Pregnant.

I was pregnant.

A human being was growing inside me.

I was going to be a papa. Me. A father.

I lay in bed, my hand on my belly, trying to wrap my head around what all this meant. When I first discovered I was pregnant, the puking stole a lot of my focus away from the situation at hand. It wasn’t until I got home and lay there all alone that it hit me. I was going to be a papa. Me.

Mitch was at work. He needed to be there. It was Saturday night, and he owned a bar. It wasn’t like he could just skip that and go home. Not after the influx of Swelter in the area. It was bad enough that people were taking it recreationally on their own and causing dangerous situations, but according to Justin, some alpha’s had been using it as a way to drug omegas into being more amorous without their knowledge. Like Oak Grove needed a new date rape drug. Three people had already been attacked in the city. Thankfully, none were in The Fallen Nut, although there was a thwarted drugging not too far back that still had Mitch and Justin both on high alert.

Why were some people such assholes?

Mitch promised to come home to me directly after work. I’d told him up and down it wasn’t necessary and that he could just go back to his place and rest. But I’d lied. I needed him here with me. I needed to know I was not alone in this.

And that was when I got good and stupid.

I took out my phone and decided to research pregnancy. It started out benign enough...due date calendars, baby registry sign ups, that kind of thing. And then I found an expecting omega group and clicked join.

That was my fatal error.

By the time I clicked out of it, I had more fears for my little one than I ever thought imaginable. I had been so much better off not knowing about preeclampsia or HELLP, or group B strep complications, or increased paternal mortality rates in the US, or cords wrapping around necks, or a thousand other things that could cause an unwitting parent to harm their unborn baby.

I figured I’d be getting medical advice and maybe some tips and tricks to having an easy pregnancy. But those omegas didn’t pull any punches. I read about one whose epidural failed and they could feel their c-section, one whose baby who never took a breath, and families losing their homes because of the financial burden caused by a two month stint in the NICU.

By the time Mitch walked in, I was shaking and at the onset of a full-on panic attack.

“What’s the matter?” He rushed to my side, wrapping his arms around me.

I sucked in my snot. So. Freaking. Classy. “I don’t know.” I mean, I knew but my reaction didn’t match things the way it should. I was over the top and couldn’t reel it in.

Mitch just held me, rubbing my back and whispering terms of comfort and allowing me to get it all out.

“Sorry,” I mumbled against his chest before sucking in another snot-filled breath. I was officially the most disgusting omega ever, and yet he never flinched, never made a comment about it, just gave me what I needed.

“There is nothing to be sorry for. I just wish I could make it better.”

“You are, just by being here.” I pulled back a bit to see his face. “I did exactly what I should not have done and went online.” I handed him my phone, the browser still open.

“Did you ask Google MD a question?”

I nodded, already feeling better. “I asked one and then another and then— Dammit, I know better.”

“I’m home for the night. Do you want to maybe go out?” He grabbed a tissue off the nightstand and handed it to me before I proceeded to blow my nose. Not the best way to keep him wanting a date, but better than sounding like I had a cold.

“Like on a date?” I sat up a little taller. Sure, we had been on a date before. That didn’t make this any less special. There was something about the alpha of your dreams wanting to have you on his arm that always seemed special. Especially when he wanted it after a snot-filled ugly cry. He was officially a keeper, and the way he had been acting made me pretty confident he thought I was too. Not that I asked him. No, the fear of rejection, especially with a baby on the way, was far too much for me to handle.

“Exactly like a date.” He kissed my forehead and stood up, holding out his hand for me. “Maybe we should even call it that.” His wink did things to me, things that were not conducive to going out, but more so for staying in.

Taking his hand, I stood, briefly leaning in to kiss him before getting ready to go out. Briefly turned to deeply turned to us breaking the kiss only to catch our breaths with our cocks very erect, pressing against each other through our pants.

“Date?” Not masking my meaning.

“Date—after a shower.” He pressed his lips against mine far too softly and smacked my ass playfully. “Now get in there. All that kissing has gotten my mouth begging for more.” His eyes fell to my cock.

Oh yeah, I was on board with that.

“I guess I could be persuaded.” I feigned nonchalance, my cock begging to be set free so it could be ensconced in the delight that was Mitch's mouth. I grabbed the hem of my shirt, pulling it over my head only to find him on the phone instead of getting naked too.

“Yes, what is the latest reservation for two you have this evening?” He moved his phone from his ear, looked at it, and brought it back up before he began to talk again. “That’s cutting it close, but we’ll take it.” Pause. “Name is Mitch Bracken.” Pause. “Yes, this number. Excellent. See you then.”

I just stood there, mouth open. He hadn’t been talking pizza and a beer. Well, not a beer since there was no drinking for me. But still, this was a place that needed reservations like a real, bonafide date.

“Why are you still dressed?” Smack. “We have reservations in an hour at Plated. If you don’t hurry up, we won’t have time for other things first.”

Plated was far more hoity toity than anyplace I’d ever been, and Mitch wanted to take me there.

“You got in?”

“It was easy since I took whatever time they had...and because I am a lucky guy.” He stepped in close. “How else can you explain how I ended up with you?” He stepped away from me, and as he walked to the bathroom, he gave me a follow me flick of his finger, shedding his clothes along the way.

We were ten minutes late for our reservation. It was I who was the lucky man.