by C. W. Gray
“What do you think of Artie?” Mateo asked his youngest sister.
Valentina shrugged. “He’s not perfect, but he really cares about Gabriela and that’s important.”
Cupcake, Valentina’s kitten, ran into the room and jumped on the table before launching herself across the room and onto Valentina’s shoulder. Mateo’s sister didn’t even blink. This was their new normal.
Mateo scowled at the kitten and ignored its hiss. “What about you, Valentina? Are there any crushes I need to worry about?”
Valentina blushed and gave him a horrified look. “What are you talking about?”
Mateo swallowed hard. “I just want to make sure you know that you can tell me anything, hermanita. If you have any questions about sex or relationships, I’ll be happy to answer them.”
“Why would you… No… just no.”
“I’m here for you, Valentina.”
She tossed the dishrag in the sick and backed away, reaching up to steady the kitten on her shoulder. “I’m going to visit Grandpa and Grandma.” She ran for the front door, and Mateo knew she was going to Carol and Pete’s RV. Iggy’s grandparents were parked in the back and plugged into the house.
“Do you think they’re back from dinner?” Abel asked, struggling not to laugh.
Mateo shrugged. “I don’t think she cares.”
Abel started laughing. “No. Oh, donkey balls, did you see her face?”
Mateo winced. “Was it that bad?” He knelt beside Abel and pressed his hands to his omega’s belly. It still amazed him that there was a little girl growing in there – a little girl he had helped create.
“Yes,” Abel said, laughing harder. “I’ll talk to her about it, handsome. Don’t worry.”
Mateo sighed when Gordo crawled into his lap. “I’m lucky to have you, mi alma.”
Abel ran his fingers through Mateo’s hair. “Don’t you forget it. Now might be a good time to tell you that I invited Charlie and his brothers to the winter festival at the end of the month.”
Mateo grumbled. “Fucking Charming Charlie.”
Ernie and Reuben
“I love my knitting room, Reuben, and I couldn’t possibly give it up.” Ernie finished buttoning Clover’s ladybug onesie. They may have finished the photoshoot for Grey’s book already, but he wasn’t ready to give up the ladybug costumes. Clover and Tony looked adorable in them.
“Then we could put the kids all in one room,” Reuben said, making a face as he struggled with Pudge’s sweater. The puppy liked licking any bit of skin he could find and his tail wagged fast, whapping at Reuben’s hands as he tried to avoid the puppy’s tongue.
“That just doesn’t work,” Ernie said and patted his slightly rounded belly. “We’ll already have two of them sharing a room, and we couldn’t put all three in one room.”
The upstairs Roomba quietly rolled across the floor. Sunny, Ernie’s cat, sat on it. She was still dressed in her butterfly costume from the photoshoot and didn’t seem to mind the fancy wings strapped to her back. Their other cat, Ahab, crouched beneath the twins’ L-shaped crib, glaring his displeasure. He hadn’t liked wearing his own costume.
“I don’t want to share our bed with Big Foot,” Reuben said, voice frustrated. “I can’t believe we’re arguing about this.”
“I need to have a plan ready if we find him next week.” Ernie patted Clover’s belly and checked in on Tony one more time. His sweet boy was already asleep after his warm bottle and diaper change. “What if we find Big Foot and I bring him home, and we don’t have anywhere to put him?”
Reuben rubbed his face. “Juan could take him home.”
Ernie made a face. “Juan lives in an apartment. That’s no place for Big Foot. Plus, I’m worried about Juan. He isn’t in any condition to take care of Big Foot.”
“Why would you have to bring him home at all?”
Ernie reminded himself to be patient. Sometimes Reuben just didn’t understand things the way he ought to. “Big Foot lives alone in the woods. He’s obviously lonely and needs love and attention.”
Reuben gave him a frustrated look. “We could give him my cabin and go visit him every day. Would that work?”
Ernie pressed his hand to his heart. “Your cabin is your sanctuary.”
Reuben cupped his face and kissed him. “You’re my sanctuary, Ernie.”
Ernie sniffled. “That’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever said.”
Reuben hugged him close and laughed softly. “You said that this morning when I told you I’d make you apple cider waffles.”
“I was really hungry.” Ernie hummed with pleasure just thinking about breakfast. “You always put fried apples on top of them.”
Reuben kissed him again. “Now that the important question of where Big Foot will stay if you find him on your excursion next week is settled, Pudge and I are going to Grammy’s house to help cook for Rue’s birthday party.”
“Niccolo’s coming over to stay with the twins. He said he didn’t feel up to going to the party.” Ernie reluctantly let Reuben go. “I’ll wrap up our album and check on the alpacas before coming.”
“Tell Peppermint I love him.”
Ernie rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll tell your alpaca that you love him.” He watched Reuben and Pudge go, then looked back at Clover and Tony. “Your daddy really loves Peppermint, baby burritos.”
The babies didn’t care. They were sleeping and happy.
He went to his knitting room downstairs and looked at their photo album for Grey. Ernie’s favorite story by Grey was about two ladybugs and their adventure crossing a meadow. It focused more on insects than some of his other stories, but that just made it more fun. He had never known ants could be so interesting.
He sighed happily and sat in his rocking chair. His knitting room was his haven. Juan and Carter had finished it three days ago, and Reuben had helped him move all his yarn and half-finished projects to their new home. The room was small but full of windows overlooking their newly fenced-in backyard.
He moved around the room, organizing his yarns, until Niccolo arrived. His friend had been recently injured and was finally cleared to drive short distances and carry his daughter, Eliza. Now he was trying to convince Grammy and Gramps that he should move out on his own. It wasn’t working.
“Hey,” Niccolo said, yawning. Eliza was sleeping in his arms. “I think I’m going to lay her down and check on the twins before taking my own nap.”
“Are you alright?” Niccolo looked drained.
“I’m fine. The trial is getting closer, and I’m worried about it. I shouldn’t be. All I have to do is show up and answer questions. I guess it’s just facing Mr. Dennings. I thought he was my friend.”
“I’m sorry, Nic.”
Niccolo smiled. “Nothing to do about it. I’m going to enjoy a little down time and some babies. Will Reuben be alright at the party today?”
“Oh, yeah,” Ernie said. “He’ll stay in the kitchen most of the time.” Of course he wouldn’t be alone very often. Ernie’s family liked to visit Reuben, one or two at a time.
He said goodbye to the twins and Eliza, then checked on his herd one more time. Peppermint still wore his bumblebee costume. Ernie would have to remember to take that off him later today. The alpaca bumped him in the stomach to say hello.
“Hey boys and girls. I hope you behave today. You made lovely beetles, ants, and bumblebees. Grey won’t possibly think his books aren’t good enough to publish once he sees you all enacting the picnic scene.”
They gathered around him, and Ernie spent a moment with each alpaca and sheep. They were a good herd.
Reuben watched the party from the kitchen doorway while Pudge dozed in a small dog bed next to the refrigerator. Grammy and Gramps’s large barn was used for most of their family events. Since it was freezing outside, Rue’s birthday party would have to be mostly indoors. The large barn seemed like the easiest place to have it. The small kitchen at the back had become his refuge.
Dean’s pap
a, Min-Jun, sat close to Grey’s abuela, Ines. The two held hands and exchanged shy looks and whispered to one another. Grey and Dean kept circling them, wanting to get close to eavesdrop on what the two were talking about, but trying to respect their privacy.
Reuben snorted. “Min-Jun and Ines.”
Juan grinned and picked at a platter of fried mac and cheese balls. “They’re fucking adorable, aren’t they? Ines is all sassy and pushy while Min-Jun is calm and collected. Grey and Dean are freaking out though.”
“They’ll get over it. When are they giving Grey his gift?” Reuben asked.
“Elijah said they’ll wait until the end.” Juan dunked a ball in a small bowl of marinara and ate it in one bite.
“Ernie’s worried about you.”
Juan propped his head on his fist and sprawled against the small table in the corner. “I want something, Reuben. Something impossible.”
“Why impossible?”
“It just is.”
Reuben frowned. “Then forget about it.”
Juan shook his head, scowling. “That’s even more impossible.”
Reuben shrugged. “Be miserable for the rest of your life then.”
“That is absolutely no help.” Juan threw a ball at him.
Reuben caught it and tossed it in his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. “Nothing’s impossible. Not really.”
Juan looked pensive. “Maybe.”
Reuben thought about Ernie. A year ago, Reuben had thought a relationship with someone as social as Ernie would be impossible. Now, they were married with two kids and another on the way. He attended parties and family events and hadn’t had a panic attack in a few months. “It’s possible, Juan. I promise.”
Summer’s mother, Fawn, smiled at him as she slid past him. “Do you mind if I share your kitchen, boys?”
“No, ma’am,” Juan said, grinning. “Reuben’s kitchen is the best place at a party. Cheese ball?”
Fawn popped it in her mouth and moaned a little. “You’re magnificent, Reuben.”
Reuben nodded. He knew Fawn still felt out of place in Hobson Hills and didn’t begrudge her a bit of peace and quiet to collect her thoughts. She had even taken to visiting his kitchen at the pub once a week to talk.
The three of them chatted and kept the party stocked with food. Then, an hour later, Reuben held Ernie in his arms in the kitchen doorway. They watched Rue drag a large gift bag to Grey.
Grey smiled. “Need help opening your present, baby boy?”
“No, Daddy. It’s for you,” Rue said, grinning. His face was covered in chocolate, and he wore a handmade wooden crown decorated with beads.
Grey looked questioningly at Harper.
The alpha shrugged. He held Auggie in his arms, swaying back and forth. “Don’t ask me.”
“We love you, Daddy,” Rue said. “All of us does. We believe in you.”
Grey looked around the room. “What is he talking about?”
Elijah came to stand beside him and helped Rue hold the bag up. Grey’s friends and family gathered around. “We all know Melinda wants to publish your books, Grey.”
“They’re so good,” Olive said, bouncing beside her dad. “You can’t keep them hidden.”
Grey shook his head and pulled the first album from the bag. “What did you guys do?” He flipped through the pages and started laughing. “Oh, god. Jake is the grumpiest mermaid I’ve ever seen.”
“That’s what I said,” Jules called out from the cake table. “It could be your next book.”
“Is that Jimmy and his college friends?” Grey laughed harder. “You guys did this?”
“Look at all of them,” David said from Sawyer’s lap. “Rue said it, sweet cheeks. We all believe in you.”
Grey looked through Elijah and Carter’s album. “Aww, Coop and Connor are the friendliest enemies I’ve ever seen.”
“I tried to make them behave,” Olive said, shaking her head.
He picked up David and Sawyer’s album. “Chunky the bunny rabbit. Wait. Why is Penelope chewing on his tail?”
David shrugged. “She’s Sawyer’s daughter when she does that.”
“She was a cannibal rabbit,” Harry said, eyes wide. “Dad didn’t feed us in time. We’re lucky we escaped with our lives.”
Grey laughed. “You poor rabbits.”
“Ours next,” Linc said, bouncing beside Grey. “I was a really good chef ‘till Hucky stole my hat.”
Grey laughed. “Summer, you’re such a cute raccoon.”
The teenager blushed and covered her girlfriend’s eyes. “Don’t look, Hannah.”
Hannah laughed. “Oh, no. This I have to see.” She looked over Grey’s shoulder. “Aww, you are the cutest raccoon ever.”
He looked through Bennett and Marco’s album next and clapped. “Tomás, you were made to be a troll king. Oh, all of you look great. I can’t believe you did all of this.” Justin passed his over next, and Grey started crying as he looked through it. “Everyone at The Irish Rose did this for me?”
“We love your books, Grey,” Laura called out. “My daughter won’t go to sleep until I read one every night.”
“Abel and Ernie, you guys too?” Grey wiped his eyes and laughed as he flipped through first Abel’s and then Ernie’s gifts.
“Look at ours, Daddy,” Rue said, bouncing in place as he held out another photo album.
Grey took it and laughed as he flipped through the pictures. “Poor Tiny and Chewie! They look miserable.”
“They love you, Daddy.” Rue kissed his cheek, spreading chocolate across it. “They was happy.”
Grammy pulled out more. “We all did one sweetie. Evan and his friends from school did one, and all the single cousins got together and made one too. We love your books, Grey. You need to share them with the world.”
Reuben settled his head on top of Ernie’s. He knew how Grey felt. It was hard to give a piece of yourself to someone else. He did it every day when he cooked at The Irish Rose.
“You all are… You all are the best family in the world. Okay,” Grey said, wiping his eyes. “I’ll do it, guys. I’ll send my books to Melinda.”
Reuben’s eyes met Juan’s and he nodded. Taking a risk was frightening, but not taking one was far worse.
Other m/m romance books by C.W. Gray
The Blue Solace Series – science fiction/fantasy, mpreg
The Mercenary’s Mate – https://amzn.to/2MAOFEH
The General’s Mate – https://amzn.to/2G1abRE
The Soldier’s Mate – https://amzn.to/2S7R6ng
The Lieutenant’s Mate – https://amzn.to/2THZ47w
The Engineer’s Mate – https://amzn.to/2HpI4vH
The Captain’s Mate – https://amzn.to/2knP03W
The Rebel’s Mate – Coming Soon
Fire’s Mate – Coming Soon
The Hobson Hills Omegas – non-shifter, mpreg, omegaverse
Falling for the Omega – https://amzn.to/2BgWURV
Snow Kisses for My Omega – https://amzn.to/2TdDiol
Romancing the Omega – https://amzn.to/2UNENKD
Healing the Omega – https://amzn.to/2FNcXrY
A Pint for my Omega – https://amzn.to/2XItQf7
Unraveling the Omega – https://amzn.to/2xRCnRL
The Alpha’s Christmas Wish – Coming December 2019
Hobson Hills Shorts – short stories from the world of Hobson Hills Omegas
The Beta’s Love Song – https://amzn.to/2UrRPNN
Bennett’s Dream – https://amzn.to/2GwSpG3
Justin’s Journey – https://amzn.to/2DhW1t1
Grey’s Gift
The Silver Isles – paranormal, mermen, mpreg
The Guppy Prince – Coming Soon
The Not so Little Merman – Coming Soon
The Sea Witch – Coming Soon
If you would like to keep up with releases, please like and follow me on Instagram (@c.w._gray) or Facebook (@cwgrayauthor), join C.W. Gray’s Reading Nook on Facebook, or visit my web
site at https://cwgray-author.com.
