Someone shut a door loudly—Gage’s bedroom? A moment later, Wilkie stalked past the exercise room doorway, his face scrunched up, his gaze locked straight in front of him.
Had he heard their conversation? Gage bit down his grin. “Sorry, Wilkes.”
“Go away,” Wilkie said, halfway down the stairs.
Ulric winced. “Your poor brother.”
Gage just laughed. “Pros and cons of having siblings. You hate them and love them at the same time. But more love than hate.”
Then he thought about the twins Jesse was expecting, and he remembered the picture on his phone. And the surprise he still had for Ulric in the fridge.
“Here, set the barbell back,” Gage said.
Ulric replaced it on the rack; Gage pulled Ulric flush against himself, pumping his cock good and hard. UIric’s breath rushed out. “But the workout—”
“I have something better. C’mon.”
Gage worked him over, slipping his fingers between Ulric’s cheeks, teasing his hole. He pushed harder on it, he flicked his fist around Ulric’s tip, and Ulric tensed, riding the path to no return.
With a groan, he spilled hot into Gage’s palm, so fucking sexy that Gage wanted to pin him down, and ride him for a good long while. Instead, Gage licked Ulric’s bitter come off his hand. “Let’s get some dinner.”
“What about you?” Ulric tipped his head back against Gage’s shoulder, his eyes glazed over.
“Later. I’ve got some important stuff to show you.” Gage straightened Ulric’s clothing, tugging him out of the exercise room. They made their way down to the kitchen, where Wilkie was perched at the island counter, eating out of a can.
Ulric frowned. “Is that enough for you?”
Wilkie glanced up. “Yeah, I’ve been getting by on this. It’s pretty good.”
It was canned soup. Not a surprise to Gage, but Ulric frowned harder. “Are you sure?”
“I’ll make burgers,” Gage said, his heart swelling for Ulric. “Want one, Wilkes?”
Wilkie glanced at his phone, hesitating. “Nah.”
Had Mom sent him the news about the other bill? Gage should’ve told her not to. Damn it. “I’ll make you half a burger,” Gage said. “Eat that so you won’t get hungry tonight.”
He tucked the cake box deeper into the fridge so Ulric wouldn’t catch sight of it. Then, while he waited for the burgers to sizzle, Gage pulled out his phone.
He thought about showing Ulric the picture first, before reconsidering—would Ulric think Gage wanted him to have a baby? Gage decided it was safest to start the conversation with Wilkie, and see how Ulric responded.
“I bumped into my cousin today. Remember Jesse, Wilkes? He’s pregnant. Like, about-to-pop pregnant.”
Wilkie’s eyes nearly fell out of his head. “But he’s an alpha. How can he get pregnant?”
Ulric had been scrolling through something on his phone. He looked up, his attention snared. Gage showed Wilkie the picture of Jesse; Ulric padded closer, looking over Gage’s shoulder.
Ulric sucked in a sharp breath. “That’s... an alpha.”
“Yeah. Remember seeing him at the barbecue party?” Gage asked.
Ulric nodded. “He had his husband with him.”
For a second, his expression turned wistful. Then he looked down at his own belly. “How did he get pregnant?”
“He said he had an implanted uterus. Didn’t want to tell me how he’d gotten it, though.” Gage zoomed in on the biggest scar on Jesse’s abdomen. “But damn, look at that.”
He imagined being cut open, having an organ put inside his body. How did that even work? You’d probably have to slice apart the abs to fit the uterus in there, and then let the abs heal so they could support the weight of a baby. Not to mention all the physical therapy.
And this was Jesse’s second pregnancy. How did he even get a uterus to stick around for that long?
“So... so you want a baby?” Ulric asked, his voice slightly off.
Gage froze. Had he offended Ulric? “Do you want one?”
“No, I was just—Hypothetically speaking.”
Gage hadn’t thought that far yet. But maybe... “You didn’t answer my question. Is that something you want?”
Ulric squirmed, looking away. “I don’t know.”
To the side, Wilkie snorted, covering up his smile. “Yeah, you guys are just friends. You don’t need a baby. Yet.”
There was that, too. Gage went back to flip his burgers, wondering about Ulric’s blush. Did he, or did he not want a family? Or should Gage even be asking those questions?
“Oops,” Wilkie said. When Gage turned, Wilkie was behind him, handing his phone back. “Don’t leave your phone lying around.”
Gage glanced at his screen—the image had somehow changed to his mom’s photo of the new bill. Gage’s heart sank.
Even if he wanted a baby, he couldn’t afford it right now. He shoved the phone into his pocket, sighing.
“What’s wrong?” Ulric came up to him, touching Gage gingerly on the back.
“Nothing,” Gage said.
Ulric frowned. “Something upset you.”
Gage shook his head. “Nah. Just life.”
“I should just get a job,” Wilkie muttered.
“No,” Gage growled, turning. “Get your life back together first.”
But Wilkie scowled. “What, and let you shoulder all the bills?”
Gage froze. He glanced at Ulric, who had gone still. “No, we’ll talk about that later, Wilkes.”
“Why can’t we talk about it now?” Wilkie straightened his shoulders, pissed. “Debbie—”
Gage dropped the spatula and dragged him out of the kitchen, clapping his hand over Wilkie’s mouth. “Don’t mention it in front of Ulric,” he hissed, afraid that Ulric could hear any of this.
Wilkie glared. “Why not?”
“Because.” Gage didn’t want Ulric to see him differently. He didn’t want Ulric to feel obliged to pay, he didn’t want to turn their relationship into a money thing. He didn’t want to be an alpha who had to rely on someone else to fix his problems. “It’ll mess up what I have with Ulric,” he said. “Please don’t.”
Wilkie stared at him for a moment. Then his shoulders sagged. “But I don’t want you to be sad, either.”
“I’ll manage.” Gage smiled crookedly. “I’m an alpha. We fix things.”
Wilkie rolled his eyes; Gage kissed him on the forehead. Then he ushered Wilkie back into the kitchen, sitting him down. “Don’t fill your stomach with that soup,” Gage told him. “You’re eating a burger tonight.”
“You said half a burger!” Wilkie protested.
“I changed my mind.” Gage ruffled his hair. “You need to eat better, Wilkes.”
Wilkie scowled. When Gage turned back to the stove, someone came up behind him, sliding warm arms around his waist. Gage’s heart missed a beat. Ulric rarely initiated hugs with him, so this—it was special.
Ulric leaned into his back. “You’re a good brother.”
“I’m just looking out for Wilkes because he won’t look out for himself,” Gage muttered.
“Hey!” Wilkie scowled.
“Just the truth,” Gage retorted.
“But who’s going to look out for you, Gage?” Ulric asked.
Wilkie laughed. “I think I like you, Ulric.”
Ulric snuffled awkwardly, his face turning pink. Gage’s instincts rumbled. “Hey. Don’t you go flirting with him, Wilkes. He’s mine.”
“He’s your friend,” Wilkie said. “I can flirt with him all I want.”
Would Ulric... respond to that flirting? He’d said he only liked alphas, but... Gage turned, wondering if he needed to stake his claim in front of Wilkie. Ulric laughed softly. “Jealous, Gage?”
“I’m not,” Gage growled.
“I like omegas enough to dance with them,” Ulric said, holding his hand out toward Wilkie.
Wilkie frowned. “I don’t know how to dance.”
> Ulric wriggled his fingers, beckoning him over. “Just don’t step on my feet.”
He pulled Wilkie into an awkward dance—was that a waltz? Who even danced waltzes these days? Ulric talked Wilkie through a short segment of a dance, showing Wilkie where to put his feet, and where to move next. Wilkie fumbled some, but Ulric corrected him patiently each time.
He felt... a bit like a teacher. And maybe also a dad. Gage had the distinct impression that Ulric would make a great father.
Ulric began counting out the beats, pulling Wilkie closer as they did a series of fumbling steps through the kitchen. Gage knew it was just a dance, and he knew Ulric wasn’t interested in Wilkie, but damn, he should be the one in Ulric’s arms.
“Sounds like there’s a growling dog in the kitchen,” Wilkie said, sending Gage a shit-eating grin. “Maybe I should stand closer—”
Wilkie tripped and face-planted across Ulric’s chest.
In a heartbeat, Gage was on the other side of the kitchen, crowding up against Ulric’s back, sliding his arm between Wilkie and Ulric. “Fuck off, Wilkes,” Gage muttered. “Mine.”
“Not yours until you mark him,” Wilkie said, lifting his eyebrows.
Ulric sucked in a sharp breath.
Gage growled. And he sank his teeth into Ulric’s skin—not his scent gland, but close. Then he bit harder, sucking on Ulric’s neck so hard that he’d leave a hickey there. A big damn one. “Mine.”
Ulric grunted. “Fuck.”
Wilkie released Ulric so fast, Gage’s instincts rumbled with delight. “Gross,” Wilkie said. “Don’t do that with me around.”
Gage shoved Ulric against the wall and sucked on his neck, hard enough that Ulric’s breath hitched and he curled his fingers into Gage’s hair. “What the hell, Gage?”
But his pulse raced beneath Gage’s tongue. Gage bit harder, tasting Ulric’s sweat from the workout earlier. “Mm. Mine.”
By the time he released Ulric, there was a prominent pink spot on Ulric’s neck, that would turn into a bruise tomorrow. And Ulric was flushed a dark red. He looked wonderful.
“You free this Saturday?” Gage growled. He wanted a whole day in bed with Ulric, he wanted to mark the rest of this alpha. Until every inch of his body was all Gage’s.
Ulric winced. “I, uh. I have to go to Highton.”
He hadn’t mentioned that earlier. “I’ll come with you,” Gage said.
“No! I mean, I have an appointment. It’ll be inconvenient.” Ulric eased himself away, suddenly unable to meet Gage’s eyes.
“I’ll wait until it’s over. There’s a couple of good restaurants there.”
Ulric winced. “No, it’s fine. I’ll go with you another time.”
Why was he so uneasy about Gage going to Highton with him? Gage frowned. “What’s wrong? What’re you going there for?”
“Nothing.” Ulric squirmed. “I mean, it’s something. Nothing important.”
Gage stared, trying to figure this out. At the back of his mind, little alarms rang. “At least tell me what’s going on.”
“I have to go meet someone.”
“Who?”
Ulric shrugged. “Just—someone. No one you need to see.”
He couldn’t be meeting some secret lover that Gage didn’t know about. Ulric wasn’t that sort of person. But why didn’t he trust Gage with his concerns? “It’s a long drive to Highton. I’ll drop you off,” Gage said.
“No. I’ll be fine.” Ulric pursed his lips tightly.
“Is someone going to Highton?” Wilkie poked his head back into the kitchen. “I need to hitch a ride there.”
Ulric stared at him for a long moment. Then he sighed. “I can take you.”
“But not me?” That just wasn’t fair. Gage narrowed his eyes. “Ulric.”
He would trust Ulric with his life. Wouldn’t Ulric trust Gage with the same?
“The burgers are burning.” Ulric pointed at the stove. Gage thought he was trying to fake his way out at first, except he smelled the faint smoke.
Gage swore, whirling around to save the burgers. It wasn’t like him to burn those things. But it wasn’t like Ulric to keep secrets, either.
By the time he turned back, Ulric had disappeared from the kitchen.
21
The Box At The Back Of The Fridge
Ulric crept down the stairs, his heart thumping. His stomach felt like it was about to digest itself.
All night, he’d cooped himself up in his bedroom, unwilling to go out and face Gage. Gage had knocked on the door. He’d sent a text, too, telling Ulric he’d left a couple of burgers in the fridge. Ulric wished that Gage wouldn’t keep being so nice.
He’d looked in his mirror at the hickey. It was redder now—a marking that Gage had left on him. Just the thought of it—it made Ulric tingle all over.
This was what it felt like to belong.
And it was dangerous. Ulric wanted more of those marks, he wanted Gage’s lips all over him.
He shoved those thoughts aside, turning on the kitchen lights. On the fridge, Gage had stuck a piece of paper with an arrow pointing toward the door handle. This shelf, he’d written.
Ulric’s heart fluttered. How many omegas had Gage done this for? He didn’t want to know.
He heated up the lettuce-wrap burgers in the microwave, before pulling up a stool to the island counter, tucking into the burgers. Savory meat juices leaked onto his tongue; he groaned. Even when it was slightly burned, Gage’s food was amazing.
Ulric polished off the burgers, licking his fingers. Then, because his mom wasn’t here to judge him, he licked his plate, too.
He could still hear her voice, though. Don’t laugh like that, Ulric. It’s embarrassing. Why are you looking at that alpha? You shouldn’t. Respectable alphas don’t fawn over their peers.
He imagined introducing her to Gage. He imagined telling her, This is who I really like. And she would scoff and tell him there was no point to that relationship. It wouldn’t benefit their family.
Even if Gage made his heart sing, even if Ulric wore Gage’s scent on his skin.
Ulric’s heart tightened. He tried not to think about Saturday, but the thoughts and anxiety crept up on him, making it difficult to breathe. He didn’t want to spend hours with his mom. But he couldn’t abandon her when he’d agreed to show her around, either. He just... had to ignore whatever hurtful things she would say to him. She’d probably say he’d put on weight. Even with the twenty pounds he’d lost.
He needed to distract himself.
He opened the fridge, looking for something sweet. He didn’t want the tomatoes, or the celery or carrots or anything healthy. He just wanted... something good. Something comforting.
He was about to reach for an apple when he glimpsed a cake box at the back of the fridge. It hadn’t been there this morning.
It wasn’t his. But it was the only delicious thing in the fridge, Ulric knew, and... was it Gage’s? Could he eat its contents, and perhaps replace it tomorrow before Gage found out?
Ulric held his breath, straining his ears for any sound. The house was silent. His fingers trembled as he reached into the fridge, picking up the box. He listened again. Then he pulled open the plastic bag, he carefully pried open the box.
His heart leaped. There were two slices of cake inside. A coffee cake, and something Ulric wasn’t sure about—it looked kind of plain. But good, nonetheless, because it was cake.
Even though he wasn’t hungry, his mouth watered. Ulric grabbed a new fork, he tucked himself behind the island counter, out of sight from the kitchen doorway. Then he scooped a corner of the coffee cake into his mouth—it was soft as a cloud and sweet, the coffee cream rich on his tongue. He groaned, scooping another mouthful, all but inhaling it.
He tried the other cake. It was also sweet, soaked through with milk. Also really good. He shoveled another bite into his mouth, then another, wishing there was an entire cake instead of just one slice.
The more cake he ate, the lig
hter that twisted, awful anxiety became.
He was almost down to the last few bites of cake, thinking about heading out to look for a 24-hour store with cookies, when someone rounded the side of the island counter.
Ulric’s heart clenched; he jumped and hunched around his cake box, the fork clattering onto the floor.
Gage looked down at him, dressed in his sleeping clothes. But because Ulric was huddled into a ball on the floor, Gage looked tall, and kind of intimidating.
Ulric wiped his mouth hurriedly, his throat squeezing tight. Gage had discovered him stealing cake. Was he going to think badly of Ulric for breaking his diet? Was he... not going to kiss Ulric anymore? Ulric tried to breathe. “Is this yours? I promise I’ll get a new box tomorrow. When they open. I just saw it in the fridge and I—”
“Ulric.” Gage knelt in front of him, his gaze never leaving Ulric’s face. Ulric’s heart felt like it might burst. “It’s fine. That’s for you.”
Ulric panted, the words swimming around him, not sinking in. “But—”
Gage took the box out of his hands, setting it to the side. Then he hauled Ulric against his chest, pulling him into a tight hug. “It’s okay,” Gage murmured in his ear. “I bought it for you.”
For... me? “Why?”
“Because you’ve been doing great with everything.” Gage pressed a kiss to his cheek, then another beneath his ear. “I thought you might like some cake.”
Ulric gulped down some breaths, his heart still pounding. “I’m not supposed to eat cake.”
“It’s okay if you eat it once in a while.”
“But I stole it.”
Gage huffed. “You can’t steal it if it’s already yours.”
Ulric looked at the box, and the half-eaten cake inside. On any other day, he would’ve shared it with Gage. It just hadn’t occurred to him when he’d been trying to shovel away the anxiety.
He felt so terrible about that. “I’ll get you some in return. I wanted to share it. I just—”
Gage tipped his face up, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. “Shh. It’s okay.”
Ulric tried to calm down. “It’s not okay.”
“Yes, it is.”
“But—” Ulric looked at the few bites left in the box. “You should try that before it’s all gone. It’s good.”
Weight of Everything Page 15
