Riley decided he would plan something to share it with his alpha, and maybe he could even record it and have a good memory replace the bad one.
He was excited. He practically vibrated with it, and when Grayson got home that night, Riley hopped into his alpha’s arms and wrapped his legs around his waist, and started kissing him.
“Now this is a welcome I could get used to,” Grayson smiled.
28
Riley
Riley had a plan and it involved some preparation. He considered waiting a couple of days to tell Grayson, when he went and got his pregnancy confirmed by a doctor, but Riley wanted to share that experience with Grayson and erase the memory of his papa and his daddy sitting tight-lipped with frowns on their faces, while they waited to be called into the doctor’s office and have it confirmed, that their perfect son was not so perfect.
He remembered vividly, the disappointment on his dad’s face when the doctor had confirmed Riley was in fact pregnant. He would also never forget the tears from his papa while clinging to his father like someone had died.
Riley would get all new memories this time.
“We’re going on an adventure,” Riley said to Max, as they piled into the back seat of the car.
“Where are we off to today Mr. Riley?” David, one of Grayson’s chauffeurs asked.
According to Grayson, he was Riley’s and Max’s chauffeur, and Riley would never get used to that, but at least he had gotten the older beta to stop calling him Mr. Sinclair. They were now at Mr. Riley, and he hoped they would land at just Riley someday soon.
“I printed it here,” Riley said. Then handed the paper with the address of the places they needed to be at today.
“Very good,” David said. He took the piece of paper from Riley, then started keying the details into the GPS.
Riley sat back, and put his seat belt on, he then double checked Max was secure in his booster seat.
“Venture with Riwey,” Max said.
Riley smiled, the next best thing to hearing Max call him dad, was hearing Max call him Riwey.
“Yes, we are going on an adventure,” Riley said.
“Aventure,” Max repeated.
“Close enough,” Riley laughed.
The day passed quickly, especially since Riley had ordered everything he needed the night before.
Apparently, if you were willing to pay ridiculous amounts you could get everything you wanted with less than twenty-four hours’ notice.
When they’d gotten home, Riley texted Grayson to find out when he would be home. His alpha had called immediately.
“Is everything okay?” Grayson asked, “I can be home in an hour if you need me.”
Riley couldn’t stop his smile, how had he gotten so lucky?
“We were just checking when you were coming home, or whether we should have dinner and bedtime without you,” Riley said.
There was a pause, before Grayson said, “Nope, should be home on time. You sure everything is okay?”
“Absolutely perfect,” Riley smiled, “Max just has something he wants to show you.”
Riley could hear the smile in his alpha’s voice when he said, “See you later.”
* * *
Riley should have known calling Grayson at work, which he never did, would have his alpha home early.
Thankfully, everything was set up and ready to go.
“You ready to share our news with your daddy,” Riley asked Max.
Max nodded enthusiastically.
“You know what you have to say, right?” Riley asked Max.
Max nodded, although Riley was pretty sure his son didn’t understand what he was asking, but Riley figured he could prompt Max when the time came.
29
Grayson
Grayson had rushed home at the phone call from Riley. He had noticed him acting a little strangely the past few days, but it was nothing he could really point to, so he hadn’t wanted to pry, even though his alpha instincts were on high alert.
Riley hadn’t looked sad per se, but Grayson couldn’t really place the exact emotion he’d been getting from Riley. Though there had always been an edge of excitement, so Grayson concluded it couldn’t be anything bad, so he bided his time, waiting for his omega to confide in him.
But a phone call in the middle of his work day? Now that was enough of an aberration to get Grayson’s attention.
“In here,” Grayson heard Riley call, “I mean the sunroom.”
Grayson made his way to the back of the house.
He walked into the room to find Max and Riley.
“Okay, everyone looks like they’re in one piece,” Grayson said, and inspected Max and Riley from head to toe.
“Of course we are,” Riley said.
Grayson was still looking between them, trying to figure out what was going on. He looked around the room too, looking for clues and wondered why hadn’t Max or Riley immediately run into his arms?
“You never call while I’m at work,” Grayson said slowly.
“Mmmm?” Riley replied.
“No one is bleeding or hurt,” Grayson said, taking another step forward.
“Riwey and Max aventure,” Max said, clapping.
Grayson looked at Riley for clarification, “Adventure?”
“We wanted to surprise you,” Riley said, his lips curving in a smile. Then he stepped aside and pointed at boxes arranged on the glass coffee table.
“Well, it’s not my birthday. And we haven’t been together long enough for me to miss an anniversary yet,” Grayson said, thinking out loud.
“Well, I hope when we are together long enough for anniversaries, you won’t forget,” Riley laughed, “Come closer, you can’t get your surprise way over there.”
Grayson walked up to Riley, but before he even moved to open any of the boxes, Grayson pulled his omega into his arms for a kiss.
“Hi,” Grayson said, after breaking their kiss.
“Hi,” Riley echoed, and Grayson couldn’t help but smile at the slightly dazed look that was now on Riley’s face.
“Presents,” Max said impatiently. Grayson laughed, apparently his son was at the end of his waiting tether.
“Presents,” Grayson repeated, stepping away from Riley and picking Max up. His son laughed, but his attention was clearly still on the boxes, because he said, “Daddy open presents.”
“Okay, okay,” Grayson said, and put the squirming bundle in his arms down.
Grayson looked at Riley and he couldn’t help noticing his omega had stepped away and had his hands behind his back. He also noticed that Max had run over to stand beside Riley.
Gray walked over to the first box, he looked at it, trying to guess what it could be. It was square box, with the name of a bakery on it.
“You got me cake?” Grayson asked, looking up.
“Why don’t you open it?” Riley asked, the smile on his face getting wider.
Okay, so it was a good thing, or Riley wouldn’t be smiling. Grayson also noticed Riley had his phone in his hands, pointed in his direction like he was recording, or about to record.
He was about to ask if Riley actually was recording, but he realized, if his omega had gone to this much trouble to surprise him, then he should play along.
“Here goes,” Grayson said, then took the lid of the first box.
He looked inside and found nine cupcakes on it, each of them with either double red lines or plus signs.
“Uhhh?” Grayson said, looking down at the box then Riley, then the box again, “Did Max figure out his additions?” He queried, confused why Riley would go through all that for something so small, and why he would call it Grayson’s surprise.
“No, silly,” Riley laughed, “Well, we are still working on it. Open the next box.”
Grayson was confused, but he wasn’t about to spoil Riley’s fun. He opened a similar box, this one with pink and blue cupcakes.
“Colors,” Grayson murmurred. He heard Riley snort, but ignored him, tryi
ng to figure out what on earth was happening, because right now, all it looked like was a lot of cake.
He went to the last box and opened it. This one had a proper cake with what looked like stick figures or something. It looked like one of Max’s drawings, and again, all he could think was… well, was Riley trying to say he enrolled Max in school?
Not that he minded, but he would have preferred if they had made the choice of which one together.
“You picked a school for Max?” Grayson asked.
Then he noticed an envelope with his name on it, next to the last box. Grayson picked it up, then glanced at Max and Riley again. His eyebrows raised.
“Open it,” Riley said.
“Open it, daddy,” Max echoed Riley.
Grayson noticed that Max was getting fidgety. He couldn’t blame the kid. He wasn’t sure what was going on.
The note said, “If you’ve still not figured it out, turn around.”
Grayson turned the note around, but the other side was blank.
“I meant turn around and look at us,” Riley said, laughing.
Grayson turned around and noticed that Riley and Max had taken their hoodies off—after he’d realized they’d been wearing hoodies.
“New shirt,” Max squealed. Clapping and pulling on his shirt.
That was how Grayson noticed there was writing on it, “Big Brother Loading.”
It couldn’t be. He quickly looked at Riley’s matching shirt, this one said, “Baking,” and had a huge arrow pointing downwards.
Then it clicked.
Grayson glanced at Riley’s smiling face, then his shirt, then back to Riley’s face, “Are you sure?”
Grayson saw Riley was nodding, the biggest smile Grayson had ever seen on his face. Grayson must have been moving, because he was right in front of Riley now.
“We’re having a baby?” Grayson whispered, his eyes never leaving Riley’s face.
“We’re having a baby,” Riley confirmed.
Grayson didn’t even think about it, he picked Riley up making his omega squeal and giggle.
“We’re having a baby,” Grayson repeated in awe.
“Baby,” Max said, clapping.
Grayson laughed and spun Riley around. He stopped abruptly and hugged Riley to his body.
“I’m so sorry,” Grayson said, as he carefully put Riley on the floor, but didn’t release him from the embrace.
“Sorry… why?” Riley asked, leaning back in Grayson’s embrace to meet his eyes, “Are you not… you’re not happy?” Riley finished, his voice almost too low for Grayson to hear.
“What?” Gray picked Riley up again, “Of course I am. Fuck!” He gently put Riley down again, “I shouldn’t be spinning you around, or squeezing you so hard,” Grayson said guiltily.
Riley burst out laughing, “I think you’re fine. They’re pretty secure in there.”
“They? Twins? Two?” Grayson said in wonder. He couldn’t help laughing when he imagined what Nic would say to that. His friend would totally imply Grayson was copying him.
“Ohh, no… well I don’t know. I only did the home test. Two,” Riley said, “I wanted you with me at the doctor’s.”
Grayson took in the shy hopeful look on Riley’s face.
“Done. Anytime. Any day.” Grayson said, and placed a reverent kiss on Riley’s lips.
30
Riley
Riley had never understood why people talked about having the support of your alpha while pregnant.
He knew how lonely it was going through a pregnancy alone, because even though Riley’s parents had been present. They hadn’t really been there. It was almost like they’d spent nine-months in denial.
They talked about everything, but him being pregnant. The only time it came up was in reference to how he could still have a future.
An alpha.
Because, of course, no alpha would have wanted him with another alpha’s child in tow.
Riley had gone through Max’s pregnancy, with the weight of his parent’s disappointments, his fears and his broken heart weighing on him.
So, this experience with Grayson was like nothing Riley had ever imagined.
From the moment Riley had walked into the doctor’s office, this time his head held high—not in the biggest hoodie he could find in his closet, and not meeting anyone's eye.
Nope, this time he was one of the couples, one of the omegas with his proud alpha beaming beside him.
Even though they had been sure Riley was pregnant, hearing, “You’re pregnant,” from Dr. Kelly, well, the moment had still been perfect.
Dr. Kelly was recommended to them by Jai and Nic, and so far they were very happy with him.
It didn’t hurt that Jai, almost at the end of his first trimester, and almost into his second was having a relatively easy pregnancy. His morning sickness was just that—in the morning. The only thing he found was being tired a lot.
They knew now they were only having one child, but that was okay ,because Riley wanted a big family and so did Grayson, so they would have more siblings for Max.
The only thing stopping Riley from enjoying his pregnancy was the weight of the secret he still kept to himself.
It was always there. Now Riley didn’t even know how to broach the subject. All his excuses about a stronger foundation were out of the window, because now he had more to lose than ever before.
He thumbed the pages of the baby book he’d made while pregnant with Max. Riley had recorded every step of his pregnancy. Even how he’d felt at each moment he’d taken the pictures. It had been just for him and no else, even his parents hadn’t been aware.
Riley had needed something to hold on to when his baby was no longer with him, a part of him hoping to share it with his son one day.
He had even continued the tradition and started an identical one for their new little one, although this one had happier memories attached. The front page of the new one had a picture of Grayson, Max, and Riley to show the baby his or her new family.
He’d also printed a picture from the day he’d told Grayson, the huge smile on his alpha’s face and the pride in his eyes.
The next page had Riley and Max in their t-shirts.
Riley needed to tell Grayson before the guilt swallowed him whole.
But how could he?
But then, if he never told Grayson who he was, how could he ever tell Max? It would mean Max could never know.
Though a voice whispered, maybe just being Max’s nanny turned step-papa was enough? He had never expected that much.
Max called him papa… when he remembered, and would grow up calling him papa. Maybe it was enough to be Max’s step papa, who loved him like a biological papa would.
Max was happy, and healthy and so loved. Wasn’t that all a parent ever wanted for their child?
May be could just, leave things be and thank the gods for even giving him what he had right now—a chance to be in Max’s life.
And Grayson’s.
Grayson, his alpha, his lover, his protector—the kindest most loving alpha, an omega could ask for.
What would Riley do if he lost him? Because there was every chance that if Grayson found out now, he wouldn’t be able to forgive Riley.
Riley wasn’t sure how he would survive it.
The weight that had been on his chest since things became more than just employee/employer with Grayson tripled.
Riley couldn’t breathe. He felt the panic rising and had to focus to stave off the attack, if not for his sake, then for his child’s.
He decided to rest, and lie down, curling in on himself, the baby books still clutched close to his heart, and that was how he fell asleep.
31
Grayson
Grayson found he was spending so little time in the office now.
He wouldn’t have even gone into work today, but the meeting he’d been to had been scheduled for months with one of their foreign partners. The man had come into the country specifically for
this purpose and there was no way he could have canceled.
All Grayson wanted to do was spend time at home with his family, Max and Riley. He knew it probably wasn’t very alpha of him, but he didn’t care.
Some people would say alphas were not supposed to be as sentimental as he was. That he should spend more time at work, and not with the designer and Riley, as they came up with the perfect nursery.
But Grayson didn’t care.
He was enjoying sharing every moment of Riley’s pregnancy with him. He hadn’t experienced one before, and in addition to that, Grayson felt like it was bonding him and Riley.
He just wished he could figure out what put the sad and sometimes terrified look in Riley’s eyes when he got lost in thought and then, maybe he could fix it.
When he got home after his meeting, it was to find Max in the playroom being looked after his housekeeper.
“Hey buddy,” Grayson said.
“Daddy,” Max squealed. His son jumped up and ran towards him, and Grayson made sure to pick him up and toss him in the air once before catching him again in his arms.
“How was your day?” Grayson asked his son.
“Fine,” Max said, before squirming to be let down, “I color for Riwey.”
“You colored for Riley huh?” Grayson said.
Max nodded, “I draws.”
Grayson smiled, “You drew him a picture?”
Max nodded so hard Grayson thought his son looked a bit like a bobblehead.
“Riwey naps,” Max said his lips in a pout.
Grayson hid his smile at how cute his son looked. Apparently, Max wasn’t happy about Riley taking a nap.
“I’ll go check on him, okay?” Grayson said.
“I drawed another picture,” Max said going back to his table.
“You drew another picture for Riley, okay?” Grayson nodded at Ms. Grace, “Thanks for watching him, Doris.”
Undercover Omega: Billionaire Alphas Book 2 Page 13
