Page 30 of The Dragon, the Bear, and Their Sugar Glider Omega

“It’s new and then…” I told them the story about the raccoons and how they were the ones to give me the hint I needed.

My phone alarm went off.

“Together?” I asked.

“Together,” they said in unison.

Walking up to the test, I was almost afraid to look. We might not have planned this pregnancy, but that didn’t mean I didn’t love this little baby already—assuming there was one. If the test was negative, I was going to be devastated. There was no denying that.

I looked down.

Two pink lines looked up at me.

I was having a baby.

We were going to be dads.

Chapter Twenty-One

Armel

Every day with my mates brought new joy. Especially since Clay found out he was pregnant. Our sugar glider was still working at Animals, and he insisted that he was perfectly fine to be on his feet so much, but Rome and I watched him like hawks ready to swoop in the moment he was not fine to do so.

As soon as we got together changed my official night of going to Animals to one where Clay could come along with us, but I also came in as often as I could when our sugar glider was working, and with Rome’s more open schedule, he was usually at my side. Sooty and the others teased us as friends often do with the newly mated, but it was all in good fun, and my friends absorbed my mates into our group with the easy affection and camaraderie I’d always counted on them for. Before Rome and Clay, they’d been my rocks, keeping me grounded and mostly cheerful, and I loved seeing their new friendship with my mates.

One night, when our booth was just Rome and me, I noticed something seemed off about Clay. He was working as usual but kept pressing a hand to his baby bump and screwing up his face as he did so. I jerked my chin in his direction. “Rome, is it me, or does Clay look like he’s in pain?”

He followed my stare and frowned. “I don’t know. Should we go grab him and take him to the midwife right away?”

“He’s pretty smart and aware of his body, so gonna say no, but let’s talk to him when he takes his break. It’s only about fifteen minutes from now.”

He did not have our section tonight, but at the appointed time, he headed straight over to spend his break with us. I stood up so our omega could slide into the middle of the leather banquette and sit between us. He turned left and right, getting a welcome kiss from each of us before leaning back with a sigh.

“We ordered you a drink and something to eat,” Rome said, slipping an arm over our omega’s shoulders. “You doing okay?”

“Yeah.” But his expression said he was doing anything but. “What did you order me?”

“Strawberry peach banana daiquiri mocktail,” I said. “And that new sandwich you like.” Panini-pressed grilled cheese with several vegetables on it as well. In this one meal, we were taking care of a whole bunch of his servings of fruits and veggies. “Oh, and the spinach dip.”

“Cool.” Despite his protests, his hand strayed back to his belly, and I was not going to let it pass. “I’m not super hungry, but baby needs to eat.”

“Right.” I dropped my hand over his. “And what else is baby up to? We saw you out there. Are you having pains?” Please don’t let him be about to miscarry.

“No, not pain, but it feels weird.” He pulled his hand back, leaving my palm on his tummy. “See if you agree?”

“Weird?” I patted his bump and stroked it. “See what you think, Rome?”

Together, we both ran our hands over his bulge, which had changed since I last felt it. “Is it harder?”

“I think so.” Rome prodded gently with a fingertip. “I wonder why? Just because it’s growing?”

“Maybe.” But I wasn’t so sure. “As long as you’re not experiencing any cramping or bleeding, why don’t you see if you can get off early tonight, and we’ll try to get in to the midwife in the morning.”

He looked a little scared, but we cuddled him between us and assured him it was just a precaution, and that it would ease our minds. After he had his snack, he found his supervisor and explained, and of course in typical Animals’ fashion, they not only gave him the rest of the shift off but the next night, too, and would be paying him for both. Rome drove his car home, insisting it was so he didn’t have to be alone, but we all knew it was to make us feel better, even Clay.

The next morning, we were lucky enough to get an early appointment at the midwife’s. Rome and I both took time off to go and find out about the mysterious hardness of Clay’s baby bump. I hadn’t slept well, and from the tossing and turning in the bed with me, neither had my mates. We all tried to reassure one another, but it was a big worry. Of course, I’d never felt a pregnant belly before, and neither had Rome, but it just seemed worth checking out.

The midwife worked out of a home where the downstairs was her office, upstairs her residence. We waited in the front room, the former living room, until we were called back to the old dining room, which had been transformed into an exam room. “Hop up on the table, Clay, and tell me what’s going on with you.”

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