby? You used to have a bunch of tigers and lions.”
“I want a stuffed cow,” Wyatt said. He’d given Hazel a number of toys over the years, and sometimes he borrowed a couple, hugging them to sleep. “For... the baby.”
“Sure.” Raph’s eyes glimmered, a smile tugging at his lips. “We’ll get each of you one. That way, you don’t have to share.”
Wyatt stifled his laugh. “You like teasing me, don’t you?”
“Depends on when.” Raph’s voice dipped to a low murmur, sending a thrill down Wyatt’s spine.
They scrolled through different websites, looking at various stuffed cows. Wyatt was beginning to imagine a nursery of animal and flower drawings—maybe Hazel would want to help with the murals on the walls. He was about to mention the idea, when Raph’s phone buzzed.
From the top of the screen, a preview of the incoming text message slid down.
Raphael Fleming, your next payment is due in 7 days. Amount due: $5,735.42. Payoff amount: $156,188...
Wyatt’s stomach dropped. $156,000? That’s insane. Worse than all of Hazel’s bills.
“Ah, shit.” Raph flicked the preview away, grimacing.
“You didn’t—didn’t mention that.”
But it was so clear now, why Raph avoided discussions of their future. It wasn’t that he didn’t want their baby; Raph hadn’t wanted to burden Wyatt with a debt like that.
All Wyatt could think about was how Raph had kept this a secret from him, just like how Max had lied about being sterile.
Stop thinking about Max.
Raph’s cheeks darkened. “You don’t need to deal with shit like that.”
“I’m your—I should’ve known it anyway, Raph.” Wyatt frowned, his pulse thudding. They’d been fucking for five entire months. They were even talking to Hazel about marriage. “Is that the only one?”
“Yeah. Just this.” Raph’s gaze was honest. “We shouldn’t be discussing it here.”
So they weren’t a million dollars in debt, at least.
“Fine,” Wyatt said, sucking in a breath. But it made sense now, why Raph had hedged on quitting his job. Moving to Meadowfall. He couldn’t afford to. And maybe it was embarrassing, for an alpha to be too poor to pay for a baby. Wyatt understood that. “I’m just saying I can help. You don’t have to deal with that alone.”
“I can’t.” Raph frowned. “You have your business to worry about.”
“I’m turning profits. I can make it work,” Wyatt said. “Maybe not all at once, but it’ll be better than you doing it by yourself.”
Raph exhaled, long and slow. “I’m barely keeping up with the payments, Wy. And I’m at the highest pay grade for my level.”
For a regional manager, that was saying a lot. If Raph quit his job and found another in Meadowfall... Wyatt wasn’t sure they’d make enough between the both of them, and still afford to raise two children. His heart sank.
“Was that from Alpha Associates?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
“Grandma knows about it?”
“She signed the loan agreement.”
Wyatt closed his eyes, a vicious fury surging through his chest. She’d terrorized Wyatt since he was a child. That was fine.
But Raph had done nothing demeaning, aside from that afternoon with Wyatt in the piano room. Instead of helping her grandson soar, Grandma had shackled Raph with debt like she’d done with their parents. What kind of bitch was she?
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t murder her right now,” Wyatt growled. “She has a weak heart, doesn’t she?”
“I’d prefer to see you in my be—my home, Wy. Not behind bars.” Raph reached down, catching Wyatt’s hand. Wyatt squeezed back, his pulse beating in his fingertips. How did I get myself into this?
The drive-in made a few thousand a month, after he’d deducted the business expenses. But there was his apartment and utilities to pay for, and after all his expenses, it would take forever to make a dent in a hundred and fifty grand.
And Raph hadn’t even planned on mentioning the debt, had he?
Wyatt sagged into his seat. “You’re not forgiven yet.”
Raph looked down at his clenched fists. “I know. I mean... I understand if you don’t want me as your—”
“No, don’t say that,” Wyatt whispered, squeezing Raph’s hand. He couldn’t turn Raph away just because of that.
But Raph had lied, and that still prickled at Wyatt’s skin.
He leaned away from Raph, looking at the pastel mobiles hanging from the ceiling. Then he looked at his belly, wondering how he could bring his baby into this mess. I’m sorry, hon. This won’t be easy for all of us.
He was about to reach for Raph’s hand again when a door opened.
“Wyatt Fleming,” a nurse called.
He jumped, his heart kicking.
“Want me to follow?” Raph asked.
They probably shouldn’t be seen together. But Raph was the baby’s father, and despite his secret, Wyatt still trusted him most.
“Fine,” he said.
They followed the nurse through the doorway, pausing so she could take Wyatt’s blood pressure and weight. Then she led them to the next room, knocking on the door.
Like it
had years ago, Dr. Smith’s office smelled like hay—she was a beta. Raph held the door open, and stepped in after Wyatt.
With graying blond hair and wrinkles around her eyes, Dr. Smith was old enough to have met a number of Meadowfall townsfolk—not in the least, their father. Nine years ago, Wyatt had asked her to keep silent about his visits, when Chief Fleming had started search attempts to track his son down.
Seemed like every time he met her, he was in some kind of trouble.
“Hello, Wyatt,” Dr. Smith said, extending her hand. Wyatt shook it. She glanced at Raph next, and recognition flickered in her eyes. Wyatt held his breath. The doctor didn’t speak to Raph. Instead, she smiled kindly at Wyatt. “How is Hazel?”
“She’s doing well, thank you. She’s nine now, and she loves coloring and cooking.”
“Cooking? That’s advanced for a nine-year-old.”
Wyatt suppressed his wince. Maybe he shouldn’t have mentioned that. Most nine-year-olds didn’t know how to cook. “I’ve been supervising her in the kitchen.”
“Hazel’s great,” Raph said. “Very intelligent. Wyatt’s taught her well.”
Dr. Smith held out her hand. “I believe you’re Raphael? I’ve seen you around in Meadowfall.”
So she knew they were brothers, then. Wyatt tried to keep smiling.
“How is Chief Fleming doing? I’ve seen a couple of his interviews on TV.”
“He’s doing great. I think he’s been busy at the station.” Wyatt took one of the seats by the doctor’s desk, avoiding Raph. Maybe Raph coming along was a bad idea. Maybe Raph should leave.
Raph settled into the next seat, tucking his thumbs in his pockets.
“That’s fantastic. Now, I’ll need you to tell me about your pregnancy.” Dr. Smith clicked through the tabs on her computer. “Do you remember when you conceived?”
Wyatt didn’t remember it offhand. He froze, wishing he’d written it down. “It was a weekend in May. Um. I know I’m at twenty weeks.”
“The second weekend,” Raph said.
Relief and despair twisted through Wyatt’s gut. Raph, shut up. “The Saturday of that week,” he said. “I didn’t.... think you remembered.”
Omega's Stepbrother : An MPREG romance (Men of Meadowfall Book 3) Page 20
