by Aria Grace
The ride to his mom’s was longer than I expected, which worked out well for Sylvia because she took the opportunity to nap. Along the way, we talked about everything except where we were going and what it would mean. We talked about the fire that destroyed his childhood home and what a mess that was. We talked about the young omegas at Omega House and how my time there seemed to be more valuable than my time in class lately and how I struggled with the pull to be there more. We talked about his internship at StarX and how much he loved the work he’d been doing. If we hadn’t been driving to an event that was stressful on more levels than I could count, I’d have thought it to be a wonderful drive.
As we pulled into what Coop affectionately called the family compound, it hit me for the first time how well off his brother was. It was shocking given how Killian acted in class. He paid attention like every morsel of information was valuable. True, he hadn’t grown up with the money he now had, but money changes most people, and it was nice to see that for Killian it wasn’t in a bad way.
As we wrapped around the insanely long driveway, Coop’s mother’s home, which had at one point been the caretaker’s cabin, came into view. It was adorable, complete with flower boxes. From the way Coop described his childhood home, this was far superior to anything she’d had before and that made him very happy. Coop might have handled things very wrong when it came to keeping his mother informed, but he loved her completely and that made my heart soar.
After we parked, Coop got out, snapped on a baby carrier, and then walked around to where Sylvia was snuggled in her seat. He took her out, but instead of fastening her into the carrier, he handed her to me. I wasn’t sure what he was doing until he winked and grabbed the diaper bag. Clever mate was showing his family he was every bit as invested in his child as I was while giving her to me to make the introduction easier.
Oh yeah. He was a keeper.
He opened the door and gestured for me to walk inside before closing the door behind us and calling out, “Mama, I have someone I want you to meet.”
“Coop, you’re early,” she called from what I assumed was the kitchen. “Perfect, you can set the table. Bring your friend in here so I can get acquainted while you prove yourself useful.”
She sounded welcoming and not in the forced way so many people utilized when in an awkward situation like meeting a child’s prospective mate. Coop led the way, and before I could get too nervous to continue, we were in the kitchen, his mama’s back to us as she stirred something on the stove.
“Mom.” She turned around, her smile wavering as she saw me and then blooming as she saw Sylvia.
“This is Ash, and this, is Sylvia. My daughter.” She only took a moment to look between Coop and Sylvia before her eyes twinkled and she set down the spoon she was holding.
“Pass me that bundle of sunshine.” Mama wiped her hands on her apron before coming over with grabby hands, her joy sincere. “Oh, aren’t you the most beautiful little thing. “ She cooed at her granddaughter. “You look so much like your dad who, for the record, is on my poop list for hiding you from me. Oh, yes he is. He is so going to get in trouble for that one. Although, given how sweet you are, I may forgive him before his twenty fifth birthday.”
She might not be at all happy with the situation, but her love for Sylvia was instant.
“Two years. You aren’t going to forgive me for two years?” he scoffed as how young he was sank in.
“Check Grandma out, Sylvia. She’s getting lenient in her old age.” Coop tickled her belly and was rewarded with her contagious giggle.
“Professor, what are you doing—” Killian stopped short as his eyes went to Coop and then back to me, not even trying to hide his anger. “No fucking way.”
“Language, Killian,” Mama scolded, not even pretending to be understanding. “You aren’t too old for me to give you consequences. Your niece doesn’t need her first word to be a cuss.”
“Niece?” Killian stomped over and lowered his voice, speaking only to Coop but not quiet enough for the rest of us not to hear the intensity in his words. “Coop. A word.”
Coop looked at me as if I held any answers for him. This was his family, and as much as I wanted to shut the alpha down for being an ass to my mate, this was his situation to handle and handle it he would.
“It’s fine,” I reassured, only half believing my own words. “Go on. I’ll just chat with your mom.”
Coop stepped away from his brother and closer to me, as if to kiss me on my cheek. “You sure?” he whispered in my ear before delivering his kiss.
“Yeah. I’m sure.” I squeezed his arm before allowing him to step back and deal with Killian.
Their mama spoke up before they could even turn to the door. “Killian Daye, you be nice to your brother.”
“Yes, Mama.” His words only sounded half-sincere.
And with that, they both left the room, leaving me alone with the dotting grandmother of my child. That sounded like a great idea at the time, but as silence hung in the air between us, I wasn’t so sure. But when the sound of the front door clicked, the atmosphere in the room changed, the air somehow less heavy.
“So, you’re the reason my son hasn’t been himself for the past year.”
That wasn’t what I expected. I anticipated more standard parental questions. How old are you? Why didn’t you bring her to me sooner? Do you love him? Those were the questions I was prepared for. This one felt so out of left field and not the warm happy I had convinced myself this conversation would be only moments earlier.
“I don’t think so, ma’am.” But I immediately regretted not being around, wishing I could’ve been there for Coop through whatever it was that so obviously had concerned his mother. Although, to be fair, she didn’t sound angry.
“Mama,” she corrected. Not that she was close to old enough to be my mama.
“Mama.” It felt oddly good rolling off my tongue. “Until recently, I hadn’t seen him since over a year ago.”
“Pardon my frankness, but you don’t seem the type of man to hide a baby.” She looked down at Sylvia who was almost asleep, snuggled in her grandmother’s arms.
“No, Mama. I’m not. I...” There were no words, even in my overly educated mind, that could explain the year without Coop in any way that wasn’t awkward. “Let’s just say, we didn’t get to the last name and number stage when we first met.”
Telling your almost mother-in-law you had a one-night stand with her very much younger son and then fathered his child was officially worse than facing the review board. At least there, I had what was right on my side. This was somehow different, and it was awful.
“So, it was you that had him in a funk.” She pointed to my now sleeping daughter, victory on her face, and I gave her a thumbs-up, which was lamer than lame but at the time, the best I could come up with. “Glad you hunted him down.” She smiled brightly. At least my mate’s mother didn’t hate me since I was fairly confident that was the case with his brother.
“More like got fired for being an unwed, pregnant omega, and coincidentally, was hired at his university.”
“They fired you? And they say omegas are getting equal treatment now.”
It was official. I liked Mama. No wonder Coop was such a good man well before most men were even close to being ready for a real job much less a family.
“Two guesses of what I taught?” I bantered as she reluctantly handed Sylvia back so she could tend to the stove.
“Given the glint in your eye, I’m thinking something related to the treatment of omegas.”
“She gets it in one—Omega Studies.”
“So you’re his professor now?” She turned off the stove after stirring it one last time. It smelled amazing. I guessed chili from the aroma filling the air.
“Not exactly.” I didn’t want to get into my connection to Killian when things were going so well. “She likes you,” I mused as my daughter continued her slumber, her face smiling slightly.
“I have a
big head.” Mama pointed to her head, which wasn’t what I would call huge, but it wasn’t tiny either. “Babies like big heads.”
If she said so. Although, as I thought about it, Sylvia’s favorite daycare workers didn’t exactly have small heads. Maybe there was truth to her theory.
“They also love people who love them unconditionally even before learning the circumstances.”
“She has nothing to do with how she came to be even if that were an issue for me. Would I have liked my son to have told me? Absolutely. Would I have preferred you not be alone and jobless during your pregnancy? Without a doubt. But he is happy now. That’s all a mother can hope for her children.”
He is happy now. My heart soared at the unintentional words of praise.
“Mama, doesn’t it bother you that he is old enough to be Coop’s father?” Killian had somehow managed to come in as I was basking in the compliment. For a huge guy, he was very catlike.
“Step down, son,” she all but growled. There was no questioning who was alpha in this household. None. “Age is just a number and none of that is your concern at all.”
“Sure it is. He’s my teacher.”
It sounded very much like the conversation had gone far worse than I feared.
Coop stepped in front of me, shielding me from his brother’s wrath. Good alpha.
“He’s my omega. I never once put down your omega, so do not even start.”
“I’m leaving,” Killian barked before turning to walk away. After giving it a second thought, he added, “You want to ruin your life, have at it. I’ll have no part of it.”
The front door slammed a second later. Yeah, that didn’t go well.
“Your brother can be a real ass,” Mama announced before grabbing three plates and pushing them at Coop. “Now, Coop, we need that table set if we are going to eat.”
“Yes, Mama,” he conceded before turning to me. “Sorry about him.”
“It was to be expected. He loves you and knows me as his old professor who got it on with his little brother.” Or at least that was my assumption as to why Killian was so pissed. I was sure Coop would tell me the details of their conversation if I asked, but in the kitchen with his mother and sleeping daughter was not the time nor the place.
“Love you.” He kissed my cheek before walking out. This time, I was sure he said it. Coop loved me, and in some weird way, those two words assured me that the rest of this would all work out, that it was just details.
“Coop is right.” Mama came over and gave me a side hug, careful to not disturb Sylvia. “Killian had no right to pull what he did. Coop loves you, both of you, and that’s all that matters.”
12
Coop
Dinner went better than I expected after Killian left. Mama is as in love with Sylvia as Ash and I are, but I knew she would be. She’s a sucker for a baby and one who is her own flesh and blood had no chance of going unspoiled. It’s such a relief that my family now knows about Ash and Sylvia, even if they aren’t all supportive.
I don’t know what the fuck is up with my brother. When he found his mate, I was completely on board from the beginning. For him to treat Ash like a piece of trash really fucking hurt. I’d always looked up to Kilian as a father figure as much as a big brother, so I wasn’t prepared for that kind of reaction from him.
But I couldn’t dwell on that. I’d deal with him when he came to his senses. I hoped Marcus would help him see reason once he heard about what had happened. And until that time, I had one goal and one goal only. To love my omega hard enough that he wouldn’t forget about me when I was out of town for a few days. And if those memories happened to heighten every time he walked or sat down, so be it.
For the next four days, my mind was only half engaged anytime I wasn’t around Ash. He let me keep Sylvia with me when I wasn’t in class but that was both a blessing and a curse. I loved spending one on one time with her and she was already responding with a smile when she heard my voice. But that made it even harder for me to think about leaving them for the job interview.
“You know we’ll be fine.” Ash kissed my chin then worked his way across my jaw before nipping at my earlobe. “I took care of her alone for months before I found you. We’ll survive two days on our own.”
I cringed every time I was reminded of all the months Ash spent as a single parent. “I know you’ll survive.” I curled my fingers in the hair on the back of his head and gently tugged him back to my mouth. “But I don’t think I will…”
He opened his mouth to speak but I silenced him with a kiss, swallowing whatever nonsensical protest he was about to offer. I would be in physical as well as emotional pain as soon as I got in my car and started driving away. But I had to do it.
This job could be the game changer for my little family. If I could work at home while Ash kept his job at the university, I would be able to make up some of the time I lost with Sylvia. I’d be around for her first steps and her first words. I could take her to the park every day and to visit Ash during his lunch break. Everything would be perfect.
But first, I had to get the job, and then I had to convince the hiring manager that I should be allowed to telecommute full time. This is one of the situations where my confident alpha genes would come in handy. All the senior managers at StarX were alphas, so intimidation wasn’t an issue. But the spectrum of alphas was as wide as the day was long. Some alphas were like military drill sergeants one hundred percent of the time. Others looked intimidating, like my brother, but were big ol’ teddy bears...unless an older professor was mated to their younger brother, apparently. But some alphas were more like betas in stature and omegas in confidence.
Those were the ones you had to watch out for.
Like most people trying to compensate for their shortcomings, they were just bullies who couldn’t be trusted. They liked to bring themselves up by pushing others down. I’d never met anyone like that at StarX during the time I was there, but they’d been on a huge hiring streak, so it was possible a few alphaholes had made it past the psychological screenings. And although my manager when I was interning was awesome and I had complete respect for him, the manager I was interviewing with for this position was new to the company.
I pushed the thoughts of managers and interviews out of my mind and focused on my sexy omega. He was begging for my knot, and I’d promised myself that I’d never deny Ash anything...so I rolled him over and gave him my knot.
Twice.
“Why won’t she stop crying?” I paced the room with Sylvia bundled in my arms for over an hour and nothing helped. “Maybe we need to take her to the hospital.”
Ash searched his go-to baby site for reasons why an infant would just cry for hours on end and the list was terrifying. We’d already ruled out the obvious reasons like being wet, hungry, hot or cold. The apartment was a balmy seventy-three and she didn’t have a fever. Her face was red from screaming but her body felt fine. Her diaper was dry and she refused to eat.
“No, she’s just...fussy. Not in real pain.” He read through another page. “According to this post, I would bet money it’s either gas, teeth, or overstimulation. She was really alert at the store today. Maybe all those images have her mind racing.”
“What?” I wanted to cry alongside her. I’d never felt so helpless as I did when my baby needed something and I didn’t know how to give it to her. “Fuck it.” I handed Sylvia to Ash and pulled out my phone. “I’m calling my brother. I don’t give a shit what he thinks of me right now. He has a baby and has probably dealt with this at least once before.”
“Maybe try Marcus.” Ash tried to feed Sylvia again but she refused to latch on, scrunching up her little face and letting out a wail instead. “Or Killian. I don’t care who you ask. Just see what they have to say.”
Killian picked up on the first right. “What?”
“I know you don’t want to talk to me but I need advice. Sylvia has been crying all night and we’ve tried everything. Has that ever happened t
o you?”
Killian dropped the attitude but still wasn’t overly friendly. “Does she sound like she’s in pain or just whining?”
I glanced at my daughter and she was definitely uncomfortable. “I guess she’s whining. She just won’t relax or settle down.”
“Is her tummy hard?”
“What?” I turned to Ash. “Is her tummy hard?”
He felt it with his fingers and gently pressed. “Yeah, it is. Oh god, maybe this is serious.”
He looked as panic stricken as I felt. “Yeah, it’s hard. What does that mean? Do we need to call 9-1-1? Will she be okay?”
Ash was already reaching for her car seat to get her ready for the trip to the emergency room.
“I’ve got to go.” I was about to hang up when I heard Killian’s low chuckle on the other end of the line. What the fuck could he possibly be laughing about when my baby, his niece, might be dying?
“Wait, Coop.” He cleared his throat and sounded serious again. “Just try something first. I think I know what the problem is.”
“Okay, hold on a sec.” I held up a hand to Ash to slow him down. Hitting the speaker icon on the phone freed up my hands so I could reach for Sylvia. “What should I do?”
“First, lay her on a flat surface, like a table or the bed.”
I walked her to the changing table and put her down. She screamed even louder. “Okay, done.”
I could hear the amusement in Killian’s voice as he said, “Now, bend her legs and push them up toward her belly. Like, she’s curled up.”
I glanced at Ash and he just shrugged, obviously not familiar with this particular medical diagnosis technique. I slowly pressed her thighs up toward her belly, praying I wasn’t hurting her even more. “Okay, what is this supposed to—”
Before I could finish my sentence, the loudest fart I’d ever heard from a human...ever...erupted out of my sweet baby girl.
