Chapter Three
David looked at the ultrasound picture, tears streaming down his face. “Do you mind, Mr. Bartley,” Susanna asked. His surrogate was a nice, no nonsense woman, so hearing the worry in her voice snapped him out of his daze.
“Of course not,” he said, voice rough with tears. “Twins. I’m having twins.”
“The doctor said everything looks great and that I’m perfectly healthy. I sent the report with the pictures. He does want me to come in more often for check-ups than I normally would. Is that alright?”
“Absolutely,” he answered. “Thank you, Susanna. This is just so overwhelmingly perfect.”
“I’ll keep you updated, Mr. Bartley.” She hung up and David stared into space. He was having twins. Oh, fuck a duck. He was having twins.
He dialed Carter. “Hi, David. How’s it going?”
“I’m having twins.”
“Yes,” Carter yelled. “Elijah, David is having twins too.”
“Too? Elijah’s having twins? Is there something in the water?”
“We found out this morning at his first big check-up. Oh, he wants the phone,” Carter said.
“David,” Elijah squealed. “I told you our kids were going to be besties. Now, with Rue, they’ll be a group of five. They could be a band. We need to think of band names. What about the Apple Dumplings?”
David laughed, feeling his panic lesson. He might not be alone in this after all. “Weren’t they a gang or something? You and your apples.”
“I can’t help it if they’re the best fruit in the world,” he said. “Oh, by the way, has anyone been by to see you this morning?”
“No. Why?” David looked down. He wasn’t ready for company. He wore a moisturizing oatmeal mask and his silk pajamas. He pulled on his long, silk kimono robe dotted with roses and butterflies. There. Now he was presentable.
“Nothing,” Elijah said too quickly. “Oh no, look at the time. I have to go.” He hung up and David stared at the phone. That boy was a strange one.
David checked on Cadbury, slipping the little bunny into the chest pocket of his pajama top. The rabbit poked his head out, looking around, content with life. David quickly watered his house plants and washed up his breakfast dishes, whispering to Cadbury all through his normal routine. He sipped his coffee and finally settled into his most comfortable chair to read the newest Roxanne Baxter novel. Just as he opened the book, there was a knock at his door.
“Figures,” he mumbled, setting his book down. He stomped to the front door and pulled it open, staring in shock at the tall, broad shouldered beta on his doorstep. His light brown hair was a little longer and there were a few more lines on his face, but those damn green eyes were the same. Sawyer Gregor stood on his doorstep.
“David?” Sawyer took a step forward, eyes imploring.
“You can’t be here,” David said. “No. I can’t see you, Sawyer.” He tried to shut the door.
“I get it,” Sawyer said. “I didn’t understand when you left, but I do now, David.” He held the door from closing. “Please let me in. Just give me five minutes.” David wavered. “Please. I have coffee.”
He opened the door, letting his dream man in. His married dream man. He grabbed one of the cups and led Sawyer to the living room. He curled up in his comfy chair, knees under his chin. Sawyer sat on his ottoman, facing David. “What do you want, Sawyer? Is it the kids? Are they okay?”
“The kids are fine. They’re at Zoe’s bakery right now.”
“They’re with you? Why didn’t you bring them by?” He missed them so much, especially Sadie and Ryder. Harry was so young when he left. He wondered if they’d remember him. He sipped the coffee, trying not to think of the past.
Sawyer smiled. “I knew you’d want to see them. I thought we could talk first.” He looked puzzled for a minute. “Do you have a rabbit in your pocket?”
“Yes,” David nodded. “This is Cadbury.” He petted the bunny’s head. “What’s going on, Sawyer?”
“You loved me,” he said, shocking David to his core. “That’s why you left. I was married, and we were just friends. You left so you could move on.”
David was mortified and felt tears well in his eyes. “If you know that then why are you here? To mock me?”
“No,” Sawyer said, shaking his head. He wiped at David’s tears, coming away with oatmeal. “I didn’t realize it at the time. I just knew my heart was broken. My best friend left me with no explanation, no goodbye.”
“I’m sorry, but I had to. I watched you with your family for three years, Sawyer. I can’t do that. I need someone of my own.”
“I know that now,” Sawyer said. “Right after you left, I started to realize what I’d lost. Gina and I had been having problems almost from the start of our marriage, but I never strayed. I never felt anything for someone else. Then you came into our lives and I felt so damn much, David. I didn’t know how to deal with it.”
“I thought you and Gina were happy,” David said in a small voice.
“Appearances aren’t always reality,” Sawyer said. “Remember how much you hated having to appear a certain way for the Airline you worked for?”
“Blah,” David said, wrinkling his nose. “I hated them.” He shook himself. “Let me go wash my mask off and get dressed. We can finish talking then.”
“Thank you,” Sawyer said, looking relieved. “Can I hold Cadbury?”
David smiled shyly and handed the rabbit over. “His cage is in the corner if you get tired of him.”
“As if I could get tired of this little fluff ball.” Sawyer held him up, looking the rabbit over.
David slipped upstairs, breaths coming fast. Sawyer Gregor was in his home. Here. Right now. He looked in his bathroom mirror and cringed. His hair was held back with a thick, hot pink cotton headband and his face was covered in mush. He cleaned up and applied light make-up, then ran into the room, throwing on some skinny jeans and a big, comfy sweater. It fell down one shoulder, revealing smooth skin and sinewy muscle. Perfect. He grabbed some socks and his boots, then focused on his hair. Lord it was a mess. Thirty minutes later, he opened his bedroom door, coming face to face with Sawyer.
“Your house is beautiful, David. I can’t believe there’s so much space. You even have a full attic.” His eyes were hot, running up and down David’s body. Cadbury sat in his sweater pocket, eyes moving between the two.
“Thanks,” he said, nibbling his lip. “Did you see the nursery?”
“It’s adorable. Ray told me you hired a surrogate. Is everything going well? Do you know the gender yet?”
“Ray told you?” David propped his hand on his hip and arched a brow. “What’s going on here?”
Sawyer looked sheepish. “Well, Gina and I divorced a little over two years ago. We separated right after you left. I looked but couldn’t find you. I even hired two private investigators, but nothing. Ray says they likely just took my money and didn’t try. Anyway, Christmas night, Ray called me. He asked me some very pointed questions.”
“What did he ask?” David led Sawyer to the seating nook at the end of the hall.
“After explaining that he knew where you were, he made me answer some questions before he handed over your information. He already knew a shitload about me. He knew I was an accountant, had sole custody of three kids, and was divorced. First, he asked why I’d gotten divorced. Then he asked if I was in a relationship. Then he asked if I loved you.”
“What did you say?” David watched Sawyer, heart hoping despite his mental reminders to not reach too high.
“I told him the divorce was amicable. We just didn’t want to be together anymore. Then I told him I wasn’t in a relationship because I was in love with you and had tried to find you for five fucking years.”
“You love me? It’s been five fucking years,” David repeated, eyes wide, heart beating fast.
“It could have been fifty years, David, and I’d still love you. When you left, you took a part of me with you. I had the kids, and lord knows I love them, but I will never be happy without you. I just wish I would have realized it sooner.”
“Sawyer,” David said, completely overwhelmed. “I don’t know what to say. I’ve wanted you for so long and you’re suddenly here.”
“We have time. The kids and I are moving here. My clients know about the change of location, but I work from home, so it’s not really a problem. Our things are already packed and on the way to the inn now. I need to figure out housing, but Ray said that some guy named Gramps had a rental.”
“You’re moving here? Already?”
“Of course. I can’t woo you from California. Fuck, now I’m saying woo. I swear Sadie is getting in my head.”
“You’re going to woo me?” David grinned, crossing his legs and fluttering his eyes.
Sawyer leaned forward, gripping his chin. “I’m going to woo the fuck out of you.” He pressed his lips to David’s and everything disappeared but Sawyer’s warm lips and delicious taste.
The kiss deepened and before he knew it, David was in the other beta’s lap, straddling him. He pressed as close as he could, wrapping his arms around Sawyer’s neck, savoring the feel of the man he loved. His hard dick rubbed against Sawyer’s and he gasped, grinding down. Sawyer’s hands gripped his ass, squeezing and pulling him down while he arched up.
“David,” he said, groaning. “Fuck, you feel good.” He kissed him again and David writhed against him, desperate. They ground together, then David was there, coming hard in his pants. He clutched Sawyer’s head and moaned, stretching and twisting in pleasure. He felt David come, body curved up and fingers digging into his hips. They breathed hard, kisses softening and lingering.
“That was,” Sawyer started, shaking his head. “That was beautiful, David.”
He smiled smugly, hugging Sawyer to him. He felt a little ball of warmth and sat back, looking at Cadbury in horror. “What have we done?”
Sawyer looked down and snorted. “We traumatized your poor bunny.”
“He’s just a baby,” David said, stroking the rabbit’s little head.
“We won’t do that with our human baby,” Sawyer said, kissing David’s neck.
“Babies,” he said softly.
“Hmm.” Sawyer bit his neck, intent on marking David.
“I’m having twins,” David said.
Sawyer’s head shot up and he grinned. “Twins? That will make five kids. You did say you wanted a big family.”
“True.” David buried his face into Sawyer’s neck.
“Do you have some pants I can wear? I need to get the kids and talk to the man about the rental. You said you knew this Gramps guy, right?”
“Gramps is the best, but you don’t need a rental. You’ll stay with me,” David said, standing. There was so much to do. “The kids can pick out their rooms when they get here. There are two downstairs and four free ones on this floor. If all else fails, the attic can be converted to living space.”
He walked back to his room to dig around for some pants and Sawyer followed him, looking around the huge space. “Will I stay in here with you or do I get a guest room?”
David threw a pair of sweats to Sawyer. “I want you here, but the guest room is probably the better choice until we know where we’re going.”
Sawyer held the pants up. They were black with brightly colored peonies covering them. He shrugged and smiled. “I know where I want us to go, but if you need convincing, I’m up to the challenge.”
He gave David a kiss and left the room. David sat on the bed, fingers pressed to his lips. His man was here, in his home. He had another chance. It was so scary though. His heart had completely broken when he left Sawyer and the kids before. Now that they would be more than best friends, the risk was even greater.