It wasn’t often that I left the house at night. My afternoon visit to Slow Grind was pretty much the extent of me leaving the house, but now I had a stubborn-ass omega to worry about. Seven and a half months pregnant, and he still insisted on working. I’d been looking online, and today I’d finally found a good family insurance plan.

I could afford it, that wasn’t the issue. The problem was the small fact that Greg and I weren’t married. I needed to find a way to broach that subject with him. Until now it hadn’t even crossed my mind, but now that I’d seen that on the insurance site? It was all I could think about. Me and Greg and our alien peanut—one complete family.

Maybe if I could convince him to get married and let me pay for the insurance, he’d finally quit that job. Luckily, this was his last night for the next twelve weeks. That was all the paternity leave allowed, which is why he’d pushed it all the way up this close to his due date. He wanted to go longer, but his water retention had become a thing. He’d even gotten a varicose vein from being on his feet. Stubborn-ass bromega.

I opened the door to the club and pushed the crowd as I made a direct path to the bar. I grinned to see Greg sitting on a bar stool mixing drinks while a large, black alpha towered over him protectively. Another omega was scurrying back and forth pouring drafts and passing out shots.

“Hey, there. How’s my sexy bromega doin’ tonight?” I grinned when Greg looked up at me with bugged out eyes and a slack jaw.

“Braden? Are you okay? Did the apartment burn down? Oh, shit... are we homeless now?” He looked like he was about to jump off the stool and start running home in order to check on our nest.

“Dude. Everything’s fucking brotastic. I just wanted to come celebrate your last night at work and make sure you got home okay. I’m sick of worrying about you every night, Greg. So this is me, stepping up and being there for you. I know you’re not the kind of omega who needs an alpha to protect him. You’re strong enough on your own. That’s why you’re my bromega... a bro who happens to be an omega that I would give anything for. Which reminds me. I found health insurance. There’s a catch to get you on it, but we can figure it out.”

Greg stared at me blankly for a long moment while his hand robotically moved back and forth as his mixed the drink he was currently making inside a shiny cocktail shaker. He blinked a few times and passed it to the big guy before turning back to me. His flushed cheeks belied the smirk he was trying to pull off.

“Um. That was sweet... Braden. No. Scratch that. You get a new name. Bromeo. Because you’re all romantic and shit.”

“Joke all you want, Greg. You’re my bromega and that’s that. I took an Uber here so I can you drive you home, by the way. As soon as you punch out tonight, it’s my time to spoil your ass until the baby arrives.”

Greg rolled his eyes, but his lips were curving up in a shy smile. “Speaking of the baby, we should probably see about that nursery you keep asking me about. I’m sorry I haven’t been all into it before now. But anyway... why don’t you go cop a squat on that empty bar stool there? I’ve got like an hour left of my shift.”

I looked over at the stool he was pointing at that stood few feet away where we could talk if we yelled. I grinned when I saw my coffee shop buddy sitting there. I tried not to notice the bright green jockstrap and body glitter he was wearing. And were those go-go boots? Awkward.

“Shamie? What are you doing here?” I greeted him with nod as I slid onto the neighboring stool. Normally I’d have given him a pat on the shoulder, but I didn’t want to get glitter all over my palm. That shit never leaves. One speck and I’d probably find it in some weird crevice or floating in my crap a month from now. That was pretty much how glitter works.

“Howya, Braden? This is me work, lad. I gets me exercise dancing in one o’ them big-arse cages.”

I almost choked, but covered it with a fake cough and a fist over my mouth. “Dude. I had no idea. Um... good on you? I mean, I play video games for a living, so no job shaming here. Sorry, you caught me off guard.”

Shamie winked. “Sure and don’t I know how things ain’t always quite what they seem ta be, do they?”

“Wait, do you guys know each other already?” I looked over to see Greg looking back and forth between Shamie and me in confusion.

“Yeah, G. I told you about my friend Shamie, remember? The little dude I play games with at Slow Grind?”

Greg snorted. “I should really listen when you talk. I swear I thought you said the guy’s name was Jamie. All this time, I’ve heard Jamie when you were saying Shamie.”

Seamus cackled. “Methinks yer should listen tae each other better. Who knows what else has been said that ya might have missed? I’m sure if ya listen hard enough, ya might even pick up on a few things left unsaid too. Aye, life’s funny that way, lads.Here, mate... with me thanks fer a job well done. Ya always have a smile and a listenin’ ear, no matter how tired ya get. Now ya need ta get that little one home safe. The three o’ ya will be just fine.” Seamus flipped a coin in swooping arc to Greg.

After catching it smoothly, Greg held it up to show me. It was identical to the ones I’d found at Slow Grind. I turned to Seamus and started digging in my pocket. “That reminds me, I found couple coins that y–“

The bar stool was empty. I spun back to find Greg grinning at me. “Don’t even try to figure it out. He pulls that disappearing act every time. I think it’s his signature thing–or else he really hates goodbyes? But yeah... if you have coins he left or dropped, he likely meant for you to have them. I have no idea what the hell his deal is, but he drops those things every time he leaves. As signature moves go, that one kinda wins in my book.”

I started to laugh, until Greg screeched in pain and grabbed his gut. He slid sideways off the stool, but the large alpha caught him before hit the floor. He scooped my bromega into his arms, and lifted him up against his chest.

Fluid was dripping from between Greg’s legs. I must have stared in stunned silence for too long because the other alpha cleared his throat loudly and looked at me with a quirked brow.

“Yes, his water broke. And yes, you need to move your ass and get the door for me so I can help you get him to the car,” the alpha spoke slowly and patiently, but wasn’t leaving me room to freak out. I nodded quickly at his directions, and jumped up to lead the way.

Greg was panting and groaning, but insisting he could walk while we made our way to the employee’s lot. “Tank, I can walk on my own. I don’t have a broken leg, I’m about to give birth. And I shouldn’t be—it’s way too soon.”

Wanting to distract Greg from freaking out, I ignored him and looked over at the huge alpha with a smirk. “Tank? That’s an apt name.”

Tank rolled his eyes and played along without needing to be nudged. “Find new material, kiddo. I’ve heard that one a few times.”

Greg jerked forward again, clutching his huge gut. “My keys are in my pocket, let... let me get them.” He panted out the words, trying weakly to reach where he had them.

I shook my head and stepped close enough to slide my hand into his pocket and retrieve the keys. I hit the disarm button on the key fob, and we followed the chirp chirp and flashing parking lights to where he’d parked.

When I rushed past Tank to open the door, I almost went on my ass when I skidded on a small mound of gold coins that were piled on the ground beside the car. What the actual fuck?

“Just pick them up and shove them in your pockets, I’ll wait.” Tank grunted while Greg strained to see what was happening. As soon as he saw the pile of gold coins, his eyes widened.

“What the–“

I was quickly shoveling handfuls of coins into every pocket I could get them in. Not because I gave a rat’s ass at the moment about the gold, but because I didn’t want Tank to trip while he was holding my precious bromega.

“Okay, I think I got them all,” I said as I stood and opened the door.

Tank nodded and lowered Greg into the car. “I’ll look around to make sure once you pull out. Kind of a weird way for that guy to give you guys a gift though. What if someone else had found them?”

Greg shook his head, while gritting his teeth as another pain hit him. “I don’t think it works that way. I’m pretty sure only we can find them. I don’t know why, but I can feel it in my gut. I think Bromeo here found all he was meant to find, and Tank will come up empty. Now that we’ve worked this shit out, can we please go to the fucking hospital?”

Tank chuckled and swatted my shoulder before I rushed around to the driver’s side. “Good luck, with this one. You’re gonna need it.”

“I don’t need luck, as long as I have him. But thanks,” I grinned and slid into the driver’s seat. Tank nodded and waved as I backed the car up and pulled out of the lot. I looked in the mirror and saw him looking around the ground where we’d parked, but something told me Greg was right. He wouldn’t be finding anything.