Page 43 of His Omega Bear

“Thanks for doing this, Sage. I know she’s in good hands.”

“Don’t worry about a thing. We’ll have a great time,” he assured me, balancing both girls with ease. “You and Jaxson enjoy your date.”

I waved goodbye and climbed back to the car, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. It wasn’t often we got time alone, and I wanted today to be perfect.

I looked over at Jaxson, who took my hand. “Now, time for you to focus on me.”

Laughing, I leaned over and kissed his cheek. “I can definitely do that.”

A short time later, we arrived at the new farm-to-table restaurant that Cooper had invested in. The place had a rustic charm, with wooden beams and large windows that allowed the space to fill with natural light. We were seated at a cozy corner table, the ambiance intimate and warm.

We looked over the menu and placed our order with the server. When she’d returned with our beverages, Jaxson looked across the table at me, his eyes filled with affection. “This is nice,” he said, reaching for my hand. “It’s exactly what we needed.”

“Yeah, it really is,” I agreed, squeezing his hand. “It’s good to get out and just be us for a while.”

We enjoyed freshly baked rolls with sweet locally made honey butter while we waited for our food. Everything was fresh and flavorful, each dish a testament to the restaurant’s and Cooper’s obsessiveness, or what Graham insisted we call his commitment to quality. We talked and laughed, sharing stories and dreams. The time to relax and become us as a couple, not just us as a family of three, allowed our bond to grow stronger with every passing moment.

When we’d finished our desserts, Jaxon pushed his plate away and took my hand on the table. “I’m really glad we did this. Sometimes it feels like we skipped some steps you know? It’s good to just focus on each other and enjoy each other’s company.”

I nodded, squeezing his hand. “I feel the same way. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day, but moments like this remind me of how lucky I am to have you.”

Jaxson leaned over and kissed me sweetly. “I’m the lucky one to have found you lurking in the bushes.”

I laughed at the memory. “Yeah, I did that.”

After lunch, we decided to walk off all the food we’d eaten with a stroll through the nearby park. The sun was shining, and the air was crisp with the scent of blooming flowers. We walked hand in hand, enjoying the simplicity of being together.

As we neared the playground, I spotted Sage with the kids. Emilia was on a blanket, surrounded by toys, her face lighting up when she saw us. Serenity was on the swings, Simon pushing her and another little girl, a little older than her, gently.

“Hey, look who’s here!” Sage called out, waving us over.

Emilia reached for me as I picked her up, her little hands patting my face. “Did you have fun, sweetheart?” I asked, kissing her cheek.

Sage grinned. “She was a little angel. We had a blast.”

Jaxson bent down to Emilia’s level, his eyes softening as he looked at her. “Did you miss us, Emilia?”

She responded with a happy squeal, one of her hands patting Jaxson’s cheek.

As we stood there, I felt an overwhelming sense of contentment.

We spent the rest of the afternoon in the park, watching the kids play and enjoying the company of each other. Of course, Sage had packed snacks and drinks for them, so we just lingered and chatted until the sun began to set.

We gathered up her things and headed to the car, knowing we needed to make a stop on the way home. We were almost out of diapers and a couple of other things. For some reason, it was one of my favorite things to do as a family. It was a simple task, but it felt so domestic and oddly gratifying. Jaxson pushed the cart while I carried Emilia, who was happily babbling away.

As we walked along, I felt a glow in my chest at the visual of my family together.

Making our way down the aisles, I buckled Emilia into the cart’s seat, her tiny hands gripping the handle and her eyes wide with curiosity. I walked beside them, selecting items we needed and added them to the cart. It was these simple moments, just being together, that made everything feel right.

As we reached the frozen foods section, I spotted something that made my heart skip a beat. “Orange Creamsicles!” I exclaimed, grabbing three boxes and dropping them into the cart without a second thought.

Jaxson shot me a playful look, one eyebrow raised. “Three boxes, Rhys? Really?”

I shrugged, grinning sheepishly. “I’ve been having a craving for them lately.”

Jaxson laughed, shaking his head. “You might be pregnant with cravings like that.”

I chuckled, the sound mingling with Emilia’s giggles as she kicked her little feet in delight. “If I start craving pickles and ice cream, we’ll know for sure.”

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